Meut. 


LIBRARY 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA, 


Class 


GOLD  AND  SILVER 


COMPRISING 

AN  ECONOMIC  HISTOET  OF  MINING  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES,  THE  GEOGRAPH- 
ICAL AND  GEOLOGICAL  OCCURRENCE  OF  THE  PRECIOUS  METALS,  WITH 
THEIR    MINERALOGICAL    ASSOCIATIONS,   HISTORY  AND  DESCRIP- 
TION   OF    METHODS     OF     MINING     AND     EXTRACTION     OF 
VALUES,    AND    A    DETAILED     DISCUSSION     OF     THE 
PRODUCTION    OF    GOLD    AND    SILVER    IN    THE 
WORLD   AND   THE   UNITED    STATES 


BY 

WALTER  R.   CRANE,  PH.D 

I. 

INSTRUCTOR    IN    MINING,     SCHOOL    OF    MINES 
COLUMBIA    UNIVERSITY 


FIRST   EDITION 

FIRST    THOUSAND 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 


NEW  YORK 

JOHN    WILEY  &    SONS 

LONDON:    CHAPMAN   &  HALL,  LIMITED 

1908 


: 


COPYBIGHT,   1908, 
BY 

WALTER  R.  CRANE 


Stanbopc  press 

P.      H.      OIL80N      COMPANY 
BOSTON,      U.S.A. 


PREFACE. 


THIS  work  has  been  prepared  with  aid  received  from  the  Carnegie 
Institution  of  Washington,  and  is  to  form  a  part  of  the  Economic 
History  of  the  United  States,  which  is  to  be  published  by  that 
Institution.  Its  publication  in  this  form  has  been  permitted  through 
the  courtesy  of  Hon.  Carroll  D.  Wright,  Chairman  of  the  Department 
of  Economics  and  Sociology,  Carnegie  Institution,  and  the  work  has 
been  conducted  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Edward  W.  Parker, 
who  is  in  charge  of  the  division  relating  to  the  history  of  the  mining 
industry.  The  preparation  of  this  work  has  occupied  two  years,  it 
having  been  begun  in  January,  1906,  and  completed  in  January,  1908. 

The  preparation  of  an  economic  history  of  the  precious  metals, 
gold  and  silver,  involves  the  consideration  of  a  number  of  subjects 
if  the  record  is  to  be  complete.  Among  the  subjects  discussed  in 
this  connection,  which  are  indicated  in  the  headings  of  the  various 
chapters,  are  the  occurrence,  both  geographical  and  geological, 
association,  production  of  gravels  and  ores,  and  methods  of  mining 
and  extraction  of  values.  As  the  history  of  the  precious  metals, 
including  the  discoveries  of  deposits  and  the  industrial  activities 
resulting  therefrom,  is  necessarily  of  prime  importance  in  a  work 
of  this  character,  its  treatment  has  been  broad  and  it  has  been 
approached  from  practically  every  side.  In  the  chapter  of  the 
history  of  the  precious  metals  a  detailed  account  is  given  of  the 
discovery  of  occurrences  of  metals  and  ores  throughout  the  United 
States,  the  period  covered  extending  from  the  earliest  known  records, 
including  legends,  up  to  the  present  time.  This  account  has 
further  been  supplemented  by  a  tabulated  list  of  first  discoveries, 
by  whom  and  when  made,  and  finally  an  extended  chronology  of 
the  economic  history  of  gold  and  silver  mining  is  given. 

Reference  to  the  theory  of  ore-deposits  has  of  necessity  been  brief, 
but  is  presented  in  a  manner  as  to  best  prepare  the  reader  for  the 
information  immediately  following. 

In  the  treatment  of  the  geographical  and  geological  occurrence  of 
the  precious  metals  an  attempt  has  been  made  to  condense  the  more 


iv  PREFACE. 

important  and  valuable  data  regarding  the  occurrence  in  the  various 
states  and  districts  and  supplement  the  facts  given  with  references, 
thus  enabling  the  reader  to  extend  his  information  by  application 
to  the  original  sources. 

The  discussion  of  methods  of  prospecting,  developing  and  working 
mineral,  and  especially  gold  and  silver  deposits,  has  been  entered  into 
in  considerable  detail,  with  many  references  to  actual  operations  as 
obtained  from  the  technical  press.  In  like  manner  the  milling  and 
metallurgical  processes  have  been  outlined  and  elaborated  upon 
with  extracts  from  reliable  authorities.  Further,  the  historical 
development  of  mining,  milling  and  metallurgy  has  been  outlined 
at  length. 

The  discussion  of  the  production  of  the  precious  metals  in  the 
United  States  has  been  given  in  detail,  being  considered  as  a  whole, 
with  the  various  other  producing  countries  and  by  individual  states. 
Much  tabulated  data  is  also  given  which  often  correlates  production 
with  other  operations  and  events. 

Throughout  the  entire  wrork  constant  and  conscientious  reference 
has  been  made  to  the  various  authorities  quoted  and  referred  to, 
and  it  is  to  all,  but  especially  those  not  directly  referred  to  by 
name  in  the  text,  that  due  acknowledgements  are  herewith  made. 
Without  the  information  obtainable  from  technical  literature  which 
is  voluminous,  and  much  of  permanent  value,  this  work  would  not 
have  been  possible,  especially  in  the  time  available  for  its  preparation. 

The  object  of  this  work  with  others  of  a  series  is  to  give  a  complete 
and  accurate  record  of  the  development  of  the  mineral  resources  of 
the  country  and  its  influence  on  the  various  industrial  activities 
throughout  the  United  States. 

WALTER   R.  CRANE. 


SCHOOL  OF  MINES,  COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY. 
DEPARTMENT  OF  MINING, 
January  1,  1908. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

PRECIOUS  METAL  MINING  —  A  FACTOR  IN  THE  INDUSTRIAL  GROWTH 
OF    THE    UNITED    STATES. 

PAGE 
CIVILIZATION .         l 

AGRICULTURE 5 

TRANSPORTATION % 6 

LABOR 10 

FINANCE 12 

SCIENCE 14 

MINING   SCHOOLS 15 

DEVELOPMENT  OF  MINING 16 

CHAPTER   II. 

AN  HISTORICAL  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD 
AND  SILVER. 

FIRST  DISCOVERIES  AND  LEGENDS 20 

EARLY  HISTORY      26 

The  East  and  Southeast:  The  Southern  Appalachian  States.  —  The 
Southwest  and  West:  Texas,  New  Mexico,  Arizona  and  Southern 
California.  —  The  Northwest:  Alaska.  —  Tfce  Northern  Country:  The 
Lake  Superior  Region  (the  North  Shore,  Canada,  and  the  South  Shore, 
the  United  States). 

RECENT  HISTORY  BY  STATES  AND  TERRITORIES 40 

Alabama,  Alaska,  Arizona,  Arkansas,  California,  The  Carolinas, 
Colorado,  Connecticut,  Georgia,  Idaho,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Kansas, 
Kentucky,  Maine,  Maryland,  Massachusetts,  Michigan,  Minnesota, 
Mississippi,  Missouri,  Montana,  Nebraska,  Nevada,  New  Hampshire, 
New  Jersey,  New  Mexico,  New  York,  Ohio,  Oklahoma,  Oregon, 
Pennsylvania,  Porto  Rico,  South  Dakota,  Tennessee,  Texas,  Utah, 
Vermont,  the  Virginias,  Washington,  Wisconsin,  Wyoming. 

CHRONOLOGY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER  MINING  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES    .    .     115 

v 


vi  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  III. 

OCCURRENCE    AND    ASSOCIATION    OF    GOLD    AND    SILVER. 

PAGE 
THEORY  OF  ORE  FORMATION  AND  OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  IN  GRAVEL  .    .     151 

GENERAL  DISCUSSION 164 

OCCURRENCE  IN  VEINS  BY  STATES  AND  TERRITORIES 171 

Alabama,  Alaska,  Arizona,  Arkansas,  California,  Canada,  the  Carolina 
Gold  Belt,  Colorado,  Connecticut,  Georgia,  Idaho,  Isthmus  of  Panama, 
Kansas,  Kentucky,  Maine,  Maryland,  Massachusetts,  Michigan, 
Minnesota,  Missouri,  Montana,  Nevada,  New  Hampshire,  New  Jersey, 
New  Mexico,  New  York,  Oklahoma,  Oregon,  the  Philippines,  Penn- 
sylvania, Porto  Rico,  South  Dakota,  Tennessee,  Texas,  Utah,  Ver- 
mont, the  Virginias,  Washington,  Wisconsin,  Wyoming. 

PERMANENCE  IN  DEPTH   .   .   , 280 

OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  IN  GRAVELS  BY  STATES  AND  TERRITORIES  .  .  .  289 
Alabama,  Alaska,  Arizona,  California,  Colorado,  the  Carolinas, 
Georgia,  Idaho,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Iowa,  Isthmus  of  Panama,  Kansas, 
Minnesota,  Mississippi,  Missouri,  Montana,  Nebraska,  Nevada,  New 
Mexico,  Ohio,  Oregon,  Pennsylvania,  the  Philippines,  Porto  Rico, 
South  Dakota,  Tennessee,  Texas,  Utah,  Vermont,  Virginia,  Washing- 
ton, Wisconsin,  Wyoming. 

CHAPTER   IV. 
GEOLOGICAL    DISTRIBUTION    OF    GOLD    AND    SILVER. 

INTRODUCTORY  REMARKS 329 

THE  OLDER  CRYSTALLINE  ROCKS 334 

PALEOZOIC  ROCKS 335 

MESOZOIC  ROCKS „ ....  ^.    .».;...;. 336 

TERTIARY  ROCKS    .    .   .  '.'.,••'  .   ,  .   .   ,   .   .   .   «  ^S  • 338 

CHAPTER   V. 
MINING    GOLD    AND    SILVER    ORES    AND    GRAVELS. 

HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  DEVELOPMENT  OF  MINING  INDUSTRY 340 

DESCRIPTION  OF  METHODS  OF  MINING.    .    ...','•   •  "'•' 356 

Gravel  Mining.  —  Prospecting.  —  Ground-Sluicing  and  Booming.  — 
Hydraulic-Mining.  —  River-Mining.  —  Drift-Mining.  —  Dredging.  — 
The  Hydraulic  Elevator 357 

The   Debris   Controversy.     .,...* 405 

Ore  Mining.  —  Prospecting.  —  Development 413 

Methods  of  Extraction  in  Narrow  Veins.  —  The  Southern  States:  the 
Franklin  and  Cross  mines.  —  Colorado:  the  Camp  Bird,  Standley  and 
Cripple  Creek  mines 423 

Methods  of  Extraction  in  Wide  Veins.  —  California:    the  Utica  mine, 
Mother  lode. —  Alaska:   the  Alaska-Treadwell  mines  —  South  Dakota:  " 
the  Homestake  mines.  —  Idaho:   the  Coeur  d'Alene  Mines 431 

Methods  of  Extraction  in  Bedded  Deposits.  —  Utah:  the  Mercur 
mines 441 


CONTENTS.  vii 

PAGE 

Methods  of  Extracting  in  Masses.  —  Nevada:  the  Comstock  mines; 
Surface  pits  or  Glory  Holes 446 

Supplementary  Mining  Methods.  —  Mine  Support.  —  Kinds  of  Tim- 
ber. —  Timbering:  Posts,  Stulls,  Sets  and  Square-sets.  —  Timber- 
ing of  Shafts.  —  Drainage.  —  Ventilation 448 


CHAPTER   VL 
EXTRACTION    OF    VALUES. 

HISTORICAL  SKETCH 470 

METHODS  OF  EXTRACTION 496 

Milling.  —  Reduction.  —  Amalgamation.  —  Plate  and  Barrel  Pro- 
cesses. —  Concentration 496 

Metallurgy.  —  Pyritic  Smelting.  —  Processes  and  Practice.  —  Chlorin- 
ation.  —  Processes  and  Practice.  —  Cyanidation.  —  Processes  and 
Practice,  Filterpress  Work  and  Precipitation 527 


CHAPTER   VII. 
PRODUCTION    OF    GOLD  AND    SILVER. 

INTRODUCTORY  REMARKS      563 

PRODUCTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 557 

THE  WORLD'S  PRODUCTION 564 

PRODUCTION  BY  STATES  AND  TERRITORIES 578 

The  Southern  States,  Alaska,  Arizona,  California,  Canada  (The 
Silver  Islet  Mine),  Colorado,  Idaho,  Montana,  Nevada,  New  Mexico, 
Oregon,  South  Dakota,  Utah,  Washington,  Wyoming,  Other  States 
(as  Arkansas,  Indiana,  Iowa,  Massachusetts,  Maine,  Michigan,  Minne- 
sota, Missouri,  New  Hampshire,  Texas,  Vermont) 649 


APPENDIX  OF  TABLES. 

TABLE      I.  Discovery  of  Gold  and  Silver  Mines  and  Districts 652 

TABLE    II.  Occurrence  and  Mineralogical  Association  of  Gold  and  Silver  .  660 

TABLE  III.  Geological  Distribution  of  Gold  and  Silver 682 

TABLE  IV.  Yield  of  Ores  by  Districts  and  Mines 686 

TABLE     V.  Yield  of  Gravels  by  Districts  and  Mines 710 

TABLE  VI.  Fineness  and  Value  of  Gold  and  Silver  .  712 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE. 

Gold  Belt  of  the  Southern  States     .    .    .    ....   -.    .    .    .   .    ......  172 

Section  at  Conorado  Shaft,  Leadville,  Colorado     .    .    . '•',.  .  ..  >   .    .    .  210 

Ruby  Mountain,  Gray's  Peak,  Argentine  Pass,  Montezuma,  Colorado, 

facing  218 

Dahlonega  and  Vicinity,  Georgia -.."•" 225 

Central  Idaho  Gold  Fields 227 

The  Coeur  d'Alene  Mining  Region,  Idaho 228 

The  Mammoth-Standard  Mines,  Idaho     .    . ••'. ".'. :    .    .    .   .    .      facing  232 

Central  Portion  of  Isthmus  of  Panama   . 234 

Death  Valley  and  Adjacent  Mining  Districts,  California  . 247 

Tonopah,  Nevada .^.  .,    .    .    .    .    .     facing  252 

The  Organ  Mountains,  New  Mexico      .    .    .    .    .    .    .    ...   .    .     facing  254 

Gold  Mining  Region  of  Eastern  Oregon  .    .    .....    .  ,. 258 

Map  of  Porto  Rico 261 

Map  of  the  Mercur  Region,  Utah 268 

Bingham  Canon  Region,  Utah .-  . 270 

Snake  River  Gold  Fields,  Idaho ....  315 

Arrangement  of  Sluices  in  Hydraulic  Mining      .    ...    ...    .      facing  370 

A  Yuba  River  Dam  and  Flume,  Grass  Valley,  California 383 

Arrangement  of  Sluices  on  a  Gold  Dredger facing  400 

Stope  in  Silver  Wave  Mining  District,  Colorado facing  430 

Method  of  Overhand  Stoping  at  the  Combination  Mine,  Nevada  .    .    .  437 
Mining  with  Square-Sets  and  Filling,  Bunker  Hill  Lode,  Coeur  d'Alene 

Region,  Idaho ,    .    .    .    .  440 

Glory  Hole  Mining  at  the  Combination  Mine,  Nevada 449 

Chamber  in  1,250-Foot  Stope,  Elkhorn  Mine,  Montana     .    .    .      facing  452 

Square-Set  Timbering  and  Stull  Timbering    .« 455 

Square-Sets,  Gold  Coin  Mine,  Cripple  Creek,  Colorado 457 

Ten-Inch  Square-Set  at  Durant  Mine,  Aspen,  Colorado   .    .    .    ...    .  460 

Patio  Mills  at  Pachuca,  Mexico facing  509 

Surface  Plant  and  Dumps,  Portland  Mine,  Cripple  Creek,  Colorado  .    .  524 


ABBREVIATIONS. 


Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.  —  Engineering  and  Mining  Journal. 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press.  —  Mining  and  Scientific  Press. 

Repts.  and  Bulls.,  U.  S.  G.  S.  —  Reports  and  Bulletins,  United  States 

Geological  Survey. 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.  —  Transactions  American  Institute  Mining  Engineers. 
Am.  Jour.  Min.  —  American  Journal  of  Mining. 
Inst.  Min.  and  Met.  —  Institution  of  Mining  and  Metallurgy. 
Coll.  Eng.  and  Metal  Miner.  —  Colliery  Engineer  and  Metal  Miner. 
Fed.  Inst.  Min.  Engrs.  —  Federated  Institute  Mining  Engineers. 
Trans.  Inst.  Min.  Engrs. —  Transactions  Institution  of  Mining  Engineers 

(London) . 
Trans.    Lake    Sup.    Inst.    Min.    Engrs.  —  Transactions    Lake    Superior 

Institute  Mining  Engineers. 
Trans.    Wis.    Acad.    Sci.    Arts    and    Letters. —  Transactions    Wisconsin 

Academy  of  Science,  Arts  and  Letters. 
Am.  Jour.  Sci.  —  American  Journal  of  Science. 
Jour.  Can.  Min.  Inst.  —  Journal  Canadian  Mining  Institute. 


OF  THE 

,  f  UNIVERSITY  j 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


CHAPTER   I. 

PRECIOUS  METAL  MINING.    A  FACTOR  IN  THE  INDUSTRIAL 
GROWTH  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

PRECIOUS  metal  mining  in  North  America  had  its  beginnings  in  the 
southern  portions  of  the  vast  area  extending  from  the  Tropics  to 
the  frozen  fastnesses  of  the  Frigid  Zone.  These  beginnings,  though 
small,  rapidly  grew  to  great  importance,  and  were  directly  respon- 
sible for  the  colonization  and  development  of  the  territory  farther 
north.  The  subsequent  history  of  the  territory  lying  now  within 
the  borders  of  the  United  States,  is  but  an  account  of  a  series  of 
brilliant  advances  in  the  development  of  the  resources  of  the  coun- 
try, and  among  the  factors  which  have  contributed  in  large  part  to 
the  advancement  made  none  stands  out  more  prominently  than 
does  the  mining  industry. 

Although  this  work  has  to  do  with  precious  metal  mining  only, 
yet  we  may  be  pardoned  if,  in  this  connection,  occasional  reference 
is  made  to  the  mining  industry  as  a  whole. 

Civilization.  —  In  the  deliberations  of  our  government  concern- 
ing the  purchase  or  annexation  of  new  territory  the  fact  that  it 
contained  valuable  mineral  deposits  was  always  a  potent  factor 
in  hastening  or  closing  the  negotiations.  This  was  the  case  in  regard 
to  the  Louisiana  Purchase  and  particularly  so  with  regard  to  the 
annexation  of  California.  And,  in  fact,  so  well  understood  is  the 
principle  of  internal  wealth,  especially  in  the  form  of  mineral  re- 
sources, that  all  nations  seek  to  acquire  territory  rich  in  mines  of 
metals  and  fossil  fuels.  Further,  no  nation  has  made  material 
advance  in  civilization  without  such  mines,  while  by  some  authori- 
ties this  claim  has  been  narrowed  down  to  include  mines  of  the 
precious  metals  only. 

Reference  may  be  made  to  Persia,  Egypt,  Greece  and  Italy,  all 
of  which  prospered  in  proportion  as  they  owned  or  controlled 
the  products  of  gold  and  silver  mines.  With  regard  to  Greece, 

1 


2  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

Xenophon  stated  that  she  got  her  gold  and  silver  from  Thrace.  Rome 
in  the  days  of  her  prosperity  worked  with  her  soldiers  and  slaves 
the  mines  of  Italy  and  Spain. 

Those  nations  that  have  learned  to  mine  and  work  the  metals 
so  derived  have  invariably  become  both  rich  and  powerful  and 
have  subdued  their  neighbors  either  by  force  of  arms  or  industrial 
activity.  The  mining  industry  is  indeed  the  foundation  of  all 
civilization  and  the  basis  upon  which  all  industries  must  rest,  being 
at  the  same  time  the  principal  element  in  progress. 

It  may  be  said,  in  general,  that  the  history  of  the  mining  industry 
of  a  country  is  the  history  of  the  state  of  civilization  at  the  time. 
That  nation  that  has  the  greatest  output,  or  can  control  the  pro- 
duction of  the  precious  metal,  and  combines  with  that  advantage 
an  intelligent  policy,  would  be  a  potent  factor  in  shaping  the  affairs 
of  the  world's  community. 

It  has  been  remarked  that  money  is  as  essential  to  civilization 
as  is  language,  for  by  language  thought  is  exchanged,  while  by 
money  commodities  are  exchanged  which  are  directly  the  fruits  of 
labor,  such  interchange  being  essential  to  civilization. 

Iron  and  steel  have  been  called  the  mainspring  of  modern  civili- 
zation; gold  and  silver  may  then  be  likened  unto  the  balance  wheel 
by  which  the  movement  of  our  industrial  activity  is  regulated  and 
maintained  without  serious  disturbance. 

Following  the  discovery  of  the  New  World,  the  wealth  of  Mexico 
and  South  America  was  diverted  to  the  treasuries  of  Europe.  With 
the  great  increase  in  circulation  of  money  a  new  civilization  sprung 
up,  which  was  created  by  and  was  dependent  upon  this  money  — 
modern  civilization  dates  its  origin  from  this  time.  For  some  300 
years  (1500-1800)  the  wealth  of  the  New  World  maintained  these 
conditions  in  Europe,  then  the  supply  suddenly  ceased  owing  to 
the  Spanish-American  wars,  and  a  money  famine  resulted.  The 
discoveries  of  gold  in  California  and  Australia  soon  followed,  how- 
ever, and  the  stream  of  gold  soon  reached  and  passed  the  high  mark 
previously  attained,  with  a  consequent  still  further  expansion  of 
trade  and  commerce. 

Wherever  the  prospector  leads,  civilization  follows  as  a  natural 
result.  His  achievements  ai'3  seldom  adequately  rewarded,  much 
less  his  importance  as  a  civilizing  agency  recognized.  California, 
practically  unknown  in  '48,  is  now  in  the  front  rank  of  the  States 
of  the  Union  both  in  population  and  wealth.  It  is  true  that  a 
considerable  emigration  from  the  Western  States  had  set  in  toward 


PRECIOUS  METAL  MINING0  3 

the  Pacific  coast  as  early  as  1846,  which  in  the  course  of  time  would 
have  materially  increased  the  population  of  this  western  country. 
Further,  of  these  early  pioneers  the  majority  were  homeseekers, 
while  of  those  who  entered  the  country  during  the  twenty  years 
following  the  discovery  of  gold  the  larger  part  was  transients,  and 
as  was  subsequently  shown  only  ten  per  cent  remained  permanently. 
Of  the  90  per  cent  of  those  who  went  to  California  as  a  result  of 
the  gold  excitement,  there  were  many  undesirable  individuals, 
many,  in  fact,  who  were  wanted  for  misdemeanors  in  the  States 
and  other  lands.  It  is  not  strange  then  that  lawlessness,  crime, 
and  a  generally  low  standard  of  morality  developed,  and  so  general 
is  this  condition  of  affairs  in  new  mining  districts  that  it  has  led 
some  one  to  remark  that,  "  Gold  as  a  promoter  of  good  morals  and 
solid  progress  has  been  found  wanting."  But  such  conditions  only 
mark  the  stages  in  the  growth  of  a  country;  perfection  cannot  be 
reached  at  once,  but  is  attained  only  through  long  and  strenuous 
endeavor,  often  with  an  occasional  dark  day  and  dark  deed  inter- 
spersed between. 

The  transition  from  an  older  to  a  newer  civilization  is  well  illustrated  by  the 
events  following  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California,  when  the  old  Spanish  land- 
lords were  ruthlessly  deposed  and  expatriated  by  the  throngs  of  adventurers 
drawn  thither  by  the  lure  of  a  new  country,  with  its  charm  of  freedom  and 
unlimited  wealth.  The  following  sketch  may  serve  to  give  an  idea  of  the  con- 
dition of  affairs  existing  at  that  time:  "The  old  ranch-house,  a  great  quadrangle 
of  abode,  built  around  a  courtyard,  the  seat  of  a  little  empire  of  thirty  square 
leagues  of  land,  much  of  it  the  very  best  in  Southern  California.  The  great 
walls,  nearly  a  yard  thick,  hint  strongly  of  cool  days  in  summer  and  warm  nights 
in  winter.  The  long  massive  beams,  cut  in  the  mountains  thirty  miles  away; 
the  rafters  lashed  with  raw-hide  instead  of  being  nailed;  the  old  red  tiles  made 
by  the  Mission  Indians  and  held  in  place  by  their  own  weight  —  all  speak  of  the 
difficulties  of  building  in  those  days.  Yet  the  whole  is  massive  and  strong  and 
will  stand  for  many  years  to  come  when  far  more  costly  structures  are  decayed. 
Here  still,  as  in  bygone  days,  may  be  heard  the  whizz  of  the  riata  thrown  by  the 
skillful  hand,  for  there  yet  linger  a  very  few  of  that  most  extinct  race,  the  old 
vaqueros  of  California  —  men  who  could,  single-handed,  ride  down,  lasso  and 
bind  the  wild  bulls  of  the  hills  on  a  mountain  side  where  a  city  rider  would 
hardly  dare  to  lead  a  horse. 

"  Rude  was  their  system  of  justice ;  but  they  had  no  probate  courts  or  public 
administrators.  They  had  no  doctors  or  lawyers;  but  then  they  died  without 
expensive  assistance,  and  their  families  got  at  least  one  per  cent  of  the  property 
they  left.  Living  in  true  patriarchal  style,  surrounded  by  plenty  of  the  solid 
necessaries  of  life,  with  plenty  of  servants  that  cost  only  their  board,  with  noth- 
ing to  do  but  look  after  their  herds,  roll  cigaritas,  attend  fandangos  and  merien- 
das,  and  warble  their  beautiful  language,  they  drifted  down  the  stream  of  time 
without  touching  oar  or  rudder,  or  striking  sand-bars  or  snags.  That  soft 


4  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Arcadian  day  is  gone.  Its  twilight  still  lingers  in  a  few  places,  but  its  sun  has 
set  forever.  Our  countrymen  came  and  were  welcomed,  for,  contrary  to  the 
common  belief,  the  majority  of  Californians  were  anxious  for  the  change.  We 
came  with  our  usual  Yankee  conceit,  and  our  prejudice  against  everything  that 
comported  not  with  our  notions  of  'progress'  —  all  strengthened  by  the  preju- 
dice against  Mexicans  imbibed  during  the  war  with  them.  We  came  to  load 
them  with  ruinous  costs  and  atrocious  lawyers'  fees  to  maintain  those  vested 
rights  of  property  which  all  nations  respect,  to  squat  on  their  ranches  and  live 
on  their  cattle;  to  pass  laws  to  destroy  their  only  industry,  and  as  time  has 
proved,  the  best  industry  of  this  southern  country.  We  came  to  lend  them 
money  at  five  per  cent  a  month,  and  trap  them  into  contracts  to  pay  it  for  a 
long  enough  time  to  sweep  away  their  homes  with  the  mortgage.  We  came 
to  turn  up  the  parvenu  proboscis  at  Indian-bred  and  Castilian-bred  alike,  and 
treated  as  '  greasers '  some  who  were  our  equals  in  every  respect,  and  the  superior 
of  many  of  the  upstart  Americans  who  sneered  at  them, "  etc.,  etc.  Min.  and  Sci. 
Press,  Vol.  46,  p.  402. 

What  kind  of  a  language  would  have  resulted  from  a  natural 
mingling  of  the  different  races  on  the  Pacific  coast  had  not  gold 
been  discovered,  is  a  question  well  worth  consideration.  It  would 
probably  have  been  a  mixture  of  pure  Castilian  and  the  Indo-Span- 
iard  with  the  Western  pioneer,  the  Kanak,  the  Mongolian  and  the 
Mormon.  Social  and  educational  standards  would  have  been  low, 
while  industrial  progress  would  have  been  backward  and  lacking 
in  the  enterprise  which  is  distinctively  American.  However,  for- 
tunately, such  conditions  did  not  obtain,  owing  to  the  flood  of  well- 
educated  people  from  the  Eastern  States,  who  gave  shape  and 
direction  to  public  affairs  and  impressed  American  ideas  on  the 
institutions  of  the  country. 

This  is  an  old  story  which  has  been  retold  many  times,  although 
with  a  new  setting  of  localities  and  a  new  coloring  of  various  peoples. 
In  the  Northwest,  Oregon  and  British  Columbia  in  particular,  there 
developed  a  trade  lingo  established  between  the  Hudson  Bay  Fur 
Company  and  the  aborigines  which  was  known  as  the  "  Chinook 
jargon."  The  Chinook  language  was  spreading  rapidly,  but  was 
checked  and  almost  wholly  wiped  out  by  the  influx  of  more  educated 
people  drawn  thither  by  the  discovery  of  gold.1 

It  can  be  claimed  for  mining  that,  however  rapidly  the  Star  of 
Empire  might  have  made  its  way  westward,  it  certainly  would  have 
been  many  years  before  its  light  would  have  reached  the  coast  of 
California. 

From  California  the  pioneers   passed  to  the  north  and  eastward, 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  54,  p.  124. 


PRECIOUS  METAL  MINING.  5 

penetrating  the  territories  of  Washington,  Oregon,  Montana,  Nevada, 
Utah,  Arizona  and  New  Mexico,  thus  developing  them  and  opening 
up  avenues  of  trade  and  sending  out  a  stream  of  gold*  and  silver, 
which  increased  the  wealth  and  importance  of  the  United  States  as 
a,  whole  and  placed  it  among  the  powers  of  the  world. 

Abroad,  similar  changes  have  resulted  from  the  discovery  of  gold 
and  silver  mines,  as,  for  instance,  in  Australia  and  South  Africa:  in 
the  former  case  a  convict  colony  has  risen  to  a  magnificent  colonial 
possession  of  Great  Britain;  in  the  latter  case  there  was  a  country 
misunderstood  and  misruled,  and  a  constant  source  of  inconvenience 
and  annoyance  to  the  Colonial  office,  but  with  the  discovery  of  dia- 
monds and  gold  there  came  a  tide  of  emigration  which  well-nigh  sub- 
merged the  Griqua,  the  Hottentots,  and  the  Dutch  Boers.  Social 
and  political  conditions  were  soon  adjusted,  however,  and  the  rights 
of  all  were  respected. 

The  story  of  the  momentous  results  in  the  world's  history,  and 
in  the  territorial  changes,  traceable  directly  to  the  discoveries  and 
search  for  precious  metals  and  stones,  was  outlined  in  an  interest- 
ing lecture  by  Mr.  G.  F.  Kunz,  before  the  Franklin  Institute.1 

Agriculture.  —  The  first  effect  upon  those  resident  in  California, 
as  well  as  the  new  arrivals,  was  to  abandon  all  and  engage  in  min- 
ing, but  the  hardships  encountered,  together  with  the  uncertainty 
of  adequate  remuneration  for  work  done,  soon  discouraged  many. 
The  work  having  lost  its  charm  thousands  turned  to  the  tilling  of 
the  soil  and  cattle  raising;  thus  did  California  gain  wealth  other 
than  from  her  mineral  resources. 

The  narrow  strip  of  country  comprising  the  State  of  California, 
has,  through  the  influence  of  the  mines,  probably  developed  more 
agricultural  land  throughout  the  United  States  than  has  been  devel- 
oped by  other  means.  It  was  not  only  the  people  of  the  States  that 
were  scattered  over  the  great  expanse  of  country  between  the  Atlan- 
tic and  Pacific  Oceans,  but  thousands  of  emigrants  from  the  Old 
World  who  came  and  made  their  homes  in  the  West.  Even  at  the 
present  day  only  a  relatively  small  part  of  the  tillable  land  of  the 
United  States  is  under  a  proper  state  of  cultivation;  vast  regions 
remain  untouched,  and  as  there  cannot  be  successful  agriculture  or 
any  form  of  business  without  gold  and  silver,  so  long  as  they  are  the 
measure  of  all  credit,  the  development  of  the  mines  is  absolutely 
necessary. 

"  Wonderful  as  are  the  advances  in  crop  raising  during  the  past 
1  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  18,  p.  14. 


6  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

decade,  the  soil  surveyors  declare  that  only  420,000,000  acres  — 
not  one-half  the  farms  of  the  country  —  can  be  classed  as  improved 
land,  and  but  one-third,  or  about  290,000,000  acres,  is  fruitful."1 

An  anomalous  state  of  affairs  resulted  when  agriculture,  which 
had  been  created  and  maintained  by  the  mining  industry,  caused 
the  overthrow  of  one  of  the  most  important  branches  of  that  indus- 
try, namely,  hydraulic  mining.  Through  the  contention  by  the 
agricultural  and  grazing  interests  that  hydraulic  mining  was  a 
nuisance  and  must  be  abated,  the  courts  issued  a  perpetual  injunc- 
tion against  its  continuance. 

Dredging  has  also  come  in  for  its  share  of  blame  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  agricultural  and  grazing  land,  and  were  it  not  for  the  fact  that 
the  area  of  ground  to  which  dredging  is  applicable  is  much  more 
limited  than  that  to  which  hydraulic  mining  is  applicable,  it  would 
probably  in  time  go  the  way  of  the  latter.  The  following  statement 
of  the  facts  is  of  interest:  The  agriculturist  is  looking  for  soil,  and 
while  it  is  understood  that  a  thin  layer  of  virgin  soil  underlain  by  a 
deep  and  porous  gravel  bed  will  produce  for  a  few  seasons,  yet 
without  due  fertilization  annually  thereafter  it  cannot  remain  a 
permanent  agricultural  proposition.  The  land  therefore  must  be 
considered  from  a  standpoint  of  its  greatest  value,  and  that  it  will 
be  so  considered  there  is  no  doubt,  as  neither  mining  nor  agriculture 
is  undertaken  at  the  present  time  for  sentimental  reasons.  On  a 
cold,  hard  basis  of  facts  and  figures  it  will  be  found  that  not  over 
five  per  cent  of  the  limited  acreage  of  dredging  ground  in  this  state 
(California)  was  orchard,  vineyard,  or  planted  ground.  A  large 
portion  of  it  was  uncultivated  bottom  land  which  afforded  a  some- 
what precarious  pasturage  at  some  seasons  of  the  year,  and  a  further 
large  portion  was  the  partially  overgrown  piles  of  tailings  left  by 
the  hand  workers  of  the  days  sines  '49.2 

Transportation.  —  Owing  to  the  great  increase  in  the  production 
of  gold  which  occurred  during  the  middle  of  the  last  century  a 
great  impetus  was  given  to  commerce.  A  very  material  rise  in 
price  of  certain  articles,  especially  those  required  in  the  mining 
regions  of  California  and  Australia,  was  the  immediate  effect;  and 
further,  what  was  ultimately  to  be  of  great  importance  was  a  demand 
for  means  of  transporting  such  supplies,  together  with  the  miners 
and  traders  passing  to  and  from  these  gold  fields.  A  still  further 
and  subsequent  effect  was  the  disturbance  in  relative  values  of 

1  New  York  Times,  Nov.  30,  1907. 

3  California  Miners'  Association  Annual,  1906,  p.  103. 


PRECIOUS  METAL  MINING.  7 

products,  gold  being  the  recognized  standard  of  value.  High  prices 
resulted,  thus  stimulating  production  and  creating  new  markets 
for  exchange  with  new  and  enlarged  facilities  for  effecting  them. 
These  requirements  were  soon  and  quite  completely  met  in  the 
establishment  of  steam  communications  between  the  Atlantic  and 
Pacific  coasts,  via  New  Grenada.  A  mere  outline  of  the  events  of  the 
approximately  twenty  years  following  this  new  and  urgent  demand 
upon  American  commerce  is  sufficient  to  show  the  far-reaching 
effect  of  gold  mining  in  California:  steamship  lines  were  organized 
to  connect  New  York  with  the  Pacific  coast;  a  railway  was  built 
across  the  Isthmus  of  Darien;  a  new  city  was  founded  on  the  Pacific 
coast;  a  submarine  cable  was  constructed  across  the  Atlantic  Ocean; 
a  railway  was  built  through  the  Rocky  Mountains;  and  finally, 
direct  steam  communications  were  established  between  the  United 
States  and  the  Far  East  —  Japan,  China  and  the  East  Indies. 

Gibbons  regarded  the  Romans  as  the  most  remarkable  road 
builders  of  the  world,  but  the  people  of  California  had  in  fifty  years 
done  more  road  building  within  the  confines  of  their  state,  than 
had  the  Romans  in  their  entire  empire  in  fully  ten  centuries.  As 
the  Westminster  Review  states,  "  they  made  their  country  first  the 
treasury  and  then  the  garden  of  the  world." 

The  remarkable  development  of  Alaskan  resources  is  almost 
wholly  due  to  the  improved  facilities  in  transportation  by  water, 
rail  and  wagon  road,  and  the  same  is  true  of  many  other  localities. 
The  development  of  Montana  is  directly  due  to  the  mines,  which  have 
caused  railways  to  be  built  and  then  maintained  them. 

As  transportation  facilities  are  increased  by  the  requirements  of 
the  mining  industry,  so  in  like  manner  are  mining  districts  directly- 
benefited  by  the  opening  up  of  railway  communications,  thus  creat- 
ing a  market  for  the  products  of  the  mines  and  often,  as  in  the  case 
of  the  establishment  of  smelters  in  a  district,  bringing  the  market 
to  their  very  doors. 

As  has  been  pointed  out,  the  isolation  of  San  Francisco  resulted 
in  the  building  of  the  Pacific  railway;  in  like  manner  the  isolation  of 
the  Ballarat  gold  fields  of  Australia  from  the  coast,  resulted  in  the 
building  of  a  railway  from  Melbourne  to  the  mines.  The  Lulea- 
Gellivare  railway  was  built  for  the  purpose  of  transporting  iron  ore 
from  the  Gellivare  mines,  Sweden,  to  the  seaport  at  Lulea.  This 
road  bears  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  railway  to  penetrate 
the  Frigid  Zone,  lying  as  it  does  above  the  Arctic  Circle.  However, 
the  finding  of  the  sea-way  from  Europe  to  the  East  Indies  and  the 


8  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

discovery  of  America,  with  the  ultimate  discovery  of  the  gold  and 
silver  mines,  have  resulted  disastrously  to  the  mining  industry  of 
many  of  the  countries  of  Europe.  Further,  the  rapid  extension  of 
the  railway  systems  of  the  West  is  largely  due  to  the  ore  traffic, 
and  by  the  enlarged  facilities  for  transportation  the  producers  of 
remote  districts  can  market  their  mineral  products,  while  the  smelt- 
ers can  draw  from  a  wide  range  of  territory  for  ore,  fuel  and  flux. 

The  following  reported  extracts  are  taken  from  an  address  by 
Dr.  James  Douglas  regarding  the  Relations  of  Railway  Transporta- 
tion to  Mining  and  Metallurgy : 1 

"  Starting  from  the  period  (about  1830)  of  the  first  railways  in 
England  and  the  United  States,  large  enough  to  be  commercial 
factors,  Dr.  Douglas  traced  the  growth  of  the  railway  and  the  increase 
of  tonnage  of  iron  ores  smelted.  Thus  the  stimulus  given  to  the 
iron  trade  in  England  in  1830-40,  by  the  construction  of  3000  miles 
of  railroad,  raised  the  production  of  pig  iron  from  677,417  tons  to 
1,396,400  tons  in  1840.  She  mined  about  50,000  tons  of  coal,  made 
11,500  tons  of  copper,  about  58,000  tons  of  lead,  and  4400  tons  of 
tin.  Since  then  her  railroad  mileage  has  increased  to  22,700,  her 
production  of  pig  iron  to  9,000,000  tons;  her  lead  production,  how- 
ever, has  declined  to  20,000  tons,  and  her  production  of  copper  has 
become  a  negligible  quantity;  her  tin  production  has  not  increased. 

"  Meanwhile  our  production  of  pig  iron  has  risen  to  22,822,380 
tons  (from  135,040  tons  in  1830);  our  coal,  from  209,000  tons  in  1830 
to  314,562,880  tons;  copper  from  nothing  to  462,000  tons;  and  our 
lead  from  10,000  tons  in  1830,  to  322,886  tons.  These  results  have 
been  in  keeping  with  and  dependent  on  the  growth  of  the  railroads. 
The  early  railroads  were  laid  with  '  strap  rails;  '  T-rails  were  not 
rolled  in  this  country  till  1844. 

"  Pennsylvania  early  held  the  chief  place  in  smelting  by  reason 
of  her  home  supply  of  ore  and  coke.  Yet  to-day,  by  reason  of  rail- 
road facilities  in  bringing  ore  from  the  Northwest,  she  is  independent 
of  local  ore.  In  1904,  Pennsylvania  furnaces  made  7,644,321  tons 
of  pig  iron;  yet  her  own  mines  turned  out  only  397,107  tons  of  iron 
ore.  Herein  lies  the  potency  of  transportation.  Pittsburg  possesses 
coal  and  coke;  Michigan  and  Minnesota  have  the  largest,  finest,  and 
(considering  their  quality)  the  most  cheaply  mined  ores  in  the 
country.  It  is,  at  present,  cheaper  to  bring  the  ore  to  the  fuel 
(and  to  the  people  who  buy  and  consume  the  iron),  than  to  take  the 
fuel  to  the  ore  and  carry  back  most  of  the  finished  product. 
1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  81,  p.  1247. 


PRECIOUS  METAL  MINING.  9 

"  The  revolution  in  the  last  half-century  in  the  iron  branch  of 
metallurgy  has  been  brought  about  by  the  railroad  and  the  steam- 
boat. Of  the  50  million  tons  of  iron  ore  treated  in  this  country  last 
year,  34,353,456  tons  came  from  the  Lake  Superior  district. 

"  Among  the  strange  contradictions  is  the  persistency  with  which 
the  copper-and-brass  trade  has  adhered  to  the  Naugatuck  Valley  in 
Connecticut.  Some  of  our  large  iron  works  are  now  also  in  ill-suited 
conditions;  but  they  were  originally  started  near  small  iron  deposits 
which  are  now  exhausted. 

"  But  it  is  not  only  in  the  iron  trade  that  low  rates  of  carriage 
have  helped  the  metallurgist.  Montana  copper  largely  draws  her 
coke  from  Pennsylvania,  or  from  ovens  on  Lake  Superior  fed  with 
Pennsylvania  coal.  The  Copper  Queen,  after  depending  on  coke 
at  exorbitant  rates,  now  brings  it  at  one-third  the  cost  from  northern 
New  Mexico,  though  over  a  haul  of  from  eight  hundred  to  a  thou- 
sand miles,  and  uses  oil  from  Texas  and  California  brought  in  at  a 
rate  not  exceeding  three-quarter  cents  per  ton  per  mile. 

"  The  interdependence  of  mines  and  railroads  is  also  shown  in  the 
mines  of  Butte  which  largely  send  their  ore  to  Anaconda  (26  miles 
at  14  cents  per  ton);  or  to  Great  Falls  (170  miles)  where  advan- 
tage is  taken  of  water  power.  Another  instance  is  the  shipment 
of  copper-matte  from  Tennessee  to  the  heart  of  Mexico,  where  it 
has  been  used  to  collect  gold  and  silver  from  '  dry  ores,'  the  black 
copper  being  returned  to  the  United  States  for  refining  and  separa- 
tion of  the  gold-and-silver  content.  Again,  the  Globe  district, 
Arizona,  languished  for  want  of  sulphur-  and  iron-flux;  but  the 
railroads  issued  a  tariff  which  brought  in  pyrite  from  distant  dis- 
tricts. As  a  result,  the  production  rose  rapidly  to  three  million 
pounds  of  copper  per  month.7' 

Dr.  Douglas  commented  also  on  the  wasteful  consumption  of  our 
supplies  incidental  to  our  great  railroad  development.  He  said: 
"  But  vast  as  our  resources  are,  they  are  not  inexhaustible.  Mr. 
Carnegie,  in  his  St.  Andrew's  address,  assigned  to  our  own  iron 
deposits  a  life  of  60  years,  while  Professor  Shaler,  in  his  book  on  the 
'  Earth  and  Man,'  reduces  that  span  to  50  years.  Our  anthracite 
is  a  rapidly  vanishing  quantity,  and,  vast  as  are  our  bituminous 
coal  fields,  they  will  not  last  forever.  And  we  are  using  nature's 
resources  with  most  wasteful  prodigality.  We  are  saving  only 
60  per  cent  of  our  anthracite,  burning  away  the  by-product  of 
90  per  cent  of  all  our  coke  ovens,  and  cutting  down  our  vast 
forests  without  replanting.  In  fact,  except  in  the  Northwest, 


10  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

our  timber  resources  are  almost  exhausted,  and  we  are  borrow- 
ing largely  from  Canada  and  from  abroad.  And  we  shall  sooner 
or  later  have  to  borrow  more  than  timber.  When  we  reach  that 
stage  we  will  make  less  money,  which  will  be  far  from  an  evil,  for  it 
may  oblige  us  to  replace  some  of  our  pelf  with  humility  and  meek- 
ness of  spirit. 

"  *  As  our  resources  fail,  however,  we  shall  not  lack  for  raw  mate- 
rial, as  long  as  the  world's  supply  lasts,  for  transportation  charges 
by  land  and  water  will  grow  steadily  less,  and  we  cannot  but  believe 
that  many  of  the  selfish  barriers  which  now  separate  nations  com- 
mercially will  be  swept  away  by  the  spread  of  saner  notions  on 
political  economy,  and  more  unselfish  international  relations.'  " 

The  development  of  the  iron  mines  of  the  Lake  Superior  region 
has  created  a  lake  marine  service  which  is  shared  in  like  measure 
by  the  grain,  lumber  and  fuel  industries. 

The  tremendous  advantage  of  the  development  of  a  mineral  or 
fuel  industry,  as  for  instance  the  oil  industry  at  Bakersfield,  Cali- 
fornia, to  the  transportation  companies  and  manufacturing  interests 
of  the  state,  is  shown  by  the  following  figures:  Prior  to  the  dis- 
covery of  oil  it  required  30  tons  of  coal  to  move  a  train  from  Bakers- 
field  to  San  Francisco,  which  at  $4.375  per  ton  plus  $25  for  labor 
amounted  to  $150.  With  oil  at  20  cents  a  barrel,  and  three  barrels 
equal  to  a  ton  of  coal,  the  cost  per  ton  rate  is  60  cents,  and  counting 
100  barrels  of  oil  equivalent  to  30  tons  of  coal,  the  cost  would  be  $20 
as  against  $125  formerly  required  to  move  a  train  of  cars.  With 
labor  counted  in,  the  costs  before  and  since  the  discovery  of  oil  are 
$150  and  $45.* 

As  transportation  facilities  are  increased  by  the  requirements  of 
the  mining  industry,  so  in  like  manner  are  mining  districts  directly 
benefited  by  the  opening  up  of  railway  communications,  thus  creat- 
ing a  market  for  the  products  of  the  mines,  and  often,  as  in  the  case 
of  the  establishment  of  smelters  in  a  district,  bringing  the  market 
to  their  very  doors. 

Labor.  —  As  a  rule  every  actual  producer  in  the  world  is,  by 
choice  or  necessity,  forced  to  support  by  his  labor  a  number  of  non- 
producers,  the  number  varying  somewhat  with  the  country  and 
occupation.  This  condition  of  affairs  is  well  illustrated  by  labor 
in  mining  camps,  where  the  usual  number  of  non-producers,  two  or 
three,  is  often  increased  to  four  and  five.  After  the  first  excitement 
has  worn  off  and  the  camp  has  settled  down  to  hard  work,  there  are 
1  California  Miners'  Association  Annual,  1906,  p.  94. 


PRECIOUS  METAL  MINING.  11 

comparatively  few  non-producers,  but  as  it  grows  and  becomes 
prosperous  and  the  future  of  the  camp  becomes  assured,  the  popu- 
lation increases  rapidly  until  there  are  from  four  to  five  times  as  many 
people  living  in  the  camp  as  there  are  miners,  who  are  the  real  pro- 
ducers. In  time  there  may  come  a  decadence  owing  to  a  falling 
off  in  production  of  the  mines  or  a  decrease  in  the  market  value  of 
the  metal  mined,  then  the  superfluous  population  begins  to  drain 
off,  and  finally  only  the  miners  remain.  Further,  it  is  almost  invari- 
ably the  case,  that  that  portion  of  the  population  which  comes  and 
goes  with  the  prosperity  of  a  camp  carries  with  it  when  it  goes  the 
miners'  money,  while  the  miners  who  earned  and  spent  it  are  with- 
out any.1 

In  the  early  days  of  mining  in  the  Western  States,  say  during  the 
twenty  years  following  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California,  the 
number  of  dead  and  abandoned  towns  and  hamlets  could  be  num- 
bered by  the  hundreds.  This  was  especially  true  of  the  towns  that 
sprang  up  in  placer  mining  districts,  but  was  by  no  means  confined 
to  them.  Many  of  such  were  boom  towns  that  failed  to  boom, 
but  for  the  failure  of  which  mining  has  been  blamed.  Others  served 
their  purpose  and  with  the  exhaustion  of  the  mines  died  a  natural 
death.  Still  others  were  forced  to  yield  up  their  site  owing  to  the 
greed  of  man  for  gold,  the  values  underlying  the  property  far  exceed- 
ing the  value  of  the  real  estate  and  the  buildings  combined,  while 
still  others  were  devastated  by  fire  and  water,  the  latter,  especially, 
resulting  from  the  filling  of  the  river  channels  by  mining  debris. 
The  following  extract  is  taken  from  an  address  by  N.  P.  Hulst:2 
"  One  of  the  most  conspicuous  of  the  results  flowing  from  this 
activity  in  mining,  which  began  in  the  Far  West,  was  the  impulse 
given  to  the  effort,  which  has  extended  to  all  industries,  to  so  im- 
prove all  mechanical  devices  that  manual  labor  would  be  minimized. 
In  this  region  where  only  the  search  for  wealth,  sudden  wealth,  was  the 
inspiring  motive  of  the  population,  each  man  was  his  own  employer 
to  a  large  degree.  In  consequence  labor  was  scarce  and  high  priced. 
Necessity  is  ever  the  mother  of  invention,  and  the  great  want  of  the 
region  —  a  full  supply  of  labor  —  together  with  a  thirst  for  wealth, 
pressed  hard  as  incentives  to  obtain  a  substitute  for  the  one,  and 
also  to  secure  the  other,  by  labor-saving  devices.  No  wonder  that 
the  search  was  active,  was  incessant,  in  all  directions.  No  wonder 
largeness  of  operations  captivated  the  venturesome  in  search  of 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  42,  p.  88 

3  Trans.  Lake  Superior  Min.  Inst.,  1864,  pp.  17,  18. 


12  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

wealth,  when  the  e very-day,  familiar  object  lesson  of  hydraulic  min- 
ing taught  that  ample  profits  depended  quite  as  much,  if  not  more, 
upon  the  magnitude  of  the  work  than  upon  the  richness  of  the 
material  subjected  to  the  work.  Into  this  whirl  of  the  mining  fever 
men  of  all  kinds  of  occupations  had  been  drawn.  Of  the  conven- 
tional, traditional  miner  there  were  not  enough  of  them  to  go  round 
in  the  places  to  be  filled  by  skill.  It  was  a  free  for  all  in  the  race  for 
wealth,  in  which  the  mechanic,  the  tradesman,  the  farmer,  men  of 
all  trades  and  professions,  took  a  hand  at  mining.  Throughout 
this  multitude  of  workers  there  was  an  almost  utter  ignorance  of 
the  ruts  of  the  profession  or  art  of  mining  as  taught  in  the  foreign 
schools,  the  only  schools,  so  that  each  started  out  with  fresh  ideas 
for  the  work  in  hand  and  worked  along  new  lines.  The  continued 
friction  of  so  much  fresh,  energetic  thought,  in  no  great  time  brought 
about  almost  a  revolution  in  all  mining  work,  as  well  as  in  its  imple- 
ments and  accessories. 

"  The  steam  hammer  suggested  the  steam  stamp  to  Wilson  and 
Ball,  and  they  were  quickly  adopted  in  the  Lake  Superior  copper 
region. 

"  By  skillful  improvements  they  have  been  increased  in  efficiency 
until  from  a  few  tons  per  day  they  are  now  capable  of  crushing 
several  hundred  tons  per  day  in  regular  work  in  that  length  of  time. 

"  The  machine  drill  was  another  offspring  of  the  steam  hammer. 
Its  great  assistance  to  the  miner  has  quite  revolutionized  his  work. 
The  Blake  crusher,  originally  devised  for  crushing  rock  to  make 
New  England  macadam  roads,  was  quickly  seized  upon  by  the 
gold  miners,  as  a  sine  qua  non,  for  their  mills.  At  the  hard  iron  ore 
mines  of  the  Lake  Superior  region,  since  the  soft  ore  miners  are 
having  their  innings  with  the  furnace  men,  Blake  crushers  of  enor- 
mous size  have  been  installed,  in  order  to  reduce  the  hard  iron  ore 
to  small  pieces  so  that  it  may  be  as  acceptable  to  the  furnace  men  as 
the  soft  ores." 

Finance.  —  The  effect  of  gold  and  silver  mining  is  to  create  new 
wealth  or  purchasing  power,  and  is  the  direct  acting  means  of  open- 
ing up  new  avenues  of  industry  and  trade,  which,  but  for  it,  would 
not  be  known  or  required.  It  has  the  same  effect  on  the  finance, 
trade  and  commerce  of  the  world  as  steam  has  on  locomotion.  Trade 
and  commerce  being  merely  exchange  of  commodities  between  the 
several  sections  of  the  community,  as  also  between  different  coun- 
tries, do  not  create  new  wealth,  but  merely  concentrate  existing 
wealth,  i.e.,  finance,  trade  and  commerce  do  not  add  to  the  stock  of 


PRECIOUS  METAL  MINING.  13 

bullion;  the  wealth  made  by  it  is  the  enhancement  of  the  value  of 
properties  and  merchandise,  and  the  extension  of  credit  and  paper 
currency  on  the  business  done.  All  the  trade  of  London  or  New  York 
will  not  add  one  ounce  of  gold  to  the  currency  or  actual  capital  of 
the  world's  wealth.  Any  party  of  miners  producing  any  given 
quantity  of  new  gold  from  the  earth  does  more  real  good  to  the  com- 
munity than  do  the  business  transactions  of  any  similar  body  of 
men  engaged  in  any  other  occupation,  because  the  gold  so  raised  by 
the  miners  becomes  an  immediate  addition  to  the  working  capital 
of  the  country,  or  community,  by  affording  additional  means  of 
extending  the  credit  and  securing  its  liabilities.  Thus  any  given 
quantity  of  gold  raised  is  not  only  so  much  more  money  in  immedi- 
ate circulation,  but  it  is  also  the  basis  from  which  radiates  additional 
capital,  in  the  shape  of  credit  or  paper  currency,  that  is  issued  and 
recognized  as  money  on  the  basis  of  gold.  The  continuous  produc- 
tion of  gold  has  become  a  necessity  to  the  requirements  of  mone- 
tary institutions,  by  whose  aid  trade  and  commerce  have  extended 
to  such  a  wonderful  extent.  Although  the  production  of  gold  dur- 
ing the  thirty  years  prior  to  1881  was  of  vast  proportions,  its  influ- 
ence was  extended  by  means  of  credit  and  confidence  in  its  security, 
by  almost  arithmetical  proportion.  No  figures  or  calculations  can 
estimate  the  real  advantages  that  have  been  gained  by  its  dissemi- 
nation throughout  the  channels  of  trade  and  commerce.  Its  results 
have  been  to  raise  the  value  of  commodities,  labor,  materials,  land, 
houses  and  other  properties.  It  has  given  an  immense  impetus  to 
all  trades,  manufactures,  arts,  sciences,  and  learning.  There  is 
danger,  however,  that  should  the  production  of  gold  fall  off  materi- 
ally the  credit  based  on  the  large  supply  of  new  gold  would  be  seri- 
ously affected  and  business  would  receive  a  pronounced  setback. 

According  to  Gibbon,  the  decline  of  Roman  wealth  began  even 
before  the  incursions  of  the  barbarians.  The  administration  of  the 
Roman  emperors  may  have  been  one  cause  of  the  amazing  desola- 
tion which  had  become  so  obvious  after  the  footsteps  of  the 
barbarians  had  been  seen  in  Italy;  but  another  cause  had  been 
operating,  which,  from  its  almost  imperceptible  progress,  may  have 
equally  escaped  the  observation  of  the  government  and  the  notice 
of  historians  of  their  deeds.  While  the  production  of  the  precious 
metals  from  the  mines  had  ceased,  and  the  countries  near  the  mines 
had  poured  the  whole,  or  the  greater  part  of  their  long  accumulating 
treasures  into  the  universal  empire,  there  would  be  a  consumption, 
a  decay  of  the  quantity  of  gold  and  silver  in  constant  progress, 


14  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

which,  by  lowering  the  metallic  price  of  all  other  commodities, 
would  check  that  industry  by  which  alone  any  country  can  con- 
tinue to  prosper.  Gibbon's  Rome,  and  the  History  of  Gold  and 
Silver,  Comstock,  1849,  p.  72. 

The  production  of  gold  might  be  decreased  by  causes  outside  the 
direct  curtailment  of  gold-mining  operations,  such  as,  for  instance, 
a  falling  off  in  the  production  of  copper  and  other  miscellaneous 
smelting  ores,  also  from  a  reduction  in  the  price  of  copper  and 
silver.1 

However,  over-production  has  its  drawbacks  as  well,  as  was 
shown  in  the  case  of  the  gold-mining  booms  of  California,  Australia 
and  Russia.  Both  labor  and  capital  were  attracted  to  these  dis- 
tricts from  all  over  the  world  and  the  yield  became  so  great  that 
the  purchasing  power  of  gold  declined  from  9  to  15  per  cent  accord- 
ing to  Jevons,  which  was  the  direct  cause  of  Holland  adopting  the 
single  silver  standard  and  other  countries  bimetallism.2 

No  attempt  is  made  to  enter  into  a  discussion  of  the  mining  risk. 
It  is  true  that  much  money  has  been  squandered  on  mining  enter- 
prises, even  when  the  element  of  speculation  is  eliminated,  and  it 
is  commonly  remarked  that  more  money  has  been  spent  in  mining 
than  has  been  made.  This  may  be  true  of  certain  districts,  but  by 
no  means  of  all  or  a  majority  even.  Even  in  California  as  late  as 
1880  mining  had  paid  18  per  cent  on  the  money  invested,  and  that, 
too,  in  spite  of  inexperienced,  impractical  and  unscientific  work  and 
in  a  variety  of  mines.  Further,  besides  this  return,  mining  had 
built  up  and  peopled  a  great  state  and  had  created  industries  for 
both  city  and  country.3 

Science.  —  "  In  a  general  way  mining  has  done  much  for  science. 
It  has  stimulated  men  of  all  modern  time  to  strive  more  earnestly 
to  solve  the  problems  which  relate  to  the  character  and  structure 
of  the  earth's  crust  and  the  forces  which  have  produced  these  struc- 
tures. And  in  turn,  science  has  done  much  for  mining.  During 
the  past  100  years,  the  geologists  in  all  civilized  countries  have 
labored  in  season  and  out  of  season,  trying  to  unravel  the  problems 
relating  to  the  earth's  structure,  and  they  have  helped  greatly  in 
reaching  an  intelligent  understanding  of  many  of  these  structures  in 
their  relation  to  the  extent,  nature,  and  origin  of  ore  deposits.  This 
has  been  carried  so  far  by  the  geologist  and  mining  engineer,  that 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  828. 
3  Mineral  Industry,  Vol.  3,  p.  304. 
3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  40,  p.  306. 


PRECIOUS  METAL  MINING.  15 

these  experts  can  to-day  do  much  toward  indicating  in  advance  the 
entire  absence  of  certain  great  classes  of  mineral  deposits  from  large 
portions  of  the  earth's  crust;  and,  in  the  regions  where  these  mineral 
deposits  do  occur,  they  can,  with  the  aid  of  a  limited  amount  of 
exploitation,  go  far  toward  determining  the  extent  and  nature 
and  value  of  many  of  these  deposits. 

"  The  chemist,  also,  has  made  most  valuable  contributions  to  the 
mining  development  in  the  study  of  the  character  and  composition 
of  the  various  ores  and  minerals,  thus  making  known  more  gen- 
erally and  by  more  accurate  methods  the  extent  and  richness  of  the 
ore  deposits.  The  chemist  has,  furthermore,  cooperated  with  the 
metallurgist  in  discovering,  from  time  to  time,  new  and  cheaper 
methods  for  the  treatment  of  these  ores.  The  chemist  and  metallur- 
gist have  also  done  much,  at  times,  to  stimulate  mining,  by  dis- 
covering new  uses  for  different  metals  and  other  mineral  products  — 
discoveries  which  made  not  only  possible,  but  profitable,  mining 
operations  which  previously  could  not  be  successfully  prosecuted. 

"  The  latest  of  the  great  contributions  from  science  has  been  in 
connection  with  the  modern  development  of  electricity.  The 
electrical  engineers  have  of  late  made  most  important  contributions 
to  the  mining  industry,  especially  in  the  arid  and  semiarid  regions, 
by  the  development  of  isolated  water  powers,  transmitting  this  power 
many  miles  for  the  purpose  of  operating  mining  machinery;  and  now 
the  electrical  furnace  and  other  electro-metallurgical  processes  are 
doing  much  toward  making  possible  the  reduction  of  many  ores  and 
the  refining  of  many  metals.  Furthermore,  the  electric  furnace  is 
to-day  manufacturing  graphite  and  other  materials  which  are  being 
used  in  the  lining  of  metallurgical  furnaces." 

Mining  Schools.  —  "  Until  during  the  last  few  decades  the  min- 
ing school  exerted  but  little  influence  in  the  development  of  mining 
interests  of  this  and  other  countries.  Indeed,  most  of  the  mining  in 
the  world  has  been  done  by  men  who  picked  up  their  information  in 
the  field,  in  the  gulch,  and  on  the  mountain  side,  and  the  average 
intelligence  and  aptness  of  the  American  miner  has  been  such  that  he 
has  gained  a  vast  amount  of  practical  information  in  this  way.  But, 
from  time  to  time  during  the  past  several  decades,  the  young  min- 
ing engineers  who  have  gone  out  from  the  Columbia  School  of  Mines 
and  other  later  institutions,  have  taken  to  the  pick  and  the  shovel 
and  the  drill,  and  have  worked  their  way  up  and  made  their  influ- 
ence felt  in  the  development  of  American  mining.  More  recently 
other  mining  schools  have  been  established  in  this  country,  especi- 


16  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

ally  by  the  Western  States,  as  here  in  Montana,  Colorado,  Michigan, 
South  Dakota,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  Missouri,  and  others;  and 
mining  departments  have  been  established  at  several  of  the  State 
universities,  as  in  Wyoming,  Idaho,  Washington,  California,  Texas, 
North  Carolina,  Virginia,  and  others.  These  various  mining  schools 
and  departments  are  now  annually  turning  out  a  number  of  young 
men  who  are  trained  in  the  theory  of  mining  and  metallurgy,  and 
these  also  are  going  into  the  field,  and  are  taking  up  the  pick  and  the 
shovel  and  the  drill,  making  themselves  masters  of  their  profession. 
In  the  future  these  will  become  more  and  more  an  important  factor 
in  stimulating  mining  developments." 

Our  large  mines  have  proven  to  be  veritable  mining  schools;  for 
instance,  the  Comstock  mines  have  furnished  every  country  with 
superintendents.  In  times  past  the  mines  of  Mexico,  South  Amer- 
ica, Alaska,  Australia,  Africa,  India,  China,  and  Japan  have  drawn 
their  leading  mining  men  from  that  source,  and  the  foremen  and 
assistants  were  not  loath  to  go  as  promotion  was  slow  in  the  mines 
of  the  Comstock  lode. 

Looking  back  over  the  history  of  the  United  States  as  well  as  that 
of  every  other  country,  and  especially  those  in  which  material  pros- 
perity has  made  rapid  and  brilliant  progress,  it  is  evident  that  there 
is  much  that  is  wanting  which  has  been  pointed  out  by  another  in 
eminently  fitting  words:2 

"  But  let  us  conceal  from  ourselves  the  fact  that  mere  growth  in 
wealth,  mere  development  in  industry,  mere  increase  in  popu- 
lation, are  not  the  best  evidences  of  national  greatness;  and  unless 
our  progress  in  art,  learning,  morals,  and  religion  keep  pace  with 
our  material  growth  we  have  cause  rather  of  humiliation  than  for 
glorification." 

"  Whatsoever  things  are  true,  whatsoever  things  are  honest, 
whatsoever  things  are  just,  whatsoever  things  are  pure,  whatsoever 
things  are  lovely,  whatsoever  things  are  of  good  report  "  constitute 
the  real  glory  of  a  nation,  without  which  the  magnificent  national 
structure  which  in  a  century  we  have  reared,  will  disappear  lt  like 
the  baseless  fabric  of  a  vision." 

Development  of  Mining.  —  Prior  to  the  discovery  of  gold  in  Cal- 
ifornia in  1849  gold  mining  in  the  United  States  was  confined  largely 
to  Southern  States,  as  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina, 
Georgia  and  Alabama.  The  last  half  of  the  nineteenth  century 

1  Mines  and  Minerals,  Dec.,  1902,  p.  220. 
3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  5,  p.  173. 


PRECIOUS  METAL  MINING.  17 

witnessed  the  growth  of  a  great  gold  and  silver  mining  industry  in  the 
Western  States;  an  iron  industry  of  stupendous  proportions  in  the 
Lake  Superior  region;  lead  and  zinc  in  the  Mississippi  Valley;  while  coal 
is  found  in  large  quantities  in  almost  every  section  of  the  country. 

"  The  greater  development  of  our  mining  interests,  like  the  greater 
development  of  the  country  itself,  has  taken  place  during  the  past 
few  decades.  This  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  the  total  value  of  the 
mineral  products  of  this  country  has  grown  from  about  $370,000,000 
in  1880,  to  more  than  $600,000,000  in  1890,  and  to  more  than 
$1,000,000,000  in  1900.  This  means  that  while  the  United  States 
is  expanding  over  the  surface  of  the  earth  it  is  also  expanding  under- 
ground; it  is  producing  the  gold  with  which  to  purchase  the  other 
countries  as  they  are  offered  for  sale." 

"  Copper  now  ranks  second  in  the  value  of  its  product,  the  more 
important  metals  ranging  in  1900  as  follows:  Pig  iron,  $260,000,000; 
copper,  $98,500,000;  gold,  $79,000,000;  silver,  $74,500,000;  lead, 
$23,560,000;  and  zinc,  $10,650,000."  l 

The  following  summary  of  the  yield  of  the  various  mineral  prod- 
ucts as  late  as  1897,  gives  an  idea  of  the  growth  of  the  mining  indus- 
try and  the  development  of  the  country.2 

"If  we  fail  in  an  appreciation  of  the  extent  of  the  mining  in- 
dustry we  are  equally  at  fault  in  recognizing  the  influence  which  it 
exerts  upon  our  development.  The  utilization  of  150,000,000  to 
175,000,000  long  tons  of  coal  annually,  won  from  American  mines, 
for  industrial  and  household  purposes,  may,  perhaps,  be  approxi- 
mately gauged;  or  we  may  measure  the  advance  in  wealth  due  to 
the  exploitations  of  the  minerals  each  year  to  produce  55,000,000  to 
60,000,000  ounces  of  silver,  2,000,000  to  2,250,000  ounces  of  gold, 
350,000,000  to  400,000,000  pounds  of  copper,  170,000  short  tons  of 
lead,  90,000  short  tons  of  zinc,  quicksilver  to  the  amount  of  36,000 
flasks,  more  than  500,000  to  1,000,000  pounds  of  aluminum, 
53,000,000  barrels  of  petroleum,  8,000,000  to  9,000,000  barrels  of 
cement,  11,500,000  to  13,500,000  barrels  of  salt,  clays  valued  at 
$10,000,000,  $35,000,000  worth  of  building  stone,  $13,000,000 
worth  of  natural  gas,  12,000,000  to  14,000,000  pounds  of  borax, 
15,000,000  to  16,000,000  tons  of  iron  ore,  etc.  But  even  this  array 
of  figures  does  not  convey  a  just  idea  of  conditions,  and  few  truly 
realize  what  has  been  and  what  is  being  done  by  the  mining  industry 
to  advance  our  nation." 

1  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  23,  p.  219. 
3  Colliery  Engineer,  Vol.  18,  p.  13. 


18  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  growth  of  the  mining  industry  has  been  of  direct  benefit  to 
the  manufacturers  of  machinery  and,  in  fact,  all  commodities, 
although  the  manufacturing  of  mining  machinery  is  in  itself  one  of 
the  large  industries  of  the  country.  Taking  dredging  machinery 
alone:  It  is  claimed  that  in  California,  in  1906,  more  machinery  was 
purchased  in  weight  and  cost  of  manufacture  (by  that  industry) 
than  any  other  mining  industry.1 

In  a  paper  entitled,  "  The  Relation  of  the  Mining  Law  of  the 
United  States  to  the  Development  of  Its  Mineral  Resources,"  Dr. 
R.  W.  Raymond  makes  the  following  statements:2  "Enough  has 
been  written,  perhaps,  concerning  the  curious,  haphazard  origin  of 
our  unique  mining  law  and  the  innumerable  disputes  which  its 
eccentric,  vague,  inconsistent  and  ill-considered  provisions  entail 
upon  mine-owners  —  though,  perhaps,  all  these  things  will  need  to 
be  reiterated  again  and  again  before  they  will  be  realized  by  all 
parties  whose  cooperation  is  necessary  to  a  radical  reform. 

"  Enough  has  been  written  likewise,  perhaps,  concerning  the 
object  lesson  presented  at  this  time  by  the  mining  districts  of  the 
world,  including  the  greater  part  of  the  mining  industry  of  this 
country,  in  which  mining  litigation  (in  the  sense  of  disputes  over  the 
boundaries  of  mining  rights,  otherwise  held  by  perfect  title)  is 
unknown,  while  in  certain  of  our  States  and  Territories  such  litiga- 
tion burdens  the  courts,  oppresses  the  owners  and  operators  of 
mines,  and  enriches  only  lawyers  and  experts.  This  lesson  also 
may  need  to  be  enforced  herealter  by  repeated  exposition;  but  only 
because  of  the  slowness  of  the  pupils  who  should  have  learned  it 
long  ago. 

"  The  full  development  of  the  mineral  resources  of  the  West  will 
never  come  to  pass  until  the  capital  it  requires  is  better  protected 
by  definiteness  in  title  and  boundaries  of  mining  property.  And 
that  cannot  be  done,  in  my  judgment,  by  any  amendment  of  the 
present  law  which  shall  leave  in  it  the  present  abnormal,  irregular, 
indefinable,  precarious  and  mischievous  '  extra-lateral  right.7  ' 

The  causes  of  failure  in  mining  are  many  and  varied,  varying 
somewhat  with  each  locality  and  material  produced.  The  principal 
causes  of  failure  are  probably :  lack  of  proper  foresight  in  the  develop- 
ment and  equipment  of  the  property;  extreme  positions  taken  by 
the  management,  i.e.,  either  too  lavish  expenditure  in  equipment,  or 
lack  of  appreciation  to  provide  sufficient  funds  for  the  proper  develop- 

1  California  Miners'  Association  Annual,  1906,  p.  115. 
3  Mineral  Industry,  1894,  pp.  711,  713. 


PRECIOUS  METAL  MINING.  19 

ment  of  the  property  (a  gold  mine  because  it  is  such  cannot  be  oper- 
ated extravagantly,  but  on  a  sound  business  basis);  too  great  an 
expenditure  for  speculative  purposes  and  too  little  for  practical 
mining;  too  great  an  expense  in  extracting  ores  and  too  great  a  loss 
in  the  extraction  of  values.  Other  minor  causes  are:  basing  esti- 
mates of  ore  obtainable  and  value  of  the  same  on  small  extent  of 
openings  and  on  a  few  assays;  lack  of  experience  and  knowledge  of 
operation  of  mines;  erecting  mills  before  mine  is  assured;  holding 
mines  without  working  them;  ill-adapted  methods  and  machinery; 
high  salaried  officials;  encountering  much  water;  and  excitements.1 

In  closing  this  introductory  chapter  we  can  hardly  do  better 
than  to  quote  the  words  of  Dr.  R.  W.  Raymond:2 

"  Thus  East  and  West  bear  witness  of  our  great  inheritance  of 
natural  wealth.  Every  period  of  geological  change  has  been  laid 
under  contribution  to  endow  with  rich  legacies  some  portion  of  our 
land.  Our  territory  epitomizes  the  processes  of  all  time  and  their 
useful  results  to  man.  Divided,  yet  in  a  stronger  sense  united,  by 
mountain  chains  and  mighty  rivers,  our  diversified  mineral  resources 
may  figuratively  represent,  as  I  firmly  believe  they  will  literally 
help  to  secure  and  maintain  our  characteristic  national  life,  a  vast 
community  of  communities,  incapable  alike  of  dissolution  and  of 
centralization;  one,  by  mutual  needs  and  affections,  as  the  continent 
is  one;  many,  by  multiform  industries  and  forms  of  life,  as  the 
members  of  the  continent  are  many." 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  1898,  pp.  4,  9,  and  Min.  and 
Sci.  Press,  Vol.  29,  p.  88. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  1,  p.  39,  1873. 


CHAPTER   II. 
AN  HISTORICAL  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

First  Discoveries  and  Legends.  —  Legends  concerning  the  presence, 
occurrence  and  use  of  the  precious  metals  in  the  United  States  are 
almost  entirely  lacking.  However,  relics  of  mining  operations  prior 
to  the  earliest  recollections  of  the  aboriginal  Americans  are  not 
altogether  wanting.  Such  indications  of  prehistoric  mining  on  the 
North  American  continent  were  found  and  are  yet  to  be  seen  in  the 
Southern  coastal  States  and  those  States  and  Territories  bordering 
on  Mexico,  both  of  which  localities  were  formerly  occupied  by  the 
Spanish.  Further,  similar  indications  of  early  mining  have  been 
found  in  Alaska  and  Michigan.  However,  it  is  only  through  careful 
search  of  the  records  of  early  European  explorers  of  the  more  civi- 
lized nations  that  it  is  possible  to  get  a  glimpse  of  the  conditions  and 
traditions  of  the  peoples  inhabiting  a  land  that  was  a  virgin  wilder- 
ness from  sea  to  sea. 

Necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention  and  adaptation,  but  neces- 
sity had  not  called,  and  up  to  the  earliest  times  that  we  have  authen- 
tic records  of  the  inhabitants  of  North  America,  there  had  been  no 
evident  or  pressing  demand  for  the  use  of  the  precious  metals  and 
their  adaptation  as  money  or  jewels,  and  it  was  then  only  on  the 
advent  of  the  foreigner  with  his  ideas  of  trade  and  barter  that  the 
need  of  a  medium  of  exchange  was  created.  In  like  manner  was  the 
primitive  taste  for  decoration  by  leaves  and  shells  developed  into  the 
elaborate  and  ostentatious  display  of  jewels,  of  precious  stones  and 
precious  metals. 

Regarding  the  existence  of  such  pronounced  evidences  of  pre- 
vious mining  operations  as  pits  and  shafts  sunk  in  hard  rock,  walls 
and  ditches  made  for  the  control  of  loose  materials  and  water,  and 
buildings  erected  evidently  for  the  treatment  of  mineral  and  the 
possible  reduction  of  ore,  practically  no  word  comes  to  us  from  the 
past.  The  vastness  of  the  territory  compared  with  the  number  of 
the  inhabitants  and  the  dreary,  rough,  uninviting  character  of  the 
country  in  which  deposits  of  the  precious  metals  have  in  many  cases 
been  found,  together  with  their  inaccessibility,  must  have  been 

20 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD   AND   SILVER.  21 

largely  responsible  for  the  remarkable  lack  of  knowledge  evinced  by 
the  early  inhabitants  of  the  country.  Further,  extreme  climatic 
conditions  coupled  with  scourges  of  disease  may  have  eliminated 
portions  of  tribes  who  perchance  had  acquired  such  information,  either 
through  their  own  efforts  or  on  the  discovery  of  other  people's  work, 
before  it  could  be  transmitted  by  word  of  mouth  to  surviving  mem- 
bers of  the  tribe. 

Dr.  D.  G.  Brinton  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  Indians  are  respon- 
sible for  some  of  the  development,  at  least,  in  the  Southern  States.1 
And  it  would  seem  that  many  of  the  supposed  ancient  workings, 
especially  in  the  Nacoochee  Valley,  were  made  by  them  instead  of 
the  Spaniards  to  whom  they  are  attributed  —  the  work  seems  to 
have  been  done  comparatively  recently.2  That  the  Indians  of 
Georgia  knew  where  gold  and  silver  was  to  be  found  can  hardly  be 
doubted,  for  when  questioned  regarding  it  they  indicated  the  direc- 
tion in  which  it  was  found,  which  corresponds  well  with  the  known 
localities.  However,  it  is  known  that  they  prized  copper  as  highly 
as  they  did  gold,  and  it  is  possible  that  the  two  metals  were  thought 
of  and  spoken  of  by  them  in  such  terms  as  to  confuse  their  inquirers. 
According  to  Mr.  R.  L.  Packard  there  is  good  reason  to  believe  that 
the  principal  source  of  native  copper  was  the  Lake  Superior  mines.3 

Lemoyne  in  his  Brevis  Narratio  of  the  journey  made  by  Laudon- 
niere  in  1564  says:  "  That  chief  sent  me  a  sheet  of  copper  dug  from 
those  mountains  (Appalachian),  from  the  base  of  which  flows  a 
torrent  rich  in  gold,  or,  as  the  Indians  think,  in  copper,  for  from  this 
stream  they  draw  up  sand  in  a  hollow  cane-like  reed  until  it  is  full, 
then  by  shaking  and  jarring  it  they  find  grains  of  silver  and  gold 
mingled  with  the  sand.  Hence  they  conjecture  that  there  is  a  vein 
of  this  metal  (sic)  in  those  mountains."  Further,  he  says:  "  Plenty 
of  gold  and  silver  is  found  among  them  and  they  use  them  in  inter- 
nal commerce.  As  I  learned  from  themselves,  these  metals  were 
obtained  from  the  wrecks  of  ships  which  had  been  thrown  on  the 
coast,  and  I  am  readily  persuaded  that  this  is  true,  for  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  Promontory  (Florida)  silver  is  more  plentiful  than 
to  the  northward.  They  assert,  however,  that  in  the  Appalachian 
Mountains  there  are  veins  of  copper  (aes)." 

Charles  C.  Jones  says,  in  his  paper  on  Antiquities  of  the  Southern 
Indians,  particularly  of  the  Georgia  Tribes:  "  Gold  and  silver,  to  a 

1  Notes  on  the  Floridian  Peninsula,  1859. 

2  Hernando  de  Soto,  by  Charles  E.  Jones,  Jr.,  Savannah,  1880. 

3  American  Antiquarian,  Vol.  15,  1893,  pp.  67,  152. 


22  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

limited  extent,  were  employed  in  the  fabrication  of  ornaments. 
Small  masses  of  these  precious  metals  were  picked  up  by  the  natives 
in  pockets,  or  gathered  in  the  beds  of  streams  flowing  through 
auriferous  regions,  and  perforated  and  worn  as  pendants.  Gold 
beads  —  evidently  not  European  in  their  manufacture  —  rudely 
hammered  into  round  and  oval  shapes,  with  holes  drilled  through 
their  centers  or  upper  portions,  have  been  found  in  the  Etowah 
Valley,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  large  mounds  on  Colonel  Tumlin's 
plantation.  "  In  1834,  Colonels  Merriwether  and  Lumsden,  while 
engaged  in  digging  a  canal  in  Duke's-Creek  Valley,  unearthed  a 
subterranean  village  consisting  of  thirty-four  small  cabins  .  .  .,  above 
these  little  houses  .  .  .  trees  were  growing  from  two  to  three  feet  in 
diameter.  The  estimated  age  of  these  trees  was  somewhat  over 
two  hundred  years.  In  Valley-River  Valley,  eleven  old  shafts  have 
been  found,  varying  in  depth  from  ninety  to  one  hundred  feet.  Six 
miles  southeast  of  this  locality  are  five  other  shafts  similar  in  age 
and  construction.  The  presence  of  iron  and  the  marks  of  sharp 
metallic  tools  prove  that  these  ancient  mining  operations  cannot  be 
referred  to  the  labors  of  the  Indians." 

Early  records  state  that  the  Indians  of  southeastern  Kentucky  in 
Daniel  Boone's  time  and  later,  exchanged  native  silver  with  the 
white  men  in  barter  for  other  goods.  Further,  it  is  related  that  the 
silver  thus  obtained  had  been  smelted  or  reduced  into  a  rough 
bullion  by  a  process  unknown  to  the  white  men.  The  veins  from 
which  the  silver  was  obtained  were  never  located. 

In  1516,  however,  Diego  Miruelo  obtained  a  little  gold  from  the 
natives,1  and  in  1519  Pineda,  who  coasted  along  the  western  coast  of 
the  peninsula  2  and  along  the  Texan  coast,  reported  that  many  of 
the  rivers  contained  gold,  and  that  the  natives  wore  golden  jewels. 

Pamphilo  de  Narvaez,  who  landed  at  Tampa  Bay  in  1527,  reports 
seeing  traces  of  gold,  and  was  informed  by  the  natives  that  it  was  to 
be  found  in  considerable  quantities  in  a  province  called  Apalache.3 

A  Jesuit  named  Father  Kino  in  1701  revisited  a  station  (San 
Dyonisius)  on  the  Colorado  River,  above  the  mouth  of  the  Gila, 
which  he  had  established  in  1700,  and  states  in  his  journal  that  the 
Yuma  Indians,  among  whom  he  had  labored,  had  an  abundance  of 
ornaments  and  charms  of  gold  which  they  obtained  from  washing 

1  Barcia,  Eusaio  Cronologico  Ano  MDXVI,  fol.  2. 

2  Navarrette,  Vol.  3,  pp.  147-153. 

s  Relation  d'Alvar  Nunez  Cabeca  de  Vaca:  Ternaux-Compans,  Chap.  IV,  p. 
29. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  23 

the  dirt  of  the  hillsides  on  the  California  side,  just  across  from  the 
newly  established  station.1 

The  Cocopahs  in  lower  California  have  had  access  to  gold  as  far 
back  as  we  have  any  record  of  them,  which  they  have  used  as  a 
medium  of  exchange  in  barter,  also  as  ornaments  —  some  exceed- 
ingly rare  specimens  of  virgin  gold  having  been  found  among  them.3 

It  is  evident  from  discoveries  made  in  the  Nome  region  that  at 
least  a  part  of  the  fields  was  known  prior  to  the  advent  of  the  Amer- 
ican miner.  Evidence  exists  that  the  gravels  were  worked  intelli- 
gently. Extensive  gravel  workings  seem  to  have  been  conducted 
at  Gold  Run,  for  in  1900  a  fairly  well  made  stone  wall  was  encoun- 
tered, which  for  some  purpose  had  been  built  up  from  bed-rock,  and 
must  undoubtedly  have  required  some  engineering  skill.  However, 
this  work  must  either  have  been  carried  on  prior  to  the  advent  of 
the  present  race  of  people  into  the  country,  or  was  carried  on  with- 
out their  knowledge,  for  the  Esquimaux  have  no  tradition  regard- 
ing the  presence  of  gold  or  strangers,  at  least  had  not  mentioned  it 
to  traders  as  far  back  as  1850-70. 3 

That  the  Esquimaux  knew  of  gold  at  a  later  date,  if  not  before, 
is  shown  by  the  fact  that  two  Laplander  reindeer  herders  desert- 
ing from  the  Government  station  at  Port  Clearance  in  the  fall  of 
1898,  stopped  with  Esquimaux  at  Cape  Rodney  on  their  way  to 
St.  Michael.  Here  they  saw  crude  golden  ornaments  made  of 
nuggets,  which  led  them  to  search  for  gold  as  they  worked  down 
the  coast.  Near  the  present  location  of  Nome  they  discovered  gold 
on  Anvil  Creek.4 

Regarding  the  occurrence  of  gold  and  silver  in  the  northern  states, 
especially  Michigan,  there  is  also  a  decided  lack  of  definite  informa- 
tion, although  it  is  likely  that  the  natives  would  have  noticed  them 
and  made  use  of  them  sooner  than  might  be  expected  of  people 
not  so  familiar  with  native  metals  as  were  these  northern  tribes 
with  copper,  which  occurred  abundantly  both  in  glacial  drift  and 
in  veins. 

However,  the  northern  Indians  were  hot  without  traditions 
regarding  the  occurrence  of  mineral  riches,  but  their  accounts  usu- 
ally referred  to  some  distant  locality.  Charles  Whittlesey  in  his 
paper  "Ancient  Mining  on  the  Shores  of  Lake  Superior"  says: 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  81,  p.  280. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  27,  p.  347. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  86,  p.  303. 

4  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  69,  p.  105. 


24  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

"  I  have  listened  to  many  wonderful  tales  concerning  distant  min- 
eral riches.  An  aged  Chippeway,  by  the  name  of  Kimdickan,  whom 
I  met  on  the  Ontonagon  in  1845,  stated  that  as  he  was  one  day 
sailing  along  the  western  shore  of  the  Gogebic  (or  Akogebe)  Lake, 
at  the  head  of  the  west  branch  of  the  river,  he  heard  an  explosion 
on  the  face  of  a  rocky  cliff  that  overlooked  the  water,  and  saw 
pieces  of  something  fall  at  a  distance  from  him,  both  in  the  lake  and 
on  the  beach.  When  he  had  found  some  of  them,  they  proved  to 
be  a  white  metal,  like  '  Shuneaw '  (money),  which  the  white  man 
gave  to  the  Indians  at  La  Pointe."  * 

Father  Jacker,  a  priest  who  made  diligent  search  into  traditions 
of  the  inhabitants  regarding  the  early  miners  of  Lake  Superior, 
found  but  one  Indian,  John  Metakosigo  ("  the  smoker  of  pure  tobac- 
co ")  who  seemed  to  know  the  identity  of  these  early  workers.  He 
stated  that  it  was  Gete  Wemitogojiwag,  i.e.,  "  the  people  possessed 
of  wooden  boats,"  which  would  apply  equally  to  the  French  and 
Canadians.  It  has,  however,  been  pointed  out  that  they  could 
hardly  have  been  respoiisible  for  the  workings,  owing  to  the  large 
accumulations  of  debris  in  them;  together  with  the  extensive  growth 
of.  timber.  Furthermore,  the  masses  of  copper  they  extracted 
from  the  pits  could  hardly  have  been  transported  in  the  light  Indian 
canoes  of  to-day.  There  might,  however,  have  been  another  people 
possessed  of  wooden  boats,  known  to  the  ancestors  of  the  present 
Indians;  when  and  why  they  left  these  shores  is  idle  to  conjecture, 
but  it  was  probably  at  least  four  hundred  years  ago.  If  this  is 
true  there  is  little  wonder  that  traditions  are  scarce  and  fragmen- 
tary.2 

Naturally,  most  of  their  legends  related  to  copper,  but  as  Mr. 
Whittlesey  points  out,  this  was  considered  more  as  a  god  (a  sacred 
Manitou)  than  an  object  of  daily  use.  Further,  they  had  a  "  super- 
stitious dread  "  of  revealing  the  locality  of  mineral  bodies  to  foreign- 
ers, evidently  fearing  the  wrath  of  the  gods. 

"  If  the  Indians  possessed  traditions  from  their  ancestors  relating 
to  ancient  mines,  or  the  people  who  worked  them,  those  must  also 
have  come  to  the  ears  of  the  Jesuits.  It  also  seems  to  be  highly 
improbable  that  their  ancestors  either  knew  of  ancient  mines,  not 
worked  by  themselves,  or  the  people  who  wrought  them.  Tradition 
is  the  only  history  of  savage  nations,  and  the  fault  of  this  species 

1  Ancient  Mining  on  the  Shores  of  Lake  Superior,  Smithsonian  Contributions 
to  Knowledge,  Vol.  13,  p.  2. 

3  American  Journal  of  Mining,  Vol.  1,  p.  297. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  25 

of  knowledge  is  not  in  the  absence,  but  in  the  excess  of  materials, 
such  as  they  are."  1 

Probably  the  first  mention  of  the  discovery  of  native  copper  is 
made  in  the  "  Relations  de  ce  que  s'est  passe  de  plus  remarquable 
aux  Missions  des  peres  de  la  compagnie  de  Jesus  au  la  Nouvelle 
France  "  for  1659-60,  which  cites  the  report  of  an  Indian,  named 
Awatanick,  who  had  journeyed  from  Green  Bay  to  Lake  Superior 
in  1658.  He  says:  "  that  its  borders  were  enriched  with  lead 
minerals  and  copper  of  such  excellent  quality  that  it  is  already 
reduced  in  pieces  as  large  as  the  fist.  There  may  also  be  seen 
rocks  which  contain  large  veins  of  turquoise "  (green  silicate  of 
copper).2 

Mention  is  made  in  the  same  connection  "  of  the  existence  of  gold 
on  St.  Joseph's  island,  and  that  the  rivers  of  Lake  Superior  bring 
down  grains  of  gold." 

It  is  evident  from  the  above  that  the  scant  amount  of  legendary 
information  we  have  is  limited  to  that  portion  of  the  United  States 
now  composed  of  the  coastal  and  bounding  states,  the  fringe,  as  it 
were,  of  a  vast  country,  the  interior  inhabitants  of  which  were  wholly 
ignorant  of  the  presence  of  the  precious  metals.  What  metals  they 
had  in  their  possession  and  their  knowledge  of  them  seems  easily 
traceable  to  a  few  of  the  principal  localities  where  such  metals  are 
now  known  to  exist  and  usually  lie  in  this  bordering  zone. 

Masses  of  native  copper  with  pieces  of  native  silver  attached  have 
been  found  in  the  mounds  of  the  Mississippi  valley,  which  would 
seem  to  indicate  that  the  Indians  were  not  acquainted  with  methods, 
of  treating  metal  other  than  by  pounding  or  hammering  them. 
If  melted,  the  silver  and  copper  would  form  an  alloy.  Dr.  John 
Locke,  of  Cincinnati,  had  such  a  piece  of  copper  which  had  been 
flattened  by  hammering,  yet  still  showed  the  native  silver.3 

Arkansas  is  situated  far  enough  south  to  have  felt  the  influence 
of  the  Spanish  invasion,  and  it  is  probably  largely  due  to  the  legends 
regarding  the  early  workings  of  the  Spaniards  that  prospecting  and 
mining  have  been  so  persistently  prosecuted  —  a  charm,  as  it  were, 
being  lent  to  the  search  for  the  precious  metals  in  a  most  unlikely 

1  Ancient  Mining  on  the  Shores  of  Lake  Superior.    Smithsonian  Contributions 
to  Knowledge,  Vol.  13,  pp.  2  and  3. 

2  Report  of  the  Geology  and  Topography  of  a  Portion  of  the  Lake  Superior 
Land  District  in  the  State  of  Michigan,  by  J.  W.  Foster  and  J.  D.  Whitney,  Doc. 
No.  69,  p.  10,  1850. 

3  Ancient  Mining  on  the  Shores  of  Lake  Superior.   Smithsonian  Contributions 
to  Knowledge,  Vol.  13,  p.  27. 


26  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

locality,  which  has,  however,  been  largely  dispelled  by  subsequent 
explorations. 

Early  History.  —  In  the  following  accounts  of  the  early  discovery 
of  gold  and  silver  in  the  United  States  no  attempt  is  made  to  group 
the  history  of  the  various  sections  into  contemporaneous  periods, 
but  rather  to  make  a  more  or  less  arbitrary  division  in  time  between 
what  may  be  considered  legendary  and  early  history  as  the  begin- 
ning, and  certain  dates  made  prominent  by  the  occurrence  of  some 
important  event,  as  the  close  of  the  early  history  and  the  opening 
up  of  a  new  chapter  of  recent  history.  Further,  the  events  will  be 
given  in  chronological  order  rather  than  by  localities  or  states,  owing 
to  the  more  or  less  interrelated  occurrence  of  events,  requiring  the 
constant  reference  to  and  remention  of  various  localities  in  the  same 
general  region. 

The  more  trustworthy  reports  regarding  the  presence  of  gold  in 
that  portion  of  North  America  now  occupied  by  the  United  States 
antedate  its  colonization,  as  is  shown  by  the  following  account  by 
localities. 

The  East  and  Southeast  —  The  Southern  Appalachian  States.  - 
The  first  authentic  statement  relative  to  the  presence  of  gold  is  that 
on  June  4,  1513,  while  Ponce  de  Leon  lay  off  the  coast  of  Florida,  he 
was  informed  that  a  cacique  at  no  great  distance  contained  some 
gold.1  In  1516  and  1519,  Diego  Miruelo  and  Pineda  reported  the 
presence  of  gold  and  the  fact  that  some  was  secured  —  the 
latter  especially  while  cruising  along  the  western  side  of  Florida 
and  along  the  Texan  coast.  In  1527  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez  re- 
ports seeing  gold  and  hearing  that  its  source  was  the  Apalache 
province. 

In  1539,  Hernando  de  Soto  landed  at  Tampa  Bay.  He  made 
extensive  search  for  gold  as  the  numerous  relics  of  his  fortifications 
and  exploratory  works  indicate.  The  Chattahoochee  River,  "  so 
called  in  the  Cherokee  tongue  from  rubies  being  found  in  its  sands," 
was  probably  his  western  base  of  supplies  while  on  his  conquering 
march  through  the  Creek,  Seminole  and  Cherokee  nations.  The 
'Chattahoochee  and  Chestatee  rivers,  as  well  as  other  streams  trav- 
ersing the  gold  belt,  have  been  productive  of  many  and  quite  exten- 
sive auriferous  gravel  deposits.  It  is  therefore  rather  surprising  that 
De  Soto  did  not  find  more  of  the  golden  wealth  that  he  sought, 
unless,  as  has  been  suggested,  "  the  narrative  of  his  expedition  shows 
that  he  was  too  busily  occupied  with  obtaining  supplies  and'  his 

1  Herrera,  Dec.  1,  Book  9,  Chap.  V. 


DISCOVERY   OF   GOLD   AND  SILVER.  27 

favorite  '  sport  of  killing  Indians '  to  undertake  any  serious  mining 
operations."  1 

It  is  possible,  as  previously  stated,  that  the  Indians  were  responsible 
for  some  of  the  workings  presumably  made  for  mining  purposes, 
although  Mr.  C.  E.  Jones  is  inclined  to  attribute  them  to  Tristan  de 
Luna,  citing  J.  Lederer  to  the  effect  that  the  Spaniards  were  occupied 
in  mining  here  as  late  as  1669  or  1670.2 

There  are  traditions  to  the  effect  that  the  lead  and  silver  mines 
of  Newburyport,  Massachusetts,  were  known  prior  to  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  and  that  masses  of  galena  were  obtained  from  which 
bullets  were  made.  These  mines  were  not  worked,  however,  until 
1874  or  thereabouts. 

In  a  report  by  Thomas  Jefferson  in  1782,  a  brief  account  is  given 
of  the  finding  of  a  piece  of  ore  on  the  Rappahannock,  Virginia,  and 
the  statement  is  made  that  no  other  indications  of  gold  were  noticed.3 

The  Southwest  and  West  —  Texas,  New  Mexico,  Arizona  and 
Southern  California.  —  The  history  of  the  early  discoveries  of  gold 
and  silver  in  what  is  now  the  southwestern  part  of  the  United  States 
can  hardly  be  segregated  to  advantage  and  given  as  complete 
accounts  of  the  various  portions  of  the  whole,  as  it  now  stands  sub- 
divided into  states  and  territories.  It  will  then  be  considered 
chronologically  instead  of  by  states  or  given  areas. 

It  is  very  probable  that  gold  and  silver  were  discovered  and 
worked  at  an  early  date  in  Texas,  New  Mexico,  Arizona  and  Southern 
California  by  Spaniards  who  gradually  worked  their  way  northward 
with  missionaries  of  the  various  religious  orders,  or  shortly  after 
they  had  penetrated  the  wilderness  and  established  a  few  and  widely 
separated  stations. 

The  period  in  which  the  Spanish  were  most  actively  engaged  in 
working  the  mines  of  Mexico  was  between  1521  and  1810  —  the  con- 
quest of  Cortez  and  the  Mexican  War  of  Independence.  Accord- 
ing to  Humboldt's  map,  "  New  Spain  "  reached  to  Tucson,  Arizona, 
on  the  north,  and  to  Lake  Charles,  Louisiana,  on  the  east,  being  sub- 
divided into  twelve  provinces,  or  intendencias,  which  were  still 
further  subdivided  into  thirty-seven  mineral  districts  each,  known  as 
disputaciones  de  minera.  Fully  three  thousand  mines  were  included 
in  this  area,  which  could  be  roughly  grouped  into  about  five  hundred 

1  Gold  Fields  of  the  Southern  Appalachians,  U.  S.  G.  S.  16  Rept.,  pt.  3,  p.  254. 

2  From  Harris's  Collection  of  Voyages  and  Travels,  Vol.  2,  1705,  Appendix, 
p.  19,  including  references  to  the  Spanish  mines. 

8  Notes  on  Virginia,  1787. 


28  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

mining  camps  or  realitos.  The  southwestern  portion  of  the  United 
States  was  then  Spanish  land  by  right  of  conquest  and  was  included 
in  the  above  classification.1 

Conorado  as  early  as  1539-40  explored  the  country  lying  between 
the  head  of  the  Gulf  of  California  (the  Vermilion  Sea)  and  Santa 
Fe*;  when  the  dry  placers  of  the  district  of  northern  Sonora  were 
discovered,  together  with  the  ancient  ruins  known  as  the  Casa 
Grande  in  the  Gila  Valley.  The  lack  of  success  of  this  expedition 
discouraged  further  explorations  in  this  region  for  a  number  of 
years.  Subsequently  the  English  navigator,  Sir  Francis  Drake, 
visited  the  western  coast  of  North  America,  entered  the  bay  to 
which  he  gave  his  name,  and  remained  for  several  weeks.  This 
was  in  1579,  at  which  time  he  took  possession  of  the  country  in  the 
name  of  his  sovereign,  Queen  Elizabeth,  giving  it  the  name  of  New 
Albion.  His  representations  of  the  country  on  his  return  to 
England  were  that  of  a  land  abounding  in  gold.  This  led  the 
historian,  Hakluyt,  to  make  the  statement  that  "  there  is  no  part 
of  the  earth  here  to  be  taken  up  wherein  there  is  not  a  reasonable 
quantity  of  gold  or  silver,"  which,  as  has  been  pointed  out,  was 
evidently  far  from  the  truth,  as  little  or  no  gold  or  silver  has  ever 
been  found  in  this  locality.  However,  it  is  possible  that  Drake  got 
his  information  secondhand  and  not  through  any  investigation  of 
his  own. 

It  is  not  impossible,  however,  that  the  tales  told  and  reports  made 
regarding  the  abundance  of  gold  were  promulgated  with  the  inten- 
tion of  removing  suspicion  from  his  method  of  acquiring  the  great 
store  of  precious  metals  which  he  brought  back  with  him.  If  the 
current  reports  are  true,  he  looted  the  churches  with  a  masterful  and 
greedy  hand.  It  appears  that  contemporaneously  with  his  visit 
a  book  was  published  at  Lorraine,  in  which  may  be  found  the  state- 
ment: "  The  soldiers  of  Vasquirus  Coronatus  having  found  no  gold 
in  Vivola,  in  order  not  to  return  to  Mexico  without  gold,  resolved  to 
come  to  Quivera  (California),  for  they  had  heard  much  of  its  gold 
mines,  and  that  Tatarraxus,  the  powerful  king  of  that  country,  was 
amply  provided  with  riches." 

It  appears  that  the  province  of  New  California  was  explored  for 
the  first  time  in  1602  by  Don  Sebastian  Viscaino,  Spanish  Admiral, 
Viceroy  of  Mexico  and  Count  of  Monterey,  who  reports  the  fact  that 
he  saw  specimens  of  native  gold.2 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  80,  p.  1105. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press.,  Vol.  54,  p.  282. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  29 

Fully  twenty  expeditions  were  sent  out  from  Mexico  into  the 
region  to  the  north  with  the  expectation  of  finding  gold,  silver  and 
even  precious  stones,  in  abundance.  Practically  their  only  source  of 
information  was  that  obtained  from  the  Indians,  which  was  in  every 
case  proven  worthless,  the  expeditions  returning  discouraged  and 
much  the  worse  physically  from  the  hardships  encountered.  These 
excursions  into  California,  Arizona  and  New  Mexico  took  place  after 
the  conquest  of  Mexico  by  the  Spaniards,  between  the  years  1610  and 
1660.1 

Various  evidences  of  crude,  prehistoric  mining  have  been  found  at 
various  times  and  places  in  what  is  now  Arizona.  However,  it  is 
not  certain  whether  this  early  work  was  done  for  gold  and  silver  or 
copper.  Discoveries  made  along  the  Salt  River  by  Lieutenant 
Gushing,  of  ancient  oven  furnaces  in  which  considerable  copper  was 
found,  would  seem  to  indicate  that  the  ores  treated  were  copper 
carbonates.2 

The  valley  of  the  Rio  Grande  was  thoroughly  explored  by  the 
Spaniards  for  mineral  wealth  prior  to  1680.  The  mountains  of  New 
Mexico  hold  numerous  ruins  of  mining  settlements  and  works,  which 
indicate  that  the  mining  industry,  though  crude,  was  extensive. 
Here  as  elsewhere  the  natives  wrought  in  the  mines  for  their  masters, 
the  Spaniards,  whose  yoke  became  so  grievous  to  bear  that  an  insur- 
rection broke  out  in  1680,  or  thereabouts,  and  although  not  particu- 
larly successful,  practically  put  an  end  to  mining  for  a  period  of  one 
hundred  years  or  more.3 

Santa  Fe,  the  city  of  the  holy  faith  of  St.  Francis,  is  the  capital  of  New 
Mexico.  Previous  to  the  fifteenth  century  a  settlement  of  Pueblo  Indians 
(aboriginal  New  Mexicans)  had  existed  on  this  site,  then  called  "  Ogaphage. " 
When  the  Spanish  (Conquistadores)  under  Cabeza  de  Vaca  came  up  the  Rio. 
Grande  from  Old  Mexico  in  search  for  gold  and  for  the  treasures  of  Cibolo  (the 
seven  cities),  they  found  a  nourishing  Tegua  Pueblo  village  as  early  as  1538. 
When  the  Pueblo  Indians  revolted  against  Spanish  rule  in  August,  1680,  being 
forced  to  work  in  the  mines  as  slaves  under  the  "  martio"  law  and  driven  to  despair 
by  the  terrible  Spanish  inquisition,  they  drove  out  their  oppressors  after  besieg- 
ing the  city  for  nine  days,  killing  twenty  priests  and  every  Caucasian  to  be  found. 
The  city  was  recaptured  in  1692,  under  Diego  de  Vargas.  —  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 
Vol.  51,  p.  654. 

In  1692  Father  Kino  established  a  mission  at  Tucson,  then  called 

San  Xavier  del    Bac,  but  owing  largely  to  his  protracted   absence 

• 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press.,  Vol.  47,  p.  292. 

2  American  Anthropologist,  Jan.,  1904,  pp.  95,  96. 

3  Am   Jour.  Min.,  Vol.  2,  p.  386. 


30  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

on  exploratory  expeditions,  the  work  languished  and  was  not  revived 
until  1736,  which  was  followed  in  1736-41  by  a  rather  extensive 
silver  excitement  at  a  point  close  to  the  Arizona  line  and  supposed 
to  have  been  not  far  from  Oro  Blanco.  Records  left  by  Father 
Sedelmair,  who  visited  the  place  in  1750,  show  that  gold  mining  was 
being  carried  on  to  a  limited  extent.  Father  Anga  established  a 
mission  here  in  1774,  which  was  called  the  Concepcion,  which  from 
its  location  would  seem  to  have  been  especially  for  the  miners. 
These  mines  were  worked  both  by  Indians  and  Mexicans,  especially 
the  latter,  but  always  peaceably.  Prior  to  1860  most  of  the  gold 
produced  here  found  its  way  to  Altar  in  Sonora,  but  later,  when  a 
United  States  Government  post  was  established,  it  was  turned  to 
Los  Angeles  and  San  Francisco.1 

The  monks  of  the  order  of  St.  Francis  at  El  Paso  are  credited  with 
the  discovery  of  mines  in  1680,  which  were  worked  profitably  for 
years,  the  silver  from  which  went  to  the  churches  in  northern  Mexico. 
There  were,  however,  strife  and  jealousies  among  the  different  orders 
of  the  Jesuits,  and  that  order  whose  friends  were  in  power  in  Spain 
dominated  the  church  in  Mexico.  In  the  course  of  time  the  Fran- 
ciscans were  deposed,  being  deprived  of  all  their  rich  possessions. 
Those  at  El  Paso  on  hearing  of  the  probable  change  .quietly  filled  or 
covered  up  the  mines,  and  so  well  was  the  work  done  that  some  of 
them  are  undoubtedly  still  unknown  to  this  day.  It  was  not  until 
July,  1793,  that  one  of  the  mines  at  El  Paso  was  reopened  and  worked 
by  the  Mexicans.  The  mine  was  again  closed  and  forgotten,  fol- 
lowing the  revolution  which  led  to  the  independence  of  Mexico,  1810. 
In  1872  both  the  -history  of  the  mine  and  its  location  were  learned 
from  the  church  records  and  it  was  again  opened.2 

In  an  old  Spanish  work  entitled  "  Apostolic  Labors  of  the  Society 
of  Jesus  "  an  account  is  given  regarding  the  discovery  of  gold  and 
silver  in  the  Santa  Rita  mountains: 

"  In  the  year  1769,  a  region  of  virgin  silver  was  discovered  on  the 
frontier  of  the  Apaches,  a  tribe  exceedingly  war-like  and  brave,  at 
the  place  called  Arizona,  on  a  mountain  ridge,  which  hath  been 
named  by  its  discoverers  Santa  Rita.  The  discovery  was  made 
known  by  a  Yaqui  Indian,  who  revealed  it  to  a  trader  of  Durango, 
and  the  latter  made  it  public.  News  of  such  surprising  wealth 
attracted  a  vast  multitude  to  the  spot.  At  a  depth  of  a  few  varas 
masses  of  fine  silver  were  found,  of  a  blobular  form  and  one  or  two 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  81,  p.  280. 
a  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  27,  p.  394. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  31 

arrobas  in  weight.  Several  pieces  were  taken  out  weighing  up- 
wards of  twenty  arrobas;  one  found  by  an  inferior  official  attached 
to  the  government  at  Guadalajara  weighed  140  arrobas  (an  arroba 
is  25  pounds).  Many  persons  amassed  large  sums;  whilst  others, 
though  diligent  and  persevering,  found  little  or  nothing.  For  the 
security  of  this  mass  of  treasure  the  captain  of  the  Presidio  of  Altar 
sent  troops  who  escorted  the  greater  bulk  of  this  silver  to  head- 
quarters, whereupon  the  officer  seized  the  property  as  being  the 
property  of  the  crown.  In  vain  the  finders  protested  against  this 
treatment,  and  appealed  to  the  audience  chamber  at  Guadalajara, 
but  for  answer  the  authorities  referred  the  matter  to  the  court  at 
Madrid.  At  the  end  of  seven  years  the  King  made  the  decision, 
which  was  that  the  silver  pertained  to  his  royal  treasury  and  ordered 
that  henceforth  the  mines  should  be  worked  for  his  benefit.  This 
decree,  together  with  the  incessant  attacks  of  the  hostile  Indians, 
so  discouraged  the  treasure  hunters  that  the  mines  were  abandoned, 
as  needs  must  be  until  the  savages  were  exterminated."  It  is  inter- 
esting to  note  that  neither  extermination  nor  passification  were 
accomplished  until  about  1880  —  the  Indians  being  full  and  com- 
plete masters  of  the  country  until  then.1 

In  an  old  document  discovered  in  the  archives  at  Tucson  in  1755 
further  mention  is  made  of  Santa  Rita,  which  also  serves  to  corrob- 
orate the  above:  "  In  the  vicinity  of  Aribac  (or  Arivaca),  about 
seven  leagues  away,  are,  they  say,  many  mines  of  rich  metals,  three 
in  particular,  one  of  which  yields  a  silver  mark  for  one  arroba  of  ore; 
the  second,  six  marks  for  a  load  (100  pounds);  the  third  a  little 
less.  Three  leagues  beyond  this,  in  the  valley  of  Bobocomori,  they 
allege  the  existence  of  fine  gold  placers  known  to  the  whole  community 
of  Tubac,  who  went  to  view  it;  and  in  the  Santa  Rita  five  silver  mines 
are  spoken  of."  Further,  it  says:  "The  silver  mines  are  known, 
but  cannot  be  worked  because  of  the  Apaches,  who  live  there 
and  continually  pass  to  and  fro  to  the  hot  springs  four  leagues 
away." 2 

Regarding  the  early  discoveries  of  the  Mexicans  in  California 
it  has  been  said:  "  That  they  failed  to  find  anything  is  proven  by 
the  fact  that  prior  to  1848  only  a  few  placers,  poor  and  comparatively 
limited  in  extent,  were  found  in  California,  so  unimportant,  in  fact, 
that  they  were  not  heard  of  outside  the  country.  The  first  placer 
discovered  was  found  by  the  Mexicans  as  early  as  1775,  and  is 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  40,  p.  296. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  40,  p.  312. 


32  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

situated  near  the  Colorado  River  in  the  extreme  southeastern  angle 
of  the  state. 

Fifty  years  later,  deposits  of  free  gold  were  found  at  San  Isidro, 
one  hundred  miles  further  west,  in  San  Diego  County.  In  1833, 
a  little  gold  was  gathered  in  the  valley  of  the  Santa  Clara  River  in 
the  northwestern  part  of  Los  Angeles  County.  Five  years  later, 
the  San  Franciscoquito  placers,  located  in  the  Sierra  San  Fernando, 
forty-five  miles  northwest  from  the  Pueblo  Los  Angeles,  were  dis- 
covered. These  were  the  most  productive  deposits  so  far  found  and 
were  worked  in  a  small  way  for  twenty  years  or  more."  l 

Placers  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  San  Fernando  mission  were 
known  and  worked  by  the  natives  for  many  years,  but  in  a  desul- 
tory way,  owing  to  the  opposition  of  the  Padres,  who  feared  the 
loss  of  their  flocks.2 

The  discovery  of  the  San  Franciscoquito  placers  was,  as  stated 
above,  in  1838,  but  given  by  other  authorities  as  1841  and  1842,3 
was  made  by  Francisco  Lopez  while  searching  for  strayed  cattle. 
He  discovered  grains  of  gold  in  the  earth  adhering  to  the  roots  of 
wild  onions  which  he  had  pulled  up. 

A  letter  published  in  the  City  of  Mexico  in  1845,  and  written  to 
the  President  of  the  Republic  by  Manuel  Castanares,  Representative 
in  the  National  Congress  from  the  Department  of  California,  shows 
what  extended  knowledge  the  Mexicans  had  at  that  time  of  the 
mineral  wealth  of  California.  It  reads:  "The  gold  placers  dis- 
covered in  the  course  of  the  last  year  have  attracted  the  greatest 
attention,  for  they  extend  nearly  thirty  leagues.  The  good  quality 
of  this  metal  is  made  manifest  by  the  certificate  of  its  assay,  which 
was  made  at  the  Mint  of  this  Capitol,  and  by  the  sample  which  I  sent 
to  your  Excellency,  etc."  Not  long  after  this  he  again  wrote: 
"  The  mineral  interest  in  California  is  of  great  importance,  and  I 
have  the  satisfaction  of  assuring  you  that  it  forms  one  of  the  most 
valuable  resources  of  the  Department.  Besides  the  silver  mines 
which  are  found  there,  and  various  other  mines  which  have  actually 
yielded  metals,  the  gold  placer,  especially,  is  worthy  of  great  atten- 
tion, which  extending  nearly  thirty  leagues,  was  discovered  lately 
together  with  mines  of  mineral  coal,  etc."  4 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  47,  p.  292. 

2  According  to  some  authorities  these  placers  were  first  discovered  in  1812. 
Trans.  Am.  Inst.  Min.  Engrs.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  p.  397. 

3  Gold.     Its  occurrence  and  extraction,  A.  G.  Lock,  p.  124.     Min.  and  Sci. 
Press,  Vol.  51,  p.  322,  and  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  p.  397. 

4  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  47,  p.  292. 


DISCOVERY  OF   GOLD   AND   SILVER.  33 

That  Mexico  was  just  awakening  to  a  realization  of  the  impor- 
tance of  this  more  or  less  isolated  portion  of  her  territory  is  evident 
and  was  probably  realized  by  the  American  officials,  for  there  seems 
to  have  been  a  decided  tendency  toward  unusually  prompt  action 
in  the  diplomatic  proceedings  which  led  to  the  negotiations  and 
signing  of  the  treaty  ceding  to  the  United  States  this  country.  Only 
six  weeks  intervened  between  the  discovery  of  gold  at  Sutter's 
Mill  and  the  signing  of  the  treaty.  It  is  claimed  that  the  knowledge 
of  ths  discovery  was  not  known  to  the  Mexicans,  while  the  Amer- 
ican officials  affected  ignorance. 

The  following  extract  from  an  unofficial  letter  written  on  March, 
1846,  by  T.  O.  Larkin,  then  United  States  Consul  at  Monterey,  to 
James  Buchanan,  Secretary  of  State,  would  seem  to  indicate  prob- 
able knowledge:  "  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  gold,  silver,  quick- 
silver, copper,  lead  and  coal  mines  are  to  be  found  all  over  California 
and  it  is  equally  doubtful  whether,  under  their  present  owners,  they 
will  ever  be  worked."  "  The  implication  here  is  that  if  the  coun- 
try were  only  transferred  to  the  American  flag,  these  mines,  of  whose 
existence  he  knew  nothing  save  by  surmise  or  by  the  assertion  of 
incompetent  persons,  would  soon  be  opened  and  worked.  In  sixty- 
six  days  after  that  letter  was  written,  the  stars  and  stripes  were 
hoisted  in  Monterey,  and  now  California  is  working  mines  of  all 
the  minerals  mentioned  by  Larkin  save  lead,  which  also  might 
be  produced  if  it  would  pay,  since  there  is  no  lack  of  its  ore."  * 

A  story  current  in  Mexico,  and  published  in  a  Mexican  newspaper, 
attributed  the  discovery  of  gold  to  the  Indians,  and  states  that  the 
knowledge  was  imparted  to  the  North  Americans  through  a  Russian 
from  Russian  America,  who  after  living  among  the  Indians  of  the 
tribe  of  Salsoma  became  their  chief  and  thus  learned  the  existence 
of  the  gold  placers.  The  year  1846  is  given  as  that  in  which  the 
knowledge  was  acquired.  There  seems,  however,  to  be  a  confusion 
of  dates,  for  it  further  says:  "  In  1847  they  seized  by  force  of  arms 
this  rich  country  of  our  Republic,  and  on  Jan.  19,  1848,  acci- 
dentally made  the  first  discovery  of  gold  which  the  waters  of  the 
Sacramento  were  concealing."  2 

Prior  to  1855  the  Indians  of  Nevada  told  many  stories  of  a  won- 
derful place  where  there  was  "  mucho  oro  "  and  "  malos  "  Indians, 
which  so  impressed  the  white  men  that  in  1855  exploring  parties 
set  out  to  locate  this  mysterious  land.  The  result  of  this  explora- 

1  Mineral  Resources  of  the  West,  1867,  J.  Ross  Browne,  p.  14. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  54,  p.  282. 


34  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

tion  was  the  discovery  of  the  Yosemite  Valley,  but  there  is  no  record 
of  the  discovery  of  gold.1 

The  early  history  of  Alaska  is  given  in  considerable  detail  by  H. 
B.  Goodrich  in  the  "History  and  Conditions  of  the  Yukon  Gold  Dis- 
trict to  1897,  "2  to  which  the  reader  is  referred  for  a  more  detailed 
account. 

The  Northwest  —  Alaska.  —  The  early  history  of  Alaska  is  at 
best  but  recent  compared  with  that  of  the  southern  and  northern 
portions  of  the  United  States,  but  while  chronologically  somewhat 
out  of  order,  it  is  considered  advisable  to  treat  it  in  like  manner 
with  the  other  regions. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century  there  were  two  forces 
at  work  in  the  Northwestern  Territory,  namely,  the  great  Russian- 
American  monopoly  and  the  Northwest  Company;  later  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company,  whose  object  it  was  to  explore  and  open  up  this 
vast,  unknown  and  largely  unpeopled  region.  The  former  organi- 
zation first  establishing  itself  on  the  southeast  coast  and  even  ex- 
tended its  operations  up  the  Kwikpak  (Yukon)  River  some  hundreds 
of  miles.  As  their  trade  grew  they  pushed  along  the  coast  east- 
ward from  both  the  Pacific  and  Bering  Sea.  In  the  meantime  the 
English  were  rapidly  carrying  their  trade  westward  from  posts  on 
the  Mackenzie  River.  The  fur  trade  was  the  incentive  in  both 
cases  for  the  vigorous  campaigns,  and,  as  previously  pointed 
out,  no  definite  information  had  been  acquired  by  the  traders 
regarding  the  presence  of  gold,  especially  from  the  Indians,  up  to 
1850. 

La  Perouse,  in  1786,  undertook,  for  the  French  Government,  to 
find  a  northeast  passage  to  the  Hudson  Bay  from  the  west.  His 
explorations  ended  at  Litua  Bay,  he  being  persuaded  that  there 
was  no  such  passage.  In  1816,  Kotzebue  made  a  similar  attempt, 
but  with  no  better  success. 

J.  McLeod,  in  1834,  sought  communication  with  the  Pacific  coast 
through  some  westward-flowing  stream.  He  discovered  Dease 
Lake,  crossed  to  the  head  of  the  Stikine,  which  later  received  the 
name  of  Frances  River. 

In  1838,  Robert  Campbell  established  a  post  on  Dease  Lake, 
which  was  later  abandoned.  About  this  time  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company  obtained  a  lease  of  the  "  Coast  Strip  "  of  Alaska  for  an 
annual  rental  of  $2000.  This  turned  the  movement  of  furs  down 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  26,  p.  402. 
1  U.  S.  G.  S.  18  Kept.,  pt.  3,  p.  103, 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  35 

the  Stikine  River.  Frances  Lake  was  discovered  by  Campbell  in 
1840  while  exploring  the  Colville  River.  Subsequently  he  discov- 
ered the  Pelly,  which  he  named  after  the  governor  of  the  company. 
In  1842,  Pelly  Banks  Post  was  established  at  the  head  of  Pelly. 

In  the  meantime  a  post  had  been  established  on  the  Yukon.  In 
1842,  J.  Bell  explored  the  Peel  and  Porcupine  rivers  as  well  as  the 
country  lying  between  them,  and  in  1847,  some  two  years  prior  to 
the  founding  of  Fort  Selkirk  by  Campbell,  built  Fort  Yukon.  Many 
of  the  tributaries  of  the  Yukon  still  bear  the  names  given  them 
while  on  their  journeys.  A  trip  made  by  Campbell  from  Fort  Yukon 
to  Fort  Simpson  by  way  of  the  Porcupine,  thence  across  to  the 
Mackenzie,  proving  less  arduous  and  dangerous  than  that  of  the 
Frances  to  Fort  Selkirk,  led  to  the  abandonment  of  the  posts  at 
Fort  Frances  and  Pelly  Banks.  Fort  Selkirk  was,  however,  main- 
tained until  1852,  when  it  was  sacked  by  the  Chilkats,  who  had 
grown  jealous  of  the  white  traders  —  their  trade  having  been  seri- 
ously affected  by  the  strenuous  efforts  of  the  posts. 

After  the  transfer  of  the  territory  to  the  United  States,  Fort 
Yukon  was  maintained  as  the  most  westerly  post  of  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company. 

In  1863,  Ivan  Simonsen  l  made  the  first  trip  to  Fort  Yukon  from 
the  west  coast.  It  seems  that  the  Yukon  River,  as  known  to  the 
English,  was  considered  by  both  themselves  and  the  Russians  as 
distinct  and  separate  from  the  River  Kwikpak.  It  was  not,  however, 
until  1866  that  Ketchum  and  Lebarge,  of  the  Telegraph  Expedi- 
tion, proved  conclusively  that  these  supposedly  two  separate  rivers 
were  one  and  the  same. 

In  1868  there  was  a  question  raised  regarding  what  territory  Fort 
Yukon  stood  in,  and  to  settle  it  once  for  all  Capt.  Charles  W.  Ray- 
mond was  detailed  to  determine  it  by  a  survey.  The  result  was 
that  Fort  Yukon  was  declared  to  be  on  American  territory  and  it 
was  taken  possession  of  as  property  of  the  United  States. 

In  his  report  on  the  country,  Captain  Raymond  says:  "  No  valu- 
able mineral  deposits  in  workable  quantities  have  been  found  up  to 
the  present  time."  It  is  evident  then  that  the  trading  companies 
neither  sought  for  minerals  nor  encouraged  others  to  do  so ;  in  fact, 
it  is  well  known  that  their  attention  had  in  several  instances  been 
called  to  the  discovery  of  gold,  but  instead  of  encouraging  further 
search  and  development,  they  had  even  ordered  all  such  work  to 
be  abandoned.  A  story  is  told  to  this  effect  of  Baranof,  chief  man- 
1  Alaska  and  Its  Resources,  Boston,  1870,  pp.  276-277. 


36  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

ager  of  the  Russian-American  Company.1  It  was  to  be  a  fur  pro- 
ducing country  to  the  exclusion  of  all  other  industries. 

Darrehan  (or  Doroshin),  an  engineer,  was  sent  by  the  emperor 
to  make  an  examination  of  the  shores  of  Alaska.  This  was  in  1855; 
in  1858  he  made  an  unfavorable  report.  It  is  rather  remarkable 
that  a  man  on  such  a  mission  should,  through  oversight  or  failure 
to  visit  certain  localities,  make  such  a  blunder,  yet  it  seems  to  have 
been  the  policy  of  the  Russians  to  suppress  all  information  relating 
to  mineral  wealth;  while  the  English,  although  doing  nothing  to 
discourage  the  work,  evidently  desired  that  it  remain  undeveloped. 

It  was,  however,  absurd  to  suppose  that  such  knowledge  could 
be  held  in  abeyance  indefinitely,  and  such  was  the  case.  In  1857, 
the  agents  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  at  posts  on  the  Fraser  and 
Thompson  rivers,  in  British  Columbia,  received  300  ounces  of  gold 
from  the  Indians,  who  had  collected  it  unaided  by  white  men.  This 
led  to  the  sending  of  a  report  by  Governor  Douglas,  which  was 
responsible  for  another  great  mining  excitement  and  stampede,  and 
it  is  estimated  that  fully  thirty  thousand  miners  started  immediately 
for  Alaska.  As  has  been  said  regarding  this  particular  movement 
of  prospectors  and  adventurers:  "  The  third  great  Devil's  Dance  of 
the  nations  within  the  decade  seemed  about  to  begin."  The  dis- 
order and  hardships  experienced  by  the  miners  of  '49  in  California 
paled  beside  those  of  this  mad  rush,  which  were  accentuated  by 
the  rigorous  climate  of  this  northern  land.  However,  all  but  about 
3000  of  these  pioneers  left  the  country  within  the  year. 

Work  was  begun  on  the  Fraser  River  in  1859,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing year  the  Cariboo  district  was  discovered.  Omencia  was  located 
in  1860,  but  was  not  worked  until  1867;  following  which  came  the 
discovery  of  the  Cassiar  in  1874  and  later  that  of  Sitka.  By  this 
time  the  fact  that  gold  existed  in  Alaska  in  paying  quantities  was 
established  beyond  question  and  her  ultimate  development  was 
assured,  but  as  yet  the  vast  unexplored  interior  remained  an  un- 
known quantity  and  offered  an  inviting  field  for  the  prospector. 

The  later  history  of  Alaska  will  be  taken  up  under  the  heading 
of  recent  history,  and  will  give  the  incidents  relating  to  the  develop- 
ment of  the  northernmost  possessions  of  the  United  States. 

The  Northern  Country  —  the  Lake  Superior  Region  (the  North 
Shore,  Canada,  and  the  South  Shore,  the  United  States).  —  Although 
the  silver  mines  of  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Superior  are  in  Canada, 

1  Kept.  Director  U.  S.  Mint  upon  production  of  precious  metals  in  U.  S.  dur- 
ing 1883,  p.  19. 


DISCOVERY  OF   GOLD   AXD   SILVER.  37 

and  therefore  would  not  be  included  in  a  discussion  of  gold  and 
silver  mining  confined  strictly  to  the  United  States,  yet  owing  to 
their  proximity  and  remarkable  richness  it  has  been  considered  both 
advisable  and  desirable  to  speak  of  them  briefly  in  this  connection. 

Explorations  for  copper  were  responsible  for  the  discovery  of  sil- 
ver, as  the  two  metals  are  nearly  always  associated  in  the  Lake 
Superior  region. 

During  1846  Mr.  Forrest  Sheppard  conducted  an  extensive  search 
for  silver  with  a  party  under  the  auspices  of  the  Montreal  Mining 
Company.  The  shore  of  the  lake  was  carefully  examined  from 
Sault  Ste.  Marie  to  Pigeon  River,  covering  a  distance  of  fully  500 
miles,  and  eighteen  separate  locations  were  made.  The  locations 
were  rather  extensive,  being  two  miles  in  width  and  five  miles  long. 
Silver  Islet  was  included  in  one  of  the  locations,  although  silver  was 
not  known  to  exist  there  until  twenty-one  years  later.  Prince's 
location  on  Thunder  Bay,  some  distance  west  of  Kaministiquia,  was 
probably  the  first  locality  where  silver  was  discovered,  and  was 
obtained  in  what  was  considered  large  quantities.  It  is  reported 
that  gold  also  occurred  with  silver.  Work  here  was  abandoned  in 
1850. 

In  1856-57,  the  same  company,  under  the  superintendency  of  Mr. 
E.  B.  Borron,  begun  developing  their  location  at  Point  Mamainse. 
Copper,  lead  and  silver  (native  and  minerals)  were  found  here. 
Although  at  least  five  shafts  were  sunk  to  depths  ranging  from  14 
to  60  feet,  no  ore  in  sufficient  quantities  for  working  was  discovered, 
and  operations  ceased  in  1857. 

Both  the  Prince  and  Mamainse  mines  were  preeminently  copper 
mines,  the  silver  being  an  accessory  metal.1 

Considerable  exploratory  work  was  done  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Thunder  Bay,  between  the  years  1863  and  1867,  by  McKellars,  who 
reported  the  discovery  of  silver  at  a  number  of  points.  One  of  the 
discoveries,  that  at  Current  River,  was  developed  to  a  certain  extent 
by  the  Thunder  Bay  Silver  Mining  Company  as  late  as  1868-69, 
but  with  little  success. 

Other  localities  found  to  be  silver-bearing  were  located  prior  to 
1875,  one  of  the  most  prominent  being  the  Duncan  mine  in  May, 
1867,  formerly  the  Thuniah  (or  Shumiah),  not  far  from  Prince 
Arthur's  Landing  on  Thunder  Bay.  After  expending  fully  a  half 
million  dollars,  for  a  return  of  only  $20,000,  the  operations  were 
suspended  in  1882.  Another  vein,  producing  ore  which  compared 
1  Trans.  Lake  Superior  Inst.  Min.  Engrs.,  Vol.  2,  p.  64,  1894. 


38  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

favorably  with  that  of  the  Silver  Islet  mine,  is  situated  on  Pie 
Island. 

In  1868,  silver  was  discovered  at  Silver  Islet,  on  the  northwest 
shore  of  Lake  Superior,  which  was  not,  however,  the  first  discovery 
of  silver  in  this  locality,  although  probably  of  the  most  importance 
until  recent  years.  The  discoveries  at  Cobalt  may,  but  probably 
will  not,  eclipse  in  size  and  value  of  ores  those  of  the  far  famed 
Silver  Islet  mine.  Silver  had  been  mined  as  early  as  1846  on  the 
property  of  the  Montreal  Mining  Company,  and  later  by  the  British 
American  Mining  Company  on  Prince's  Location.1 

In  1846,  Professor  Sheppard  examined  the  property  of  the  Mon- 
treal Mining  Company,  but  apparently  without  any  definite  results. 
However,  Macfarlane  examined  the  locations  about  1868  and  reported 
encouraging  indications  of  native  copper  and  silver  and  their  sul- 
phides. The  first  work  of  extracting  ore  was  begun  in  1869,  which 
was  accomplished  by  surface  blasting  of  the  rock,  but  it  was  not 
until  about  1870-71  that  active  mining  operations  were  begun, 
which  were  carried  on  with  considerable  difficulty  owing  to  the 
exposed  position  of  the  island  and  severe  cold  of  the  winter  months 
—  influx  of  water  was  also  a  serious  inconvenience. 

In  the  four  years  following  the  beginning  of  vigorous  mining 
development  this  mine  yielded  over  two  millions  of  dollars.  From 
1874  to  1876  the  mine  was  nearly  forced  to  stop  operations  owing 
to  the  running  out  of  the  ore  and  failure,  after  the  most  strenuous 
efforts,  to  discover  any  new  bodie«  However,  in  the  summer  of 
1878,  its  fortune  changed  for  the  better,  and  the  mine  "  sprang  sud- 
denly from  its  feeble,  tottering  decline  into  bewildering  productive- 
ness of  unheard  of  mineral  riches,"  2  on  the  discovery  of  the  second 
bonanza.  Although  the  Silver  Islet  mine  still  continued  to  be  pro- 
ductive after  the  body  of  the  second  bonanza  had  been  extracted, 
yet  it  was  ultimately  abandoned  without  the  discovery  of  other 
phenominally  rich  portions. 

The  discovery  of  silver-bearing  veins  was  made  by  Mr.  Oliver 
Daunais,  in  1882  and  1884,  in  Rabbit  and  Silver  Mountain  districts, 
respectively.  Their  general  location  was  indicated  by  an  Indian 
named  Tchiatong,  whose  daughter  Mr.  Daunais  had  married  —  the 
native  reluctance  to  reveal  the  location  was  overcome  and  sufficient 
information  given  to  enable  him  to  locate  the  deposits.3 

1  Geology  of  Canada,  1862,  p.  707. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  26,  p.  388. 

8  Trans.  Lake  Superior  Inst.  Min.  Engrs.,  Vol.  2,  p.  66,  1894. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  39 

The  not  inconsiderable  information  acquired  by  the  English 
from  various  sources,  led  them  to  consider  the  land  they  had 
obtained  possession  of  in  1763  to  be  rich  in  mineral  wealth, 
especially  in  silver.1  This  assumption  is  amply  verified  by  the 
fact  that  in  six  years  after  taking  possession  of  the  country  a 
company  was  formed  in  London,  with  Alexander  Henery  as 
general  manager.  A  boat  was  first  built  to  serve  for  the 
transportation  of  supplies,  ore,  etc.,  and  as  early  as  1769  a 
company  of  Cornish  miners  were  landed  at  the  Ontonagon  River, 
some  distance  above  the  falls,  and  at  the  location  of  the  famous 
copper  boulders.  Development  work  was  begun  in  Porcupine 
Mountain,  on  the  north  shore  of  Carp  Lake.  These  old  workings 
were  so  extensive  as  to  be  readily  located  as  late  as  1845-46. 
It  is  probable  that  still  further  exploratory  work  was  done  on  Isle 
Royal  and  Michipocoten.  Silver  was  not,  however,  found  in  pay- 
ing quantities  and  the  project  was  abandoned  in  1770.  Neverthe- 
less, in  spite  of  this  failure,  silver  would  seem  to  have  existed,  and 
possibly  in  paying  quantities,  for  the  Indians  were  constantly  bring- 
ing for  barter  native  silver,  and  in  some  considerable  quantities, 
and,  what  was  more  encouraging,  in  pieces  as  large  often  as  a  man's 
fist.  The  Indians  could  not  be  induced  to  reveal  its  source  either 
by  bribery  or  threats  of  coercion. 

The  death  of  Dr.  Houghton,  who  was  drowned  in  the  Lakes,  was 
responsible  for  a  report  in  1846-47,  which  gained  considerable  cre- 
dence, that  he  had  discovered  a  silver  vein  on  the  Eagle  River  between 
the  falls  and  the  Phoenix  mine.  Nothing  of  importance  was  ever 
discovered  here. 

In  a  report  on  the  Phoenix  mining  property  (copper),  Dr.  C.  T. 
Jackson  states  that  so  much  silver  was  found  in  one  of  the  western 
branches  of  the  main  vein,  that  it  might  be  regarded  more  as  a  silver 
than  a  copper  lode. 

There  are  few  copper  mines  on  Keweenaw  Point  in  which  native 
silver  does  not  occur,  but  in  such  small  quantities  as  not  to  pay  for 
its  extraction.2  The  usual  occurrence  of  the  silver  is  in  small  specks, 
and  irregular  bunches,  both  within  the  body  of,  and  adhering  to  the 
surface  of  the  copper.  It  is  claimed  that  the  Cliff  mine  realized 
$5000  a  year  in  silver  alone.3 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  20,  p.  575. 

3  Rept.  on  the  Geol.  and  Topography  of  a  Portion  of  the  Lake  Superior  Land 
District  in  the  State  of  Michigan,  Doc.  No.  69,  1850,  p.  179. 
3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  20,  p.  575. 


40  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Messrs.  Foster  and  Whitney  make  the  following  statement  re- 
garding the  economic  importance  of  the  occurrence  of  silver  in  the 
copper  ores: 

"  Up  to  the  present  time,  the  quantity  of  silver  occurring  with 
the  copper  in  the  Lake  Superior  region  has  not  been  sufficient  to 
render  it  worth  while  to  erect  the  furnaces  and  make  the  required 
outlay  for  separating  these  two  metals;  but,  should  the  number  of 
mines  be  much  increased,  and  the  quantity  of  silver  obtained  be 
considerable,  it  will  be  expedient  to  make  suitable  preparation  for 
separating  this  metal.  At  present,  at  the  Cliff  mine,  the  particles 
of  silver,  which  are  so  flattened  by  the  stamps  as  to  be  easily 
seen,  are  separated  by  hand,  the  coarse  metal  from  the  stamps 
being  picked  over  with  care  for  that  purpose.  The  silver  occur- 
ring only  occasionally,  and  then  often  in  masses  of  considerable 
size,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  a  very  considerable  amount  is 
purloined  by  the  miners,  who  seem  to  consider  the  silver  found  in 
the  vein  as  their  property."  * 

Although  considerable  time  has  elapsed  since  then  (1850),  yet 
no  large  amounts  of  silver  have  been  found  and  no  further  attempts 
have  been  made  to  separately  treat  it. 

In  1846,  the  argentiferous  galena  deposits  of  the  Iron  River  were 
noticed  by  Bela  Hubbard,  which  were  later  worked  to  a  limited 
extent. 

Further  discoveries  of  silver  were  made  by  Mr.  Austin  Corser  in 
1855,  on  the  Little  Iron  River,  not  far  from  the  Pewabic  River.  Dur- 
ing 1873-75,  regular  mining  and  milling  operations  were  inaugurated. 
In  1876,  the  boom  collapsed  and  all  the  mines  were  closed,  the  Cleve- 
land stopping  last  of  all. 

Recent  History  by  States  and  Territories.  —  The  historical  develop- 
ment of  the  mining  industry,  so  far  considered,  has  for  convenience 
been  divided  into  two  parts,  namely,  legendary  lore  and  early 
historical  records,  presumably  authentic,  the  reliability  of  which 
can,  however,  be  readily  determined  by  the  reader  for  himself 
by  reference  to  the  authorities  cited.  Owing  to  the  exceedingly 
rapid  development  of  the  mining  industry  during  comparatively 
recent  times,  it  would  seem  necessary  and  advisable  to  give  the 
historical  account  of  the  development  in  a  somewhat  different 
manner  than  that  employed  for  the  earlier  history.  The  chrono- 
logical order  between  states,  as  previously  employed,  will  then 

1  Kept,  on  the  Geol.  and  Topography  of  a  Portion  of  the  Lake  Superior  Land 
District  in  the  State  of  Michigan,  Doc.  No.  69,  1850,  p.  179. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD   AND   SILVER.  41 

be  dropped,  and  they  will  be  taken  up  alphabetically;  the  chrono- 
logical order  will,  however,  be  maintained,  so  far  as  possible,  with 
respect  to  the  events  in  the  individual  states.  As  a  further  aid 
to  the  reader  in  following  the  order  of  events  in  their  proper 
sequence,  a  table  has  been  prepared  in  which  can  be  traced  the  dis- 
coveries of  the  principal  mines  and  districts  in  their  chronological 
order,  both  with  respect  to  the  whole  country  and  to  the  individual 
state  or  territory.  No  attempt  will  be  made  to  give  a  complete 
and  exhaustive  account  of  the  discoveries  and  events  in  connection 
with  the  development  of  all  the  mines  or  districts  even,  as  it  would 
necessitate  needless  detail  and  make  the  work  too  voluminous. 
However,  the  principal  historical  facts  will  be  treated  in  accordance 
with  their  relative  importance  and  in  so  far  as  available  and  authen- 
tic records  will  permit. 

Alabama.  —  According  to  Dr.  W.  B.  Philips,  the  probable  date 
at  which  gold  was  discovered  in  Alabama  is  1830. *  Gold  mining 
in  Georgia  and  Alabama  was  begun  somewhat  later  than  in  North 
Carolina  and  Virginia,  owing  probably  to  their  being  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  United  States  as  an  Indian  reservation.  Yet  in  spite 
of  the  fact  that  it  was  forbidden  ground  and  not  open  to  mining 
operations,  considerable  prospecting  was  done  by  intruders.  "  After 
the  discovery  of  gold,  the  long-pending  efforts  of  the  States  to 
acquire  these  Indian  lands  were  stimulated  and  accelerated  by  the 
added  thirst  for  the  precious  metal,  and  were  finally  successful  in 
1830,  when  the  state  laws  were  extended  over  the  nation  (Cherokee), 
and  the  Indians  were  removed."  2  It  has  been  caustically  remarked 
"  that  intrusive  mining  ceased  then  and  there  and  swindling  mining 
commenced." 

In  the  early  days  of  1830  to  1850,  considerable  mining  in  a  crude 
way  was  done,  but  the  most  important  work  was  confined  to  the  ten 
years  ending  with  1855.  Probably  the  two  most  prominent  camps 
in  the  state  were  Arbacoochee  and  Goldville;  at  the  latter  place  there 
was  a  population  of  fully  3000. 

According  to  Tuomey,  ground  sluicing  of  hill-side  deposits  was 
carried  on  at  Arbacoochee  in  1854,  in  connection  with  which  mer- 
cury was  used.3 

"  Of  the  yield  of  gold  there  is  no  record,  or  indeed  of  anything  in 

1  Gold-Mining  in  the  Southern  Appalachian  States.     T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25, 
p.  679. 

2  U.  S.  G.  S.  20  Annual  Kept.,  pt.  6,  p.  112. 

3  Second  Biennial  Report  on  the  Geology  of  Alabama,  p.  70,  Montgomery,  1858. 


42  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

connection  with  the  matter,  except  that  at  such  and  such  localities 
large  numbers  of  men  were  engaged  in  the  work  and  that  at  certain 
places  it  was  said  to  be  profitable."  *  There  were,  however,  no  mint- 
returns  from  the  state  until  1840. 

Little  work  was  done  in  the  state  during  1892  and  for  some  years 
previous.  In  1895,  gold  was  discovered  along  the  Tennessee  River, 
in  Marshall  County  and  considerable  excitement  resulted,  but  it  was 
proven  to  be  of  small  economic  importance.  This  discovery  stim- 
ulated prospecting  and  development.  The  Silver  Hill  mine  and 
Pinetuckey  mine,  Randolph  County,  were  operating.  Preparations 
for  hydraulic  working  were  underway. 

In  1906,  the  Idaho  mine  of  Clay  County  was  reopened  and  dredges 
were  successfully  operated  on  the  Chestatee  River.  Taken  as  a 
whole,  the  outlook  for  mining  is  considerably  more  encouraging 
than  in  1893,  when  the  Lucky  Joe,  Hicks- Wise  and  Pinetuckey  mines 
suspended  operations.2 

Alaska.  —  In  1863,  Mr.  W.  P.  Blake  visited  the  interior  of  Alaska 
along  the  Stikine  River  and  made  a  prediction  regarding  the  possi- 
bility of  finding  gold  there,  which  is  probably  the  first  word  we  have 
regarding  it  from  one  competent  to  judge.  He  states,  that  "  there 
is  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  gold  region  of  the  interior  extends 
along  the  mountains  to  the  shores  of  the  icy  sea,  and  is  thus  con- 
nected with  the  gold  regions  of  Asia."  3  Based  upon  this  authority 
the  work  of  prospecting  the  interior  began.  Mr.  H.  H.  Mclntyre 
made  a  somewhat  similar  statement,  though  broader  in  scope,  to 
the  Secretary  of  the  United  States  Treasury  in  1869.  His  con- 
clusions were  deduced  from  a  study  of  the  geological  structure  of 
the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains  of  California  and  the  Rocky  Mountains 
of  Alaska  —  a  great  similarity  being  noticeable.  The  correctness 
of  these  conclusions  has  been  amply  verified. 

Members  of  the  Telegraph  Expedition  of  1867  discovered  gold 
on  the  upper  Yukon.  No  systematic  prospecting  was  done,  how- 
ever, until  George  Holt's  trip,  which  occurred  in  1872,  1875,  or 
1878,  according  to  various  authorities.4  It  is  possible  that  all  of 
these  dates  are  correct,  as  he  is  known  to  have  made  several  trips. 
Holt  was  a  prospector,  and  is  undoubtedly  the  first  of  his  kind  who 

1  W.  B.  Phillips,  Geol.  Surv.  of  Alabama,  Bull.  3,  1892,  p.  10. 

2  Mineral  Industry,  for  1892  to  1906. 

3  House  of  Rep.  Ex.,  Doc.  177,  pt.  2,  Fortieth  Congress,    second  session, 
p.  6. 

4  Alaska  Coast  Pilot,  1883,  p.  200. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  43 

found  gold  on  the  Yukon.  It  is  stated  that  he  was  murdered  by  an 
Indian  at  Knik  River,  on  Cook  Inlet.1 

In  1873,  Harper,  agent  at  Fort  Selkirk,  and  Fred  Hart,  a  success- 
ful miner  of  Forty-mile  Creek,  prospected  the  Stewart  and  White 
River  countries.  White  River  was  found  to  yield  some  fine  gold 
but  the  Stewart  yielded  nothing,  which  is  surprising  seeing  that  it 
was  later  the  scene  of  considerable  excitement. 

Had  they,  however,  ascended  the  river  far  enough,  the  results 
might  have  been  considerably  different,  and  the  rush  to  Alaska 
would  have  taken  place  twelve  years  earlier.  Other  reports  of  like 
character  kept  drawing  the  prospectors  further  inland.  But  the 
natural  roughness  of  the  country  presented  serious  obstacles  toward 
their  ready  ingress  to  the  interior.  There  were  four  passes  connecting 
the  water  courses  of  the  interior  with  the  coast,  namely,  the  Chil- 
kat,  Chilkoot,  Taku,  and  White.  The  Chilkoot  Pass,  although  rough, 
was  less  hampered  by  portages,  for  which  reason  it  was  commonly 
chosen.  However,  the  White  Pass  was  chosen  by  many,  and  less 
frequently  the  Chilkat  and  Taku. 

Probably  the  first  white  man  over  the  Chilkoot  Pass,  was  an 
employee  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  who  attempted  the  passage 
from  Fort  Selkirk  in  1864  or  1865.  He  was  imprisoned  by  the 
Chilkoot  Indians,  but  was  later  turned  over  to  Captain  Swanson  of 
the  company's  steamers  in  Lynn  Canal.  There  are,  however, 
serious  doubts  as  to  the  truth  of  the  report,  especially  as  Fort  Sel- 
kirk was  in  ruins  at  that  time.  Nevertheless,  it  is  not  entirely 
improbable,  as  it  is  well  known  that  the  Chilkoot  and  Chilkat  Indians, 
coast  tribes,  had  from  the  earliest  times  traded  with  the  Wood  or 
"  Stick  "  Indians  of  the  interior,  yet  had  never  allowed  them  access 
to  the  coast,  but,  acting  as  intermediaries  between  them  and  the 
whites,  had  established  an  exceedingly  profitable  business,  and  were 
reluctant  to  let  it  pass  from  under  their  control  —  strangers  were 
therefore  promptly  excluded.  In  1869,  Mr.  W.  S.  Dodge  says: 
"  Nor  will  the  coast  Indians  permit  any  white  man  to  pass  to  the 
upper  country  to  trade;  the  penalty  they  threaten  is  death.  All 
trade  must  be  made  with  them  and  through  them.  Hence  is  evinced 
a  monopoly,  powerful  and  extensive  in  character."  2  Apparently 
then  all  prospectors  had  failed  to  gain  access  to  the  interior  over  the 
coast  range,  with  the  exception  of  Holt,  who  crossed  in  1872,  and 
access  to  the  country  from  this  side  had  been  seriously  interfered 

1  Shores  and  Alps  of  Alaska,  H.  W.  Seton  Karr,  London,  1887,  p.  13L 
3  Senate  Ex.,  Doc.  No.  59,  Forty-fifth  Congress,  third  session,  p.  97. 


44  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

with  and  delayed.  However,  in  September,  1879,  this  opposition 
was  diplomatically  overcome  through  the  efforts  of  Captain  Beards- 
lee,  in  charge  of  the  government  vessel,  Jamestown,  then  stationed 
at  Sitka.  In  the  winter  of  1879-80,  a  party  of  twenty-five,  under  the 
leadership  of  Edmund  Bean,  landed  at  Taiya,  and  were  assisted  over 
the  pass  in  June,  1880,  by  the  Indians. 

Gold-bearing  ledges  were  discovered  near  Taku,  together  with 
other  gold  ledges  and  placers  in  Silver  Bow  Basin,  which  were  located, 
in  the  same  year,  by  Joseph  Juneau,  just  above  the  town  which 
bears  his  name. 

Rich  placers  were  discovered  on  Cummins  Creek,  which,  in  1893, 
were  worked  extensively.  The  Big  Salmon  River  was  prospected 
by  a  small  party  of  miners  who  came  over  the  pass  in  1881. 

In  1882,  a  prospecting  party  of  forty  odd  members,  under  the 
leadership  of  Edward  and  Eff  Schiefflin,  ascended  the  Yukon  from 
St.  Michael,  by  steamboat,  wintering  at  Nuklukayet.  Rich  gold 
bars  were  prospected  some  eighty  miles  above  Nuklukayet.  The 
next  spring  (1883)  Bother  rich  placers  were  located  at  Rowetka. 
This  ended  the  work  of  the  expedition  and  it  returned  to  St.  Michael 
and  thence  to  San  Francisco. 

"  Their  conclusion  in  regard  to  the  country  was  that  it  would 
never  pay  for  mining  operations  on  account  of  the  severity  of  the 
winter  and  the  shortness  of  the  open  season,  but,  while  dissatisfied 
with  the  opportunities  afforded  for  mining,  the  Schiefflms  must  have 
been  greatly  gratified  at  proving  to  their  own  satisfaction,  at 
least,  their  theory  that  there  is  a  great  '  mineral  belt '  encir- 
cling the  world  from  Cape  Horn  through  Asia  and  the  New 
World.  They  had  found  this  mineral  belt  at  several  points  along 
the  Yukon."  l 

This  is,  in  fact,  the  first  report  of  the  finding  of  gold  in  the  United 
States  possessions;  all  other  expeditions  and  discoveries  had  been  in 
British  Territory.  Mynook,  Hess  and  Shevlin  creeks  were  prob- 
ably those  referred  to  by  this  party.  The  latter  is  probably 
named  after  the  head  of  the  party,  Schiefflin. 

River-bar  mining  was  in  progress  on  the  Lewes  in  1883,  the  same 
year  in  which  Schwatka  made  his  military  reconnaissance.  In 
speaking  of  the  presence  of  gold  on  the  Big  Salmon  (called  by  him 
D'Abbadie)  he  says  "  a  panful  of  dirt  taken  with  discretion  from 
almost  any  bar  or  bank  will,  when  washed,  give  several  colors."2 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18  Annual  Kept.,  pt.  3,  p.  111. 

2  Along  Alaska's  Great  River,  p.  190. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  45 

Bench  gravels  containing  gold  were  found  at  Von  Wilczeks  Valley, 
20  miles  south  of  Pelly  River. 

From  this  time  on  the  number  of  men  who  came  over  the  passes 
rapidly   increased,    fully  two    hundred  crossing   in  1883,   and   the 
stories  of  finds  of  marvelous  richness  came  in  from  every  side  — 
statements  that  men   had   made   $100   to  $150  a  day  were  mild 
exaggerations. 

In  the  fall  of  1883,  report  was  brought  into  Juneau  that  rich  gold 
placers  were  to  be  found  on  the  Yukon,  which  was  corroborated  by 
the  exhibition  of  $1000  of  coarse  gold.  The  Cassiar  district  in 
British  Columbia  having  been  abandoned  recently  there  were  many 
idle  miners  to  whom  this  reported  find  came  as  an  alluring  call,  and 
great  excitement  prevailed.  Next  spring  fully  three  hundred  men 
crossed  the  summit  for  the  new  gold  fields. 

However,  "  The  Cassiar  district  was,  in  a  way,  the  training  school 
of  the  Yukon  miners,  and  to  the  experience  gained  there  the  latter 
owe  to  a  great  extent  their  ability  to  cope  with  the  natural  disad- 
vantages, for  the  conditions  are  similar  in  each.  The  early  miners 
were  obliged  to  enter  the  Cassiar  field  over  a  steep  mountain  trail 
more  than  150  miles  long,  bringing  all  their  provisions  with  them, 
and  when  they  arrived  had  to  contend  against  severe  winters  and 
short  working  seasons,  in  a  country  far  from  the  base  of  supplies. 
Cassiar  traditions,  then,  had  great  weight  among  the  first  miners 
of  the  Yukon,  and  Cassiar  methods  were  followed."  * 

However,  in  1884,  the  diggings  having  been  practically  exhausted 
were  abandoned,  only  Chinese  remaining  to  work  over  the  rich 
tailings.  In  speaking  of  the  Stikine  River,  in  1888,  Dr.  Dawson 
says:  "  Not  more  than  $1  to  $3  per  day  can  now  be  got,  and  work 
has  practically  ceased."  Further,  S.  B.  McLenegan,  who  had  explored 
the  Kowak  River,  in  1884,  says:  "  In  regard  to  the  existence  of  gold 
in  this  region,  there  seems  to  be  little  doubt.  In  almost  every 
stream,  large  and  small,  we  found  the  color  of  gold."  2  Neverthe- 
less, he  was  of  the  opinion  that  conditions  were  not  especially  suited 
to  the  profitable  working  of  these  deposits. 

The  rush  to  the  interior  still  continued  in  1885  and  considerable 
work  was  done  on  the  Stewart  River.  A  few  especially  rich  finds 
kept  the  excitement  up,  thus  materially  increasing  the  number  of 
miners  on  the  Upper  Yukon. 

1  History  and  Conditions  of  the  Yukon  Gold  District  to  1897,  and  U.  S.  G.  S. 
18th  Annual.  Rept.,  pt.  3,  p.  112. 

2  Cruise  of  the  United  States  Revenue  Steamer  C&rwin,  1884,  p.  107. 


46  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

In  the  spring  of  1886,  Cassiar  bar,  ten  miles  below  the  mouth  of 
the  Big  Salmon  River,  became  a  rivaling  point  of  attraction. 

Then  there  followed  in  quick  succession  the  discoveries  of  the 
Forty-mile  district  in  1886,  and  the  Birch  Creek  district  in  1893, 
with  their  subsidiary  locations,  all  of  which  form  connecting  links 
in  a  chain  of  events  continuous,  but  far  from  permanent  in  char- 
acter. The  effects  upon  the  development  of  the  country  have, 
however,  been  more  or  less  permanent  and  far  reaching. 

There  are,  however,  several  particular  locations  without  which  the 
history  of  Alaska  would  not  be  complete,  namely,  the  Klondike, 
Cape  Nome  and  Fairbanks  districts.  The  discovery  of  the  Klon- 
dike in  British  territory,  and  the  excitement  incident  thereto,  occurred 
in  August,  1896.  The  report  spread  that  gold  had  been  found  on 
Klondike  River.  Klondike  is  a  corruption  of  the  Indian  name 
Thronduik  ("  water  full  of  fish  ").  This  river  flows  into  the  Yukon 
some  forty-five  miles  below  the  mouth  of  Sixty  Mile  Creek.  Probably 
350  men  wintered  on  the  Klondike  and  at  Dawson,  built  up  on  the 
banks  of  the  Yukon  at  its  mouth,  and  by  1898,  fully  40,000  people 
were  camped  along  the  Yukon  near  where  Dawson  stands.  The 
most  important  parts  of  the  districts  are,  at  present,  upon  Bonanza 
and  Hunker  creeks;  the  discovery  being  made  upon  the  former  in 
August  and  September,  1896. 

The  auriferous  gravels  of  Cape  Nome  were  discovered  in  the  fall 
of  1898,  by  two  Laplander  reindeer  herders  deserting  from  the 
government  station  of  Port  Clearance,  who,  while  on  their  way  to 
St.  Michael,  sought  shelter  with  Esquimaux  at  Cape  Rodney.  Here 
they  saw  gold  nuggets  used  as  ornaments,  and  on  inquiry  learned 
that  they  had  been  picked  up  on  the  beach.  Working  down  the 
coast  they  found  gold  on  Anvil  Creek.1  Later  gold  was  discovered 
in  the  beach-sands  where  Nome  now  stands.  However,  before 
gold  was  actually  found  at  Nome,  it  had  been  found  and  worked  at 
points  on  the  Golofnin  Bay,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  Seward 
peninsula,  which  is  now  divided  into  the  Bluff,  the  Cheenik,  the 
Council,  the  Kougruk  and  the  Port  Clearance  districts  —  Nome  is 
of  the  most  importance. 

The  discovery  of  gold  in  the  beach-sands  at  Nome  was  the  signal 
for  another  mad  stampede,  not  only  from  the  surrounding  districts, 
but  from  all  over  the  states,  which  although  insuring  an  increased 
output  for  the  district,  was  in  itself  the  cause  of  delay  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  district  and  kept  the  output  below  what  it  might  have 
1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour..  Vol.  69,  p.  105. 


DISCOVERY  OF   GOLD   AND   SILVER.  47 

been,  owing  to  the  grasping  disposition  of  many  of  the  newcomers. 
In  1899,  numbers  of  men  came  from  the  states  armed  with  the  powers 
of  attorney  for  various  other  people  and  immediately  staked  out 
claims  by  the  wholesale,  but  as  no  assessment  work  was  done  on  the 
majority  of  these  claims  they  were  forfeited  within  a  year  at  least. 

Considerable  prospecting  was  done  at  Nome  in  1899-1900  by 
sinking  shafts  in  the  tundra  lying  between  the  hills  and  the  Bering 
Sea.  The  work  was  abandoned  owing  to  the  severe  cold  and  scar- 
city of  fuel.  It  was  resumed,  however,  in  the  winter  of  1901-02, 
and  was  satisfactory  in  that  it  proved  the  occurrence  of  deep  pay 
gravels.  The  depths  of  the  shafts  sunk  varied  from  65  to  120  feet. 
Unfortunately  the  information  thus  obtained  was  entirely  local  in 
nature  as  the  shafts  were  unsystematically  arranged  and  far  apart. 

The  discovery  in  1900-02  of  the  high-beach  gravels  on  both  sides 
of  Anvil  Creek,  Seward  peninsula,  was  an  important  development, 
and  materially  extended  the  field  of  placer  mining. 

The  history  of  the  development  of  mining  in  Alaska,  from  the 
earliest  known  explorations  to  the  end  of  1896,  has  been  given  in 
considerable  detail  by  Harold  B.  Goodrich  in  a  paper  on  the  history 
and  condition  of  the  Yukon  gold  district,  to  which  I  am  much 
indebted. 

The  discoveries  and  development  of  the  auriferous  gravels  in  this 
vast  territory  have  come  at  times  with  bewildering  rapidity,  then 
for  periods  remaining  practically  dormant,  only  to  break  forth  again 
with  startling  suddenness  —  a  peculiarly  characteristic  condition 
for  a  country  passing  through  the  placer  stage  into  the  more  staid 
but  less  profitable  period  of  vein  mining. 

Naturally,  with  the  exhaustion  of  the  placers,  the  attention  of  the 
miners  was  turned  toward  the  source  of  such  gold,  which  in  many 
instances  was  revealed  by  the  ordinary  operations  of  working  the 
placers,  the  gravels  being  gradually  worked  up  stream  until  the 
ledges,  from  which  the  gold  was  derived,  were  uncovered,  or  the 
sudden  discontinuance  of  the  occurrence  of  gold  pointed  to  the 
probable  presence  of  gold-bearing  ledges  on  the  banks  immediately 
contiguous  to  the  gravels.  Further,  if  gold-bearing  veins  of  suffi- 
cient size  and  value  could  be  found,  the  gold  mining  industry  would 
be  placed  upon  a  much  more  permanent  and  economic  basis.  There- 
fore, even  from  the  time  of  discovery  and  working  of  the  placers, 
certain  persons  were  occupying  themselves  with  the  search  for  gold- 
bearing  lodes. 

Quartz  mining  in  Alaska  is  still  in  its  infancy,  yet  there  are  un- 


48  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

doubtedly  great  possibilities  before  the  Alaskan  miner  who  per- 
severes. It  is  carried  on  successfully  and  profitably  at  the  Tread- 
well  and  other  mines  in  Southern  Alaska,  and  on  the  Solomon  River 
in  the  Seward  peninsula;  elsewhere  the  work  is  largely  " small  scale" 
and  unprofitable.  "  In  both  Alaska  and  the  Klondike,  gold-bear- 
ing quartz-veins  occur  in  the  rocks  of  the  placer  regions,  and  they 
have  been  prospected  in  many  places,  but  have  as  yet  proved  of 
too  low-grade,  or  of  too  small  size,  or  both,  to  pay  to  work  under 
existing  expensive  conditions."  1 

Among  the  first  discoveries  of  mineral  veins  of  value  were  the 
copper-bearing  deposits  of  the  Ketchikan  district,  which  were  located 
by  W.  C.  Ralston  of  San  Francisco,  during  a  period  of  four  years, 
ending  with  1874.  Little  was  done,  however,  and  the  district  seems 
to  have  been  lost  sight  of  for  a  time.2 

In  1880,  placers  were  discovered  in  the  Silver  Bow  Basin,  and  the 
following  year  those  of  Douglas  Island  were  located.  The  Paris 
claim  on  Douglas  Island  was  found  to  overlie  a  gold-bearing  lode, 
which  ultimately  became  the  site  of  one  of  the  large  open-cuts  or 
"  Glory  Holes."  This  claim  was  purchased  from  French  Pete,  by 
John  Treadwell,  for  the  sum  of  $4,000.  Work  upon  the  lode  revealed 
the  ore-body  upon  which  the  Mexican  mine  is  located. 

A  silver-lead  mine,  the  Omalak,  which  in  1894  was  claimed  to  be 
the  northernmost  mine  of  Alaska,  was  discovered  in  1881.  It  is 
located  on  Fish  River  near  Golofnin  Bay,  about  sixty  miles  north 
of  St.  Michael,  at  a  latitude  of  65  degrees  north,  and  is  practically 
under  the  Arctic  circle.  Up  to  1894  it  had  been  operated  for  twelve 
years.3 

Regarding  the  Ketchikan  district,  Miner  W.  Bruce  says  in  his 
report  on  the  Eleventh  Census:  "  The  indications  on  the  surface  are 
that  Prince  of  Wales  Island  contains  much  mineral.  Gold,  both 
free-milling  and  in  sulphurets,  silver,  galena,  copper  and  iron,  have 
been  found  in  many  places,  but  as  yet  no  extensive  efforts  have  been 
made  to  demonstrate  whether  any  of  the  ores  mentioned  exist  in 
paying  quantities.  If  minerals  exist  in  other  portions  of  the  dis- 
trict, the  very  limited  prospecting  done  has  failed  to  show  it. 
Annette  Island  may  be  an  exception,  and  also  Dall  Island.  Some 
of  the  finest  specimens  of  gold-bearing  ore  I  have  seen  in  my  journey 
are  said  to  have  been  taken  from  Dall  Island." 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  76,  p.  807. 
3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press.,  Vol.  83,  p.  98. 
3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  58,  p.  610. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD   AND   SILVER.  49 

It  is  claimed  that  the  salmon  fishers  were  probably  largely  respon- 
sible for  the  discovery  and  development  of  the  Ketchikan  district. 
The  discoverer  of  the  gold  deposits  on  the  east  side  of  Annette 
Island  was  one  such,  James  Bowden  by  name,  who  seemed  to  be 
most  active  in  exploratory  work  during  the  90's. 

In  1897,  gold  was  found  on  Gravina  Island,  and  near  Boca  de 
Quadra,  while  the  Gold  Standard  property  on  Cleveland  peninsula 
was  located  in  1898.1  Large  quartz  ledges  of  low-grade  ore  were 
discovered  on  Ravillagigido  Island  in  1897. 

The  difficulties  formerly  experienced  by  the  prospectors  and 
miners  in  exploring  this  northwestern  territory  have,  in  many  cases 
been  largely  removed,  yet  the  greater  portion  of  the  interior  is  still 
difficult  of  access. 

The  case  has  been  summed  up  by  R.  A.  F.  Penrose,  Jr.,  as  follows: 
41  The  production  of  gold  in  the  extreme  northwestern  part  of  North 
America  is  accompanied  with  many  difficulties  not  found  elsewhere. 
The  country  is  remote,  the  seasons  are  short,  the  ground  is  per- 
petually frozen,  with  the  exception  of  eighteen  inches  or  two  feet 
of  surface  that  thaws  in  summer;  fuel  is  often  scarce  and  sometimes 
entirely  absent;  supplies  are  expensive  and  travel  difficult.  Along 
the  coast  and  the  navigable  rivers,  trading  and  transportation 
companies  have  established  posts,  so  that  in  these  vicinities  the 
miner  fares  very  well,  and  traveling  is  not  especially  difficult;  but 
where  an  attempt  is  made  to  go  overland,  conditions  are  met  which 
will  always  make  exploration  in  this  region  slow  and  tedious.  The 
frozen  soil  of  the  tundra,  thawing  on  its  surface  in  the  summer, 
leaves  a  boggy  mass  of  moss  and  earth,  in  which  man  and  beast 
sink  to  the  frozen  ground  below;  while  he  who  attempts  to  haul 
supplies  in  a  wagon  often  finds  his  outfit  upset  many  times  a  day, 
and  frequently  mired  hopelessly  in  the  tundra."  2 

Arizona.  —  As  previously  pointed  out  under  the  head  of  Early 
History,  the  early  records  state  that  gold  was  discovered  as  early 
as  1769  in  the  Santa  Rita  Mountains,  but  after  passing  through 
various  vicissitudes  the  mining  operations  were  abandoned  about 
1775  or  1776,  and  were  kept  closed  very  effectively  by  the  warlike 
Apaches  until  about  1880.  Further,  the  almost  complete  absence 
of  military  protection  following  the  Mexican  and  Civil  wars  was 
largely  responsible  for  the  lack  of  development  of  the  territory 
during  the  early  days. 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.  Professional  Paper,  No.  1,  p.  38. 
3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  76,  p.  807. 


50  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Gold  was  reported  on  the  Gila  River  as  early  as  1858. 

Tombstone,  Cochise  County,  was  discovered,  in  1878,  by  a  pros- 
pector, E.  L.  Schiefflin,  "  who  christened  the  district  '  Tomb- 
stone '  as  a  reminder  of  the  object  that  his  friends  said  he  would 
most  need,  if  he  dared  enter  this  country  of  the  Apache  raids  to 
search  for  minerals."  l  Within  four  years  Tombstone  became  one 
of  the  largest  cities  of  the  southwest;  however,  but  few  mines  can 
withstand  a  long-drawn-out  contest  with  fire,  water  and  litigation, 
and  these  mines  were  no  exception  —  during  the  80's  Tombstone's 
fortunes  were  at  low  ebb.  In  1900,  under  a  new  management,  the 
mines  of  the  district  promised  to  again  become  successful  producers. 
These  mines  yield  gold,  silver,  and  lead. 

Some  of  the  best  placers  worked  in  the  territory  were  found  in 
Yavapai  County,  in  1863,  and  for  several  years  the  placers  on  Lynx 
Creek,  the  Big  Bug,  the  Hassayampa,  and  a  number  of  other  streams 
have  yielded  considerable  gold. 

The  following  summary  of  mining  conditions  in  Arizona,  in  1868, 
is  taken  from  the  address  of  Governor  McCormick  to  the  fifth  legis- 
lature at  Tucson,  November  16,  1868,  and  will  give  an  idea  of  the 
extent  of  the  mining  industry  at  that  date.2  "  The  Wickenburg 
gold  mines  are  worked  without  interruption,  and  steadily  yield  a 
large  revenue.  The  Vulture  lode,  the  Comstock  of  Arizona,  now 
has  a  wide  and  merited  fame.  It  is  one  of  the  richest,  most  exten- 
sive, and  remarkable  deposits  of  gold  quartz  upon  the  continent; 
and  its  returns,  up  to  this  time,  are  believed  to  be  but  an  earnest 
of  what  may  be  expected  from  it  in  the  future.  Unfortunately 
the  mills  erected  in  the  vicinity  of  Prescott  were  either  upon 
worthless  lodes  or  upon  those  in  which  ores  predominate  which 
cannot  be  made  to  pay  by  ordinary  treatment.  From  the  Eureka 
district  there  is  a  steady  and  profitable  shipment  of  lead  ore  to  San 
Francisco;  and  work  upon  several  silver  lodes  in  that  district  is 
vigorously  prosecuted,  as  it  is  upon  several  gold  lodes  near  La  Paz 
and  Hardyville.  Below  the  Gila  the  Cababi  mines  continue  to 
yield  a  good  return  of  silver,  and  a  fine  mill  is  in  process  of 
erection  at  Apache  Pass,  where  the  gold  lodes  are  attracting 
much  attention  and  give  excellent  promise.  Confidence  in  the 
mineral  resources  of  the  territory  is  unshaken,  and  those  most 
familiar  with  them  believe  that,  once  secure  from  Indian  depre- 
dations, and  made  accessible  by  the  iron  rail,  Arizona  will  take 

1  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  27,  p.  371. 

2  The  Mines  of  the  West,  Raymond,  1869,  p.  167. 


DISCOVERY   OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  51 

front  rank  among  the  gold  and  silver  producing  districts  of  the 
world." 

In  1871,  most  of  the  gold  taken  from  placers  was  obtained  by 
dry-washing,  and,  therefore,  practically  only  the  coarse  gold  was 
saved.  The  principal  placers  are  at  La  Paz,  on  both  sides  of  the 
Gila  River,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Gila  City,  Los  Elores  and  Oroville, 
along  the  upper  Hassayampa,  the  Linx  and  Big  Bug  creeks. 

The  discovery  and  development  of  the  Silver  King  mine  is  impor- 
tant in  that  it  was  largely  through  such  efforts  that  the  southwestern 
and  central  parts  of  Arizona  were  taken  from  the  control  of  the 
murderous  Apaches.1  It  was  while  General  Stoneman,  later  Gover- 
nor of  California,  was  in  command  of  the  military  department  of 
Arizona,  that  it  was  found  necessary  to  pacify  the  savages.  He 
therefore,  in  1873,  established  a  camp  in  the  Final  Mountains  near 
their  trail  on  Queen  Creek,  and  began  the  construction  of  a  pack- 
road  into  the  mountains.  This  pack-road  commonly  known  as 
"  Stoneman's  Grade  "  was,  in  the  80's,  the  main  traveled  route  to 
the  Globe  and  Pioneer  districts. 

A  soldier,  named  Sullivan,  while  engaged  in  this  road-buiding 
accidentally  picked  up  a  fragment  of  rock  and  noticing  that  it  was 
malleable  carried  some  pieces  along  with  him,  but  made  no  men- 
tion of  his  find  on  returning  to  camp.  Later  he  left  the  service  and 
went  to  the  ranch  of  a  Mr.  Mason,  on  Salt  River,  near  the  present 
site  of  Phoenix.  From  time  to  time  Mason  heard  Sullivan  speak 
of  his  find  and  show  the  specimens.  Sullivan  suddenly  disappeared 
one  day  and  was  supposed  to  have  been  killed  by  the  Indians. 
Mason  with  others  then  sought  the  location  of  the  vein  from  which 
Sullivan  had  got  his  specimens.  In  March,  1875,  they  were  attacked 
by  Apaches,  and  it  was  while  being  pursued  by  the  Indians,  who  had 
killed  one  of  their  number,  that  the  ledge  was  accidentally  redis- 
covered. The  sequel  is  not  without  interest  as  showing  by  what 
narrow  margin  fortunes  are  often  won'  and  lost:  one  day,  in  1879, 
an  aged  man  came  to  the  mill  of  the  Silver  King  mine  and  seemed 
to  be  very  much  interested  in  what  he  saw.  Later,  he  told  that  he 
was  Sullivan,  the  original  discoverer  of  the  mine.  The  story  he  told 
showed  that  it  was  not  lack  of  faith,  but  lack  of  funds  that  had 
prevented  him  locating  the  mine  for  himself. 

In  1887,  Mr.  John  Lawler  discovered  the  Hillside  mine  of  Yavapai 
County,  a  gold  and  silver  mine  of  some  note  during  the  90's. 

In  1892,  the  mining  industry  of  Arizona  suffered  from  the  great 
1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  35,  p.  238. 


52  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

depreciation  of  silver,  along  with  the  rest  of  the  Rocky  Mountain 
country,  which  was  largely  responsible  for  the  increased  development 
of  gold  properties.  The  richness  of  the  pyrites  of  the  Congress 
and  Crown  King  mines  attracted  special  attention  to  their  treat- 
ment. The  discoveries  at  the  White  Hills,  Mohave  Country,  still 
further  enhanced  the  value  of  gold  properties.  Haqua  Hala  of 
Yuma  County  and  the  Vulture  and  Union  mines  of  Maricopa  County 
were  actively  operated.  In  Final  County  the  Silver  King  and 
Mammoth  mines  were  the  principal  features. 

Very  little  silver  mining  was  done  except  at  the  Seven  Stars, 
formerly  the  Hillside  mine  in  Yavapai  County,  which  is  both  a  gold 
and  silver  property. 

During  1894,  there  was  a  marked  increase  in  the  production  of 
gold,  while  in  the  following  year  there  was  a  decline,  owing  prob- 
ably to  the  closing  of  the  Haqua  Hala  and  the  Mammoth;  work 
at  the  White  Hills  also  showed  a  decline. 

The  Pearce,  a  gold  and  silver  mine,  was  discovered  on  the  10th 
of  March,  1895,  by  two  cow-boys,  sons  of  a  miner,  who  combined 
prospecting  with  "  punching  cows."  The  mine  is  located  in  Cochise 
County,  south  of  Wilcox.  For  two  years  at  least  this  mine  paid  at 
the  rate  of  $100,000,  although  the  ore  from  all  outward  appearance 
is  "  most  unpromising  stuff."  1 

In  1896,  the  Fortuna  in  Yuma  County  and  the  Mohawk  of  Tucson, 
both  practically  new  mines,  assisted  in  increasing  the  output.  The 
Mammoth  was  closed,  while  the  Congress,  Crown  King  and  McCabe, 
and  Little  Jessie  in  Yavapai  County,  increased  their  output.  The 
Placeritas  was  discovered  and  opened  up.  During  the  following 
year  the  increase  in  production  was  largely  due  to  operations  in 
the  Pearce  and  Fortuna  mines  —  the  Pearce  standing  first. 

The  production  of  gold  still  increased  during  1898-99,  while  in 
1900  there  was  a  pronounced  tendency  toward  prospecting  and 
development.  The  Haqua  Hala  mines  resumed  work  and  the 
Tombstone  mines  still  shipped  silver-gold  ores. 

In  1901,  the  mining  interests  at  Tombstone  were  consolidated, 
and  it  became  an  important  mining  center  again,  and  during  the 
same  year  the  Congress  mine  was  actively  developed. 

The  Bradshaw  mountain  district  was  the  scene  of  considerable 

active    developments    in    1903.      The    Poland    mine    was    opened 

up  and    promised    to    be    a    good    producer.     The    Congress    and 

Tombstone  mines  increased  their  outputs  materially.     The  pass- 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  29,  p.  224. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  53 

ing  of  the   eight -hour   law   was    an    important    event  in   mining 
circles. 

During  1905,  the  principal  source  of  gold  was  the  smelting  of 
copper  ores. 

Arkansas.  —  Although  no  definite  statement  is  to  be  found  regard- 
ing the  first  discovery  of  silver  in  this  state,  yet  the  year  1880  is 
noteworthy  in  that  a  number  of  prospects  were  located  and  some 
mining  was  done.  So  encouraging  were  the  reported  values  of  the 
ore  in  these  mines  that  there  was  quite  an  excitement  worked  up. 
The  district  was  known  as  the  Silver  City  mining  district,  and  was 
situated  about  32  miles  due  west  of  Hot  Springs  —  the  "  silver 
belt  "  extending  north  and  south  about  60  miles  and  probably  100 
miles  east  and  west. 

The  mines  worked  at  the  time  were  the  Mountain  King,  Ozark, 
Great  Discovery,  Little  Boss,  Canadian  and  others.  A  shipment 
of  280  sacks  of  ore  to  St.  Louis  is  said  to  have  assayed  $500  per 
ton.1  It  is  further  claimed  that  both  silver  and  gold  have  been 
found  in  the  lead  ores  of  this  state,  ranging  as  high  as  $9  to  $12 
gold,  and  216.77  ounces  silver  per  ton. 

Mention  is  made  in  a  report  of  the  Arkansas  Geological  Survey 
of  the  finding  of  a  deposit  of  limonite,  bearing  gold  and  silver,  about 
the  year  1887.  This  occurs  in  Saline  County,  and  the  presence  of 
the  metals  is  attributed  to  the  action  of  chalybeate  springs.2 

"  Samples  collected  yielded  traces  of  both  gold  and  silver,  but  they 
are  not  to  be  regarded  as  representative  of  the  deposit,  having 
been  taken  as  random  specimens.  Specimens  said  to  have  been 
collected  from  this  range  were  reported  by  an  assayer  as  carrying 
$2.50  in  gold  and  $12.50  in  silver;  the  amount  was  so  low  it  would 
prove  unprofitable  for  working.  Subsequent  explorations  have 
not  developed  profitable  deposits  in  this  district.  In  the  vicinity 
of  Hot  Springs  the  quartz  and  pyrite  deposits  have  led  to  much 
exploration  for  gold,  but  no  significant  amount  has  yet  been  found.7' 3 

Quartz  veins  are  found  in  Montgomery  County,  which  have  been 
prospected  but  without  results. 

The  Gray  Eagle  and  Golden  Wonder  belts  extending  into  Gar- 
land County  have  been  the  scenes  of  active  explorations  notwith- 
standing the  adverse  reports  of  reputable  assayers.  The  most 
noted  mine  of  the  county,  the  Sand  Carbonate,  has  proven  worthless. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  29,  p.  385. 

2  Annual  Rept.  Ark.  Geol.  Survey,  Vol.  1,  p.  37,  1888. 

3  Trans.  Lake  Superior  Min.  Inst.,  Vol.  5,  p.  49,  1898. 


54  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  Patsey's  Pride  mine,  on  the  Glenpatrick  vein,  near  Hot  Springs, 
has  yielded  a  slight  amount  of  gold  per  ton  and  no  silver.  The 
gold  occurs  in  pyritiferous  shales,  with  graphite  as  an  accessory. 

The  Bear  City  district  lies  due  west  of  Hot  Springs,  which  is  also 
characterized  by  the  occurrence  of  graphitic  shales.  The  Golden 
Wonder  and  Lost  Louisiana  mines  are  probably  the  most  prominent. 

Prior  to  1888,  the  work  of  exploiting  the  gold  and  silver  mines 
of  the  state  had  been  largely  in  the  hands  of  ignorant  and  often 
unprincipaled  persons,  which  led  the  State  Survey  to  settle  once 
for  all  the  possibilities  of  the  districts.1 

Samples  collected  from  various  localities  around  Blocher,  Saline 
County,  have  shown  traces  of  gold,  but  not  more  than  an  ounce  of 
silver  was  obtained  from  several  assays. 

California.  —  A  somewhat  detailed  account  has  already  been 
given  regarding  the  history  of  gold  and  silver  mining  prior  to  the 
discovery  of  gold  at  Coloma.  However,  a  brief  resume  of  the  events 
immediately  preceding  that  discovery,  together  with  a  few  points 
of  interest,  not  previously  mentioned,  will  be  added. 

The  Mission  of  San  Francisco  was  established  October  9,  1776, 
the  month  following  the  founding  of  the  Presidio  of  the  port.  This 
may  be  considered  as  the  first  serious  effort  toward  civilizing  the 
natives  of  the  western  coast.  In  1802,  a  mineral  vein  of  silver  was 
discovered  in  the  district  of  Monterey,  at  Olozal,  and  although  it 
attracted  considerable  attention  it  was  not  worked.2 

Gold  was  discovered  near  the  Spanish  Mission  of  San  Fernando, 
in  Los  Angeles  County,  in  1812  (there  are  various  other  dates  given 
to  this  discovery).  Gold  collected  here  was  sent  to  San  Diego  in 
1828. 

That  the  mineral  wealth  of  California  was  not  generally  con- 
sidered of  much  importance  in  the  states,  as  early  as  1835  at  least, 
is  evident  from  the  following  statement  in  Forbes'  History  of  Cali- 
fornia: "  No  minerals  of  particular  importance  have  yet  been  found 
in  upper  California,  nor  any  ores  of  metals." 

In  1841,  other  gold  placers  were  discovered  in  the  San  Feliciana 
Canon,  about  40  miles  northwest  of  Los  Angeles.3  During  the 
same  year,  J.  D.  Dana,  acting  as  mineralogist  to  Commodore  Wilks's 
exploring  expedition,  observed  gold  in  the  Sacramento  Valley,  which 

1  Trans.  Lake  Superior  Min.  Inst.,  Vol.  5,  p.  50,  1898. 

2  Mineral  Resources  of  the  West,  J.  R.  Browne,  1867,  p.  13. 

3  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  Spec.  Vol.  of  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  p.  395,  and  Min. 
and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  47,  p.  292. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  55 

he  mentions  in  his  book  on  mineralogy  written  in  1842.  He  further 
states  that  auriferous  rocks  were  observed  in  Southern  Oregon,  but 
considered  them  of  little  importance.1 

Mr.  A.  B.  Paul  states  that  in  1845,  Captain  Cleme,  an  English- 
man, working  in  the  Lake  Superior  copper  mines,  told  him  that  while 
.  in  Brazil  he  had  seen  gold  which  had  been  brought  from  upper 
California  by  natives  from  that  country.2  If  this  statement  is  cor- 
rect, gold  must  have  been  mined  in  Northern  California  about  1800. 

In  1845,  Senior  Castillo,  of  New  California,  presented  to  the  School 
of  Mines  of  Mexico  specimens  of  gold,  silver,  lead,  cinnabar,  and 
other  evidences  of  the  mineral  wealth  of  that  province,  and  at  that 
time  tried  to  induce  his  government  to  protect  ^hese  interests.3 

On  the  19th  of  January,  1848,  James  W.  Marshall  discovered 
gold  in  the  race  of  a  saw-mill  in  the  Sacramento  basin,  at  a  place 
afterwards  named  Coloma.4 

Of  the  various  accounts  of  this  important  find  there  are  many 
disagreements  both  with  respect  to  the  details  of  the  discovery  and 
the  exact  date.  However,  Marshall's  own  account  of  his  personal 
experience  should  be,  and  generally  is,  considered  authentic,  and  is 
essentially  as  follows:  Finding  that  the  race  or  waterway  below  the 
mill  was  not  sufficiently  deep  he  had  hit  upon  the  plan  of  cutting 
the  excavation  deeper  by  the  action  of  running  water,  accomplished 
in  this  case  by  turning  on  a  full  head  of  water  from  the  mill-pond 
by  simply  raising  the  gate.  Examining  the  cut  one  morning  to  note 
the  progress  made,  he  observed  a  small  piece  of  yellow  metal  lodged 
in  a  crevice  of  the  soft  granite  bed-rock.  On  pounding  it  with  a 
stone  he  found  it  malleable  and  suspected  that  it  was  gold.  With 
him  at  the  time  was  a  laborer  (Peter  Wimmer)  who  subjected  it 
to  a  still  further  and  more  conclusive  test  by  boiling  it  in  strong  lye. 
The  fact  that  Marshall  and  Wimmer  did  not  divulge  the  secret  of 
their  find  with  the  other  men,  fearing,  as  Marshall  stated,  that  they 
might  stop  work,  may  be  responsible  for  various  dates  being  given 
as  the  probable  time  of  discovery;  as  for  instance  the  24th,  which 
is  considered  correct  by  many  persons. 

Many  so-called  discoveries  of  gold  in  California,  like  false  prophets,  have 
arisen  to  share  the  honor,  but  most  of  them  have  been  readily  discredited.  How- 
ever, it  is  possible  that  others  may  have  blundered  on  to  the  secret  as  did  Mar- 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  47,  p.  292. 
3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  44,  p.  380. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  54,  p.  282. 

4  The  Indian  name  and  pronunciation  is  Cul-lu-mah,  meaning  beautiful  vale, 
now  Americanized  to  Coloma. 


56  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

shall,  but  owing  to  untoward  circumstances  or  lack  of  faith  in  their  supposed 
find  it  was  not  mentioned  until  after  Marshall's  find.  As  an  illustration  of  the 
not  improbable,  the  following  narrative  is  given  for  what  it  is  worth:  Among 
the  early  immigrants  journeying  to  California  in  1846  was  the  Donner  party. 
While  attempting  the  passage  of  the  Sierra  Nevadas  the  party  became  snow- 
bound while  still  on  the  eastern  slope  and  at  a  point  near  where  Truckee  now 
stands.  One  of  the  party,  Denton  by  name,  while  idly  chipping  the  rocks  used 
as  a  fire-place  in  the  cabin  they  were  occupying,  noticed  shining  particles  which 
proved  on  examination  to  be  gold.  Collecting  several  ounces  of  this  gold  quartz, 
he  carefully  wrapped  it  in  a  piece  of  buckskin.  He,  however,  failed  to  survive 
the  passage  of  the  mountains  and  was  buried,  and  with  him  the  gold  he  had 
collected.  But  why  none  of  the  surviving  members  of  the  party  did  not  return 
to  search  for  gold  is  not  satisfactorily  explained.  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  54, 
p.  188. 

However,  the  knowledge  of  Marshall's  find  became  known  to  the 
men,  but  they  did  not  seem  to  take  much  interest  in  the  matter, 
although  from  time  to  time  various  ones  picked  up  small  gold  nug- 
gets in  the  race.  A  Mr.  Bennett,  who  was  working  at  the  mill  at 
the  time  of  the  discovery,  left  for  San  Francisco  about  the  middle  of 
February,  taking  with  him  some  of  the  gold.  There  he  met  Isaac 
Humphrey,  who  had  worked  in  the  Georgia  gold  mines;  he  at  once 
pronounced  it  gold  and  immediately  made  preparations  to  go  to 
the  mill.  Arriving  at  Coloma  on  the  7th  of  March  he  found  the 
men  working  as  usual.  After  making  a  few  tests  he  declared  that 
the  material  was  richer  than  that  in  Georgia.  This  statement,  from 
a  somewhat  experienced  miner,  precipitated  matters  and  immediately 
a  great  rush  to  Coloma  began. 

Kemble,  editor  of  the  Californian  Star,  after  making  a  visit  to 
Coloma,  wrote,  on  the  20th  of  May,  that  a  fleet  of  launches  had  left 
on  the  14th  and  15th  of  the  month,  laden  with  "  superlatively  silly  " 
people  who  had  set  off  for  the  scene  of  the  excitement  with  the  idea 
that  the  mines  were  rich  and  extensive  enough  for  2,000  people  to 
dig  two  ounces  of  gold  a  day,  adding  that:  "  We  believe  the  reported 
wealth  of  that  section,  three  miles  in  extent,  a  sham."  It  has  been 
remarked  that:  "The  dirty  work  of  washing  the  sand  had  not  ap- 
pealed to  his  aesthetic  eye,  especially  since  he  probably  missed  the 
most  exciting  part  of  the  operation,  namely,  '  panning  out.' " 1 

The  direct  effect  of  this  discovery  was  the  opening  up  of  gravel 
mines,  at  widely  separated  points,  on  various  rivers  where  conditions 
seemed  similar  to  those  on  the  Sacramento.  Among  the  first  to 
think  of  looking  for  gold  elsewhere  were  Pearson  B.  Reading,  a 
ranch  owner  on  the  upper  Sacramento,  and  John  Bidwell>  later 
1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  51,  p.  210. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  57 

representative  to  the  United  States  Senate;  the  former  began  work 
on  Clear  Creek,  nearly  200  miles  northwest  of  Coloma,  the  latter  on 
Feather  River  some  75  miles  northwest  of  Coloma. 

The  news  of  the  discovery  spread  slowly,  but  gained  momentum 
with  the  passage  of  time,  as  new  discoveries,  with  their  exaggerated 
reports  of  riches  found,  came  in  and  dispelled  suspicions  and  doubt 
until  everything  was  swept  before  the  excitement  that  burned  at 
fever  heat. 

"  The  towns  and  farms  were  deserted  or  left  in  care  of  women 
and  children,  while  ranchos,  wood-choppers,  mechanics,  vaqueros, 
and  soldiers  and  sailors  who  had  deserted  or  obtained  leave  of 
absence,  devoted  all  their  energies  to  washing  the  auriferous  gravel 
of  the  Sacramento  basin.  Never  satisfied,  however  much  they 
might  be  making,  they  were  continually  looking  for  new  placers 
which  might  yield  them  twice  or  thrice  as  much  as  they  had  made 
before.  Thus  the  area  of  their  labors  gradually  extended,  and  at 
the  end  of  1848,  miners  were  at  work  in  every  large  stream  on  the 
western  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  from  the  Feather  to  the  Tuolumne 
River,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  and  also  at 
Reading's  diggings,  in  the  northwestern  corner  of  the  Sacramento 
Valley." 

A  newspaper  of  San  Francisco  on  the  29th  of  May  following  the 
discovery  of  gold,  suspended  publication  with  the  announcement 
that:  "  The  whole  country,  from  San  Francisco  to  Los  Angeles,  and 
from  the  sea-shore  to  the  base  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  resounds  with 
the  sordid  cry  of  gold!  gold!  gold!  while  the  field  is  left  half  planted, 
the  house  half  built,  and  everything  neglected  but  the  manufacture 
of  picks  and  shovels,  and  the  means  of  transportation  to  the  spot 
where  one  man  obtained  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  dollars 
worth  of  the  real  stuff  in  one  day's  washing;  and  the  average  for 
all  concerned  is  twenty  dollars  per  diem."  1 

Captain  Sutter,  for  whom  Marshall  was  workings  and  near  whose 
place  the  discovery  of  gold  was  made,  took  samples  of  the  gold 
to  Monterey  to  the  military  authorities,  General  Mason  being  at 
that  time  Military  Governor  with  headquarters  at  that  place. 

The  official  report  of  the  discovery  with  specimens  of  the  gold 
was  forwarded  by  special  messenger,  Gen.  E.  F.  Beale.  The  news 
was  received  with  incredulity  and  ridicule  and  did  not  excite  the 
interest  anticipated,  but  before  General  Beale  could  reach  California 
on  his  return,  another  mad  rush  had  taken  place  to  the  gravel  beds 
1  Mineral  Resources  of  th^  West,  J.  Ross  Browne,  1867,  p.  15. 


58  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

of  the  north,  and  he  found  San  Francisco  in  a  state  of  wild  excite- 
ment. This  was  late  in  1848. l 

The  cause  of  this  new  excitement  was  the  rinding  of  a  so-called 
gold  nugget,  weighing  some  twenty  or  twenty-five  pounds,  by  a 
soldier  of  Stevenson's  regiment,  while  drinking  from  the  Mokelumne 
River.  This  specimen  was  placed  in  the  care  of  General  Mason, 
who  sent  it  by  General  Beale  to  the  eastern  states.  On  its  exhi- 
bition in  New  York  City  the  last  doubts  were  dispelled  and  the 
whole  nation  became  wild  with  excitement. 

Interest  in  the  new  gold  fields  was  not  confined  to  the  United 
States  alone,  but  Mexico,  South  America,  Europe  and  the  islands  of 
the  seas  sent  their  hundreds  and  thousands  to  assist  in  the  golden 
harvest. 

It  is  only  necessary  to  cite  the  increase  in  population  at  this  time 
to  show  the  movement  toward  this  new  Eldorado.  Before  1850, 
the  population  of  California  had  risen  from  15,000,  as  it  was  in 
1847,  to  100,000,  and  the  average  increase  annually  for  five  or  six 
years  was  50,000.2 

Some  surprise  has  been  expressed  that  Fremont  did  not  discover 
gold  while  passing  through  the  Sacramento  Valley,  but  it  is  not  to 
be  wondered  at  since  it  is  known  that  his  party  was  in  such  an 
exhausted  condition  that  he  was  forced  to  slaughter  his  pack  ani- 
mals for  food;  then  too  he  was  looked  upon  with  suspicion  by  the 
Mexican  authorities,  who  suspected  that  he  had  revolutionary 
motives  in  invading  the  country. 

As  previously  referred  to,  gold  was  discovered  on  the  Feather 
River,  in  Butte  County,  by  John  Bidwell  in  March,  1848,  and  some 
two  weeks  later  on  Butte  Creek,  i;he  west  branch  of  the  Feather; 
while  on  July  4,  1848,  he  located  BidwelPs  Bar  three  miles  above 
the  present  town  of  Oroville.  On  May  16,  1848,  Claude  Ghana 
discovered  gold  in  Auburn  Ravine,  which  locality  was  later  known 
as  the  "  North  Fork  Dry  Diggings,"  and  still  later  changed  to 
Auburn. 

An  early,  if  not  the  earliest,  discovery  of  silver  in  this  state  was 
made  by  a  party  of  emigrants  in  August,  1849,  who  under  the  leader- 
ship of  a  Mr.  Rhodes  crossed  the  plains  and  entered  Death  Valley 
from  the  east  through  the  Furnis  Creek  pass.  There  they  camped 
at  the  so-called  "  Poison  Springs."  Shortly  afterwards  many  of 
their  number  were  taken  sick  and  twenty-two  died.  Thinking  that 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  43,  p.  177. 

a  Mineral  Resources  of  the  West,  J.  Ross  Browne,  1867,  p.  16. 


DISCOVERY   OF  GOLD   AND   SILVER.  59 

the  water  of  the  spring  was  poisonous  they  made  haste  to  get  away, 
abandoning  practically  everything.  However,  their  first  thought 
was  for  water,  and  horsemen  were  sent  out  to  search  for  it,  and  it 
was  while  thus  engaged  that  one  of  their  number  picked  up  a  piece 
of  float-rock  with  pure  silver  attached  to  it.  This  specimen,  it  is 
claimed,  could  be  seen  at  Oroville,  California,  as  late  as  1884,  being 
in  the  possession  of  an  old  lady,  a  survivor  of  the  party.1 

On  reaching  their  destination  the  specimen  was  shown  and  con- 
siderable interest  was  aroused,  resulting  in  many  parties  making 
diligent  search  for  the  locality  from  which  it  came,  but  without 
success. 

The  discovery  of  Grass  Valley  dates  back  to  1849,  when  the  first 
lot  of  pioneers,  nearly  exhausted  by  their  journey  across  the  con- 
tinent, came  to  it,  and  they  and  their  worn  animals  rested  and  recu- 
perated —  it  was  then  named  Grass  Valley.  In  the  same  year  gold 
placers  were  discovered  there,  following  which  gold-quartz  ledges 
were  located  in  June,  1850.  In  October,  1850,  McKnight  discov- 
ered gold  on  Gold  Hill  —  the  quartz  being  literally  filled  with  gold. 
Immediately  following  the  discovery  on  Gold  Hill,  and  in  the  same 
month,  rich  quartz  ledges  were  discovered  on  Massachusetts,  Ophir 
and  Rich  hills  by  G.  D.  Roberts.  The  location  of  the  Empire  mine 
on  Ophir  Hill  was  one  of  the  most  important  finds.  However,  the 
discovery  on  Gold  Hill  is  of  historical  importance  in  that  the  first 
quartz  mining  in  the  same  state  had  its  beginning  there. 

The  placers  of  Plumas  and  Sierra  counties  were  discovered  in 
1850-51,  and  following  their  exhaustion  the  ancient  river  gravels 
were  worked.  In  1851,  the  famous  Plumas-Eureka  gold  ledge  on 
Gold  Mountain  was  discovered. 

In  the  spring  of  1850,  fabulous  stories  were  circulated  regarding 
the  occurrence  of  gold  at  Gold  Lake,  a  small  body  of  water  east  of 
the  present  town  of  Downieville.  This  proved  to  be  a  delusion  and 
a  snare,  and  many  returned  poorer  than  they  started.  During 
1851,  Gold  Bluff,  on  the  sea-shore  about  latitude  41  degrees,  was 
the  scene  of  considerable  excitement.  Large  numbers  of  miners 
flocked  to  this  place  and  much  work  was  done,  but  owing  to  the 
character  of  the  gold  and  the  associated  minerals,  the  separation  of 
the  gold  could  not  be  made  to  pay,  at  least  at  wages  that  the 
miners  would  be  satisfied  with. 

In  July,  1878,  attention  was  again  called  to  the  ocean  beaches 
owing  to  discoveries  made  by  John  Frazer.  Shortly  after  the 
1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  40,  p.  230. 


60  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

discovery  the  whole  beach  from  north  of  Ocean  Side  House  as  far 
south  as  Point  San  Pedro  was  staked  off. 

The  discovery  of  a  pocket  mine  on  Bald  Mountain,  Tuolumne 
County  near  Sonora,  in  1852,  is  the  first  of  any  importance  found  in 
the  state.  It  was  located  by  Mexicans,  who  are  reported  to  have 
taken  a  large  amount  of  gold  from  the  mine. 

J.  F.  Talbott  discovered  the  placer  deposits  at  Indiana  Hill  in  the 
spring  of  1852.  These  were  the  first  diggings  found  between  the 
North  Fork  and  Bear  River. 

The  Amargoza  mine  of  San  Bernardino  County  and  in  Death 
Valley,  was  discovered  by  immigrants  on  their  way  to  the  gold  fields. 
Returning  to  the  country  at  a  later  date  to  work  the  property  they 
were  killed  by  Indians.  The  mine  was  rediscovered  in  1876,  by 
J.  B.  Osborne  and  others. 

Gold  in  both  placers  and  veins  was  discovered  at  Sulphur  Creek, 
Colusa  County,  in  1863.  The  principal  mines  worked  are  the  Man- 
zanita,  Monticello  and  Clyde. 

A  quartz  vein  at  Nashville,  El  Dorado  County,  was  first  located 
and  opened  in  1851,  but  it  was  not  until  1868  that  any  systematic 
work  was  done. 

From  1850-56  river  mining  was  extensively  carried  on  in  practi- 
cally all  of  the  streams  in  the  gold  regions,  while  in  1852,  Edward  E. 
Mattison  invented  hydraulic  mining  in  placer  deposits. 

In  1855,  Kern  River  was  the  point  of  attraction  and  drew  a 
motley  crowd  of  adventurers;  they  were,  however,  doomed  to  dis- 
appointment. A  notable  and  somewhat  remarkable  find  of  ancient 
river  beds  at  Columbia,  in  Tuolumne  County,  occurred  in  October, 
1855.  These  ancient  channels  were  soon  found  to  be  of  quite  common 
occurrence,  but  the  largest  and  most  noted  was  probably  the  Blue 
Lead,  which  runs  through  the  middle  of  Sierra  and  Nevada  counties. 
These  new-found  repositories  of  gold  added  immensely  to  the  re- 
sources of  the  state. 

In  1856,  the  main  center  to  which  public  interest  was  drawn 
was  the  Fraser  River.  Rich  bar-diggings  were  found  and  another 
rush  took  place,  but  the  excitement  did  not  last  long. 

During  1863-64,  attention  of  the  mining  world  was  directed 
particularly  to  the  silver  and  gold  mines  of  Nevada  and  Colo- 
rado, and  gold  mining  in  California  languished,  but  did  not  cease 
altogether. 

In  1881,  an  important  discovery  of  silver  was  made  in  the  Calico 
district  of  California. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  61 

After  the  Comstock  Lode  and  adjoining  territory  had  been  thor- 
oughly prospected  and  most  of  the  ledges  which  gave  promise  of 
containing  values  were  located,  the  prospectors  and  miners  began 
to  seek  new  fields  for  their  labors,  and  as  a  result  numerous  new 
districts  were  opened  up,  and  in  many  cases  mines,  abandoned  under 
the  stress  of  previous  excitements,  were  reopened  and  worked  with 
profit.  Thus  mining  in  California  was  revived,  and  for  the  follow- 
ing twenty  odd  years  slowly  increased  in  importance  and  magni- 
tude, largely  through  the  introduction  of  improved  methods  of  min- 
ing and  treating  the  ores. 

Gravel  mining  in  its  various  forms  and  phases  had  steadily  in- 
creased, both  in  magnitude  of  operations  and  extent  of  ground 
covered,  until  about  1884,  when  after  a  series  of  state  and  federal 
injunctions  against  hydraulic  mining  the  industry  was  forced  to 
stop  operations.  However,  in  March,  1893,  Congress  passed  the 
Caminetti  Act,  which  permitted  the  mines  to  be  operated  again 
under  certain  restrictions. 

In  1892,  Amador  and  Nevada  counties  were  the  largest  producers 
of  gold.  Little  silver  was  produced  in  the  state. 

Electricity  was  applied  to  the  principal  mines  of  the  Bodie 
district,  power  being  generated  in  Mono  County.  There  was  a 
marked  increase  in  the  production  of  gold  during  the  following 
year. 

In  1895,  gold  mining  had  become  the  most  important  single 
industry  in  the  state.  No  silver  mines  of  importance  were  to  be 
found  outside  the  Calico  district,  San  Bernardino  County.  The 
Randsburg  district  was  discovered.  During  1897,  hydraulic  min- 
ing had  increased  materially  in  volume  under  the  Caminetti 
law.  Considerable  activity  was  manifested  both  in  new  and  old 
developments;  there  was  a  marked  movement  toward  the  Angel's 
Camp. 

The  serious  drought  experienced  in  many  of  the  placer-mining 
districts  was  responsible  for  the  falling  off  in  the  gold  output  in 
1898.  However,  the  Randsburg  district  began  to  show  up  well. 
Gold  was  mined  in  thirty-one  out  of  fifty-seven  counties.  The 
Vanderbilt  mine  was  an  important  producer.  River  dredging 
began  to  form  an  important  industry  of  the  state.  A  marked 
increase  in  gold  production  occurred  in  1899  and  1900,  due  prob- 
ably both  to  weather  conditions  being  more  favorable  and  rapid 
development  of  the  dredging  industry,  which  had  extended  to  ten 
states. 


62  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

In  1905,  after  several  years  of  fluctuating  yields,  especially  of 
gold,  a  pronounced  increase  was  obtained,  and  although  no  new 
developments  of  importance  in  quartz  mining  were  noted,  yet  the 
southwestern  portion  of  the  state  received  much  attention  from 
prospectors.  However,  dredging  operations  were  of  the  most 
importance  —  fully  fifty  dredges  being  actively  at  work  and  others 
were  building.1 

The  precious  metals  are  widely  distributed  throughout  Califor- 
nia, and  are  as  a  rule,  found  under  favorable  conditions  for  cheap 
exploitation.  The  principal  gold  field  extends  north  and  south  for 
a  distance  Of  fully  seven  hundred  miles  in  almost  unbroken  con- 
tinuity, besides  which  there  are  several  other  outlying  districts 
yielding  both  gold  and  silver. 

The  Carolinas.  —  The  first  record  we  have  of  the  finding  of  gold  in 
North  Carolina  is  that  of  the  Reed  nugget,  which,  according  to 
Wheeler  in  his  History  of  North  Carolina,  was  found  by  Conrad 
Reed,  son  of  John  Reed,  in  1799,  while  shooting  fish  with  bow  and 
arrow  in  Meadow  Creek.  He  noticed  the  yellow  gleam  of  a  sub- 
stance in  the  water  and  on  removing  it  found  it  to  be  metal.  It 
was  taken  to  his  home,  but  as  gold  was  unknown  in  that  part  of  the 
country  its  true  nature  was  not  suspected,  and  it  was  used  as  a  door 
stop  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1802,  Mr.  Reed  took  the  nugget, 
weight  17  pounds,  to  a  jeweler,  at  Fayetteville  who  told  him  that 
it  was  gold  and  offered  to  flux  it  for  him.  On  his  return  he  found 
a  gold  bar  (6  by  8  inches  long,  thickness  not  given)  which  he  was 
induced  to  sell  for  the  sum  of  $3.50.  The  following  year  he,  with 
several  others,  discovered  another  piece  of  gold  and  quartz  weigh- 
ing 28  pounds,  and  from  that  time  on  other  pieces  weighing  from 
16  pounds  to  several  ounces  were  collected. 

The  veins  from  which  the  nugget  originally  came  were  discovered 
in  1831. 

From  1804  to  1827,  North  Carolina  furnished  all  the  gold  pro- 
duced in  the  United  States,  which  amounted  to  something  like 
$110,000.  Mills  in  the  "Statistics  of  South  Carolina,"  mentions 
the  occurrence  of  gold  as  early  as  1826,  in  the  Abbeville  and  Spartan- 
burg  districts;  the  first  mint-returns  from  this  state  were  not,  how- 
ever, given  until  1829. 

A  curious  bit  of  history  affecting  the  accuracy  of  the  statistics, 
is  the  coinage  of  gold  by  one  Bechtler,  in  North  Carolina,  about 
1833  and  for  many  years  afterwards.  It  is  said  that  for  some -time 
1  Mineral  Industry  for  1892  to  1906. 


UNiVERSl! 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  63 

these  coins  and  Mexican  silver  constituted  the  chief  currency  of 
large  districts.  To  insure  their  reception,  the  Bechtler  coins  were 
made  slightly  overweight,  which  of  course  led  to  their  rapid  dis- 
appearance.1 

Vein  mining  probably  began  in  1825,  in  Montgomery  County, 
North  Carolina.  Some  of  the  more  prominent  localities  which 
assumed  the  importance  of  regular  mining-camps  and  where  oper- 
ations were  both  extensive  and  fairly  continuous  were  Gold  Hill 
and  Brindletown,  North  Carolina.  However,  the  Califorina  excite- 
ment was  responsible  for  the  rapid  decline  of  mining  in  the  Southern 
States  beginning  with  1849. 

Gold  was  discovered  at  the  Portis  mine  of  eastern  North  Caro- 
lina, about  1840,  being  found  sticking  in  the  clay  daubing  of  a  log 
cabin  standing  on  the  property,  which  led  to  the  discovery  of  some 
very  rich  mines.2 

The  only  mine  it  is  claimed  in  the  United  States  which  could 
properly  be  spoken  of  as  a  silver  mine,  was  operated  in  Davidson 
County,  North  Carolina,  prior  to  the  discovery  of  the  Comstock 
lode.  The  ore  consisted  of  argentiferous  galena.3 

Hydraulic  mining  was,  according  to  Lieber,4  first  practiced  at 
Pilot  Mountain  in  Burke  County,  North  Carolina,  some  time  prior 
to  1859. 

The  successful  treatment  of  sulphurets  was  accomplished  about 
1879.  For  an  excellent  detailed  account  of  the  mining  operations 
in  the  Southern  gold  mines,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  paper  by 
H.  B.  C.  Nitze  and  H.  A.  I.  Wilkens.5 

In  1892,  there  was  a  decided  falling  off  in  output  of  gold  in  North 
Carolina.  The  Marion  Bullion  Company  at  Deming,  erected  a  con- 
centrating plant  and  chlorination  works,  while  the  Silver  Valley 
mine  of  Davidson  County  was  shipping  ore  to  the  smelter  at  Thomas- 
ville.  In  South  Carolina  the  Haile  and  Brewer  mines  were  prac- 
tically the  only  ones  in  operation.  During  1895,  the  North  Carolina 
mines  were  producing  but  little,  while  the  Haile  mine  of  South 
Carolina  had  increased  the  production  of  the  state  fully  one-fourth, 
which  was  due  largely  to  the  successful  working  of  the  low-grade 
sulphurets  by  the  chlorination  process. 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  -16  Rept.,  pt.  3,  p.  257,  1894-5. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  77,  p.  168. 

8  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  804,  and  the  Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  2,  p.  605. 
4  Supplementary  Report  to  the  Survey  of  South  Carolina,  1859,  p.  154. 
6  The  Present  Condition  of  Gold  Mining  in  the  Southern  Appalachian  States, 
T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  661,  1895. 


64  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

In  1898,  several  old  mines  were  reopened  and  considerable  work 
was  done  both  in  the  mountain  and  midland  counties. 

Fifteen  mines  were  operating  in  North  Carolina  in  1901,  principally 
in  Cabarrus,  Macklenburg,  Stanley,  Montgomery,  Burke  and  Rowan 
counties.  The  principal  developments  were  at  Gold  Hill,  Rowan 
County,  North  Carolina,  while  the  chief  producer  in  South  Carolina 
was  the  Haile  mine,  Lancaster  County. 

In  1902,  the  lola  gold  mine,  the  Russel,  Fentress  and  McMackin, 
were  all  producers,  while  in  190E  the  Barringer  and  lola  were  the 
only  mines  working  continuously  in  North  Carolina.1 

As  to  the  future  of  the  mines  the  closing  paragraph  of  the  above- 
mentioned  paper  is  quoted: 

"  Gold  mining  in  the  South  has  its  favorable  features,  which 
should  facilitate  the  economic  working  of  the  ore  deposits  as  legiti- 
mate business  undertakings,  with  close  and  intelligent  management. 
A  considerable  number  of  properties  are  at  least  worthy  of  investi- 
gation, and  to  the  best  of  our  belief  such  investigation  will  disclose 
remunerative  working  opportunities,  and  will  ultimately  lead  to  a 
reasonable  revival  of  gold  mining  in  the  South.  Examinations  would 
be  greatly  stimulated  by  more  disinterested  cooperation  and  reason- 
able demands  of  the  mine  owners,  ultimately  to  their  benefit.  Spec- 
ulative investments  in  the  Southern  gold  mines  have  had  their  day, 
and  unsophisticated  capital  is  becoming  rare."  2 

Colorado.  —  The  history  of  mining  in  Colorado  has  no  parallel 
in  the  United  States  nor  in  fact  in  the  world,  and  as  has  been  said: 
"  The  history  of  this  state  is  that  of  one  generation."  The  year 
1859  may  be  given  as  that  in  which  gold  mining  really  began  in 
the  state,  and  in  forty  years  it  stood  first  of  all  the  states  in  the 
Union  as  a  gold  producer.3 

No  better  account  of  the  development  of  mining  in  Colorado  has 
been  written  than  that  of  T.  A.  Rickard  in  the  Transactions  of  the 
Am.  Inst.  Min.  Engrs.,4  to  which  I  am  greatly  indebted  for  much 
of  the  information  contained  in  the  following  pages:  It  is  not 
unlikely  that  the  Dolores  River  had  been  explored  by  early  Spanish 

1  Mineral  Industry  for  1892  to  1905. 
3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  795. 

3  Reference  is  made  by  William  Gilpin  to  the  discoveries  of  gold  in  Colorado 
in  1859  and  he  predicted  the  finding  of  gold  and  silver  in  "  mass  "  and  "  in  position," 
together  with  precious  stones  in  the  Sierra  San  Juan,  Sierra  La  Plata,  and  Sierra 
Wasatch.     The  Central  Gold  Region,  pp.  96,  140. 

4  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  26,  p.  834. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD   AND  SILVER.  65 

prospectors,  but  the  first  white  men  known  to  have  entered  the 
district  were  trappers  under  W.  G.  Walton,  who  came  from  St. 
Louis  by  way  of  Taos,  New  Mexico.  They  spent  the  summer  along 
the  Dolores  River  camping  near  or  on  Trout  Lake,  not  far  from  the 
present  site  of  Rico.  In  1861,  Lieutenant  Howard,  and  five  years 
later  Colonel  Nash,  prospected  the  Dolores;  the  latter  by  way  of  the 
Santa  Fe  and  Salt  Lake  trail.  In  1869,  Sheldon  Shafer  and  Joseph 
Fearheiler  explored  the  region  around  Rico,  locating  the  Pioneer 
claim  in  July,  1869. 

A  party  of  seven  Georgians,  in  the  summer  of  1849  while  on  their 
way  to  California,  reached  Camp  Lyon,  on  the  Arkansas.  Being 
persuaded  that  it  was  too  late  to  cross  the  mountains  that  season, 
they  established  winter  Camp  on  the  Platte  at  the  mouth  of  Cherry 
Creek.  On  prospecting  the  sand-bars,  gold  was  found,  which  was 
for  convenience  placed  in  wild  goose  quills.  Early  in  the  following 
year  they  proceeded  to  California.  In  1857,  they,  with  others,  sold 
the  claims  they  had  been  working  in  California,  and  returned  to 
Georgia,  but  with  the  understanding  that  they  would  later  prospect 
western  Kansas. 

In  1858,  practically  the  same  party  organized  a  prospecting 
expedition  and  set  out  from  St.  Louis  following  the  military  road 
past  Camp  Harney,  from  Leaven  worth.  In  August  they  reached 
their  former  camp  on  the  Platte.  From  this  point  as  a  basis,  they 
sent  out  prospecting  parties;  one  party  found  gold  on  the  left  fork 
of  Boulder  Creek  and  named  the  place  Gold  Run,  while  another 
party  discovered  gold  in  a  gulch  which  was  named  Russell  Gulch. 
Six  of  the  party  returned  to  the  East  for  provisions  while  the 
remainder  wintered  on  the  Platte. 

News  of  the  discovery  spread  rapidly  and  many  crossed  the  plains 
to  the  new  gold  fields.  Among  the  newcomers  were  John  Hamilton 
Gregory,  J.  M.  Cotton  and  his  brother,  William  Cotton,  who  formed 
a  party  and  immediately  proceeded  up  Clear  Creek.  On  the  6th 
of  May,  1859,  the  outcrop  of  Gregory  lode  was  discovered.  This 
date  is  the  birthday  of  Colorado's  mining  industry. 

Following  this  were  many  other  discoveries  which  ultimately 
made  Gilpin  County  the  leading  gold  producing  region  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  Boulder  was  discovered  in  the  same  year.  The  Colum- 
bia, Hoosier  and  other  veins  were  located  in  1860-61,  and  formed 
a  nucleus  for  the  growth  of  the  Ward  district. 

Jackson's  Bar,  afterwards  Idaho  Springs,  was  discovered  by  George 
Jackson  in  January,  1859,  on  Chicago  Creek.  Other  prospectors 


66  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

following  up  Clear  Creek  discovered  the  veins  above  Georgetown 
and  Silver  Plume.1 

The  Whale  lode  was  first  worked  in  1861.  Silver  ores  were  also 
recognized  especially  in  the  Running  lode.  The  Pelican  and  Dives 
mines  were  located  in  1868.  The  Specie  Payment  at  the  head  of 
Virginia  Canon  was  opened  in  1876. 

The  placers  at  Hahns  Peak  were  discovered  in  1865. 

The  placers  of  the  Blue  River  were  discovered  by  Reuben  Spald- 
ing  near  where  Breckenridge  now  stands.  This  was  the  beginning 
of  life  in  Alma  and  Fairplay.  Working  the  placers  led  to  the  dis- 
covery of  the  veins  of  Summit  County  in  1880. 

John  O'Farrell,  one  of  a  party  of  prospectors  who  were  following 
up  the  Arkansas,  found  gold  at  Iowa  Gulch  while  digging  through 
the  snow  for  water.  This  was  on  April  6,  1860,  and  not  long  after 
George  Stephens  and  others  located  placer  claims  above  the  site  of 
the  A.  Y.  and  Minnie  mines.  Gold  veins  were  discovered  on  Printer 
Boy  Hill  by  California  Gulch  miners  in  the  early  sixties. 

In  1874,  W.  H.  Stevens  and  A.  B.  Wood,  prospected  Dome  Hill  on 
the  Rock  claim.  Low-grade  ore  was  found  in  the  fall  of  1875. 
Later  the  outcrop  crossing  California  Gulch  and  showing  on  Iron 
Hill  was  uncovered.  The  following  year  the  whole  outcrop  was 
staked.  Several  smelters  were  erected  between  1877-79  for  the 
treatment  of  the  lead  carbonate  ore  mined  here. 

During  1878,  George, Fryer  prospecting  by  shaft  in  Stray  Horse 
Gulch  found  carbonate  ore.  The  ore-body  here  found  proved  to 
be  very  rich  and  remarkable  in  many  ways.  Previous  to  this,  how- 
ever, veins  near  Rosita,  Custer  County,  were  discovered  in  1872; 
while  the  location  of  the  Bassick  in  1877  was  responsible  for  the 
excitement  at  Silver  Cliff. 

The  Trout  and  Fisherman  mines  were  discovered  in  the  autumn 
of  1875  by  two  prospectors  working  on  a  "  grub-stake  "  for  Edward 
Mclntyre.  While  fishing  on  Canon  Creek,  some  150  yards  above 
where  it  and  the  Uncompahgre  join,  they  observed  a  quartz  ledge 
which  was  brightly  stained  blue  and  green.  Following  the  bent  of 
their  profession  a  piece  was  broken  from  the  ledge  which  revealed 
the  values  contained  therein.  Apropos  of  their  occupation  the 
claims  staked  off  were  called  Trout  and  Fisherman.2 
« 

1  It  i(3  claimed  that  gold  was  first  discovered  at  the  mouth  of  Clear  Creek  in. 
Arapahoe  County  in  1852  by  a  Cherokee  cattle  trader.     Special  Report  of  the 
Census  office.     Mines  and  Quarries,  1902,  p.  184. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 'Vol.  27,  p.  239. 


DISCOVERY   OF   GOLD   AND   SILVER.  67 

The  Fuller  placers  were  worked  in  1877.  They  are  located  on 
the  three  forks  of  the  Swan  River  (North,  South,  and  Middle); 
however,  as  the  Middle  and  North  forks  are  practically  barren,  most 
of  the  work  has  been  done  on  the  South  Fork. 

Following  Gregory's  discovery  came  that  of  the  Bates  on  May 
15,  1859,  the  Gunnell,  and  others  on  the  25th,  and  the  Bobtail  in 
June. 

For  several  years  prior  to  1868,  a  serious  depression  was  felt  in 
the  district  owing  to  the  exhaustion  of  the  rich  and  easily  amalga- 
mated surface  ores,  and  the  occurrence  of  hard  pyritic  minerals 
in  depth.  However,  improved  methods  in  smelting  saved  the 
district  by  tiding  the  mines  over  the  period  of  experimentation  in 
milling  processes. 

In  1871,  the  Little  Giant  vein  was  discovered  by  Miles  T.  Johnson, 
which  is  located  just  above  Silverton.  Following  this  discovery 
the  veins  of  Red  Mountain  were  located.  In  August  of  1882,  the 
Yankee  Girl  was  accidentally  found  by  Andrew  Meldrum. 

The  discovery  of  the  Grand  View  and  Atlantic  Cable  claims  were 
responsible  for  the  rapid  growth  of  the  town  of  Rico.  The  gold  of 
Wightman's  Gulch  was  discovered  in  June,  1870,  and  the  develop- 
ment of  the  Summitville  district  began  with  the  location  of  Little 
Annie  in  September,  1872. 

Professor  Hayden  has  been  credited  with  being  the  first  one  to 
"  stick  a  stake  "  in  the  Grand  View  while  on  his  geological  survey 
of  1875. 

The  Smuggler-Union  vein  of  Ophir  and  Mount  Sneffels  followed 
the  discovery  and  working  of  placers  on  the  San  Miguel  River  in 
1874.  The  Sheriden  claim  was  located  in  1875  by  John  Fallen,  the 
discoverer  of  the  Smuggler-Union. 

The  Summit  mine  lying  beyond  the  southern  ridges  in  the  Ophir 
district  was  located  in  1874,  and  proved  to  be  a  good  producer. 

The  La  Plata  Mountain  district  between  Durango  and  Rico  was 
revived  in  1873,  but  owing  to  the  refractory  complex  telluride  ores 
little  was  accomplished,  and  it  was  not  until  1894  that  the  outlook 
became  more  promising. 

The  first  discovery  at  Aspen,  in  the  Roaring  Fork  district,  was  the 
Galena  mine  in  1879.  Messrs.  Allbright  and  Fuller  located  the  Little 
Rock  claim  which  covers  a  part  of  the  present  Smuggler  mine.  This 
was  on  July  5,  1879,  and  on  the  30th  of  August  the  Smuggler  was 
located  by  Charles  Bennett. 

Ten  years  after  the  location  of  the  site  of  Aspen  as  a  placer  claim 


68  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

the  district  became  of  importance.  In  1889,  the  Aspen,  Aspen- 
Compromise  and  Compromise  mines  were  large  producers,  and  two 
years  later  the  Mollie  Gibson  ore-body  was  discovered. 

Attention  was  drawn  to  the  King  Soloman  district  by  the  dis- 
covery of  the  Holy  Moses  vein  on  West  Willow  Creek  in  1889.  The 
Last  Chance  and  Amethyst  claims  were  located  on  Bachelor  Moun- 
tain on  August  the  8th,  1891,  by  N.  C.  Creede. 

The  following  year  the  camp  became  very  active  and  a  boom  of 
considerable  proportions  closed  the  year. 

Creede  and  Cripple  Creek  were  of  about  equal  importance  in  1891, 
but  with  the  collapse  of  the  Silver  market  in  June,  1893,  Cripple 
Creek  immediately  forged  to  the  front,  and  in  1900  the  mines  of 
Teller  County  stood  first  in  gold  production.  The  first  recorded 
location  at  Cripple  Creek  was  in  1891,  although  the  district  had  been 
prospected  as  early  as  1874.  Silver  is  reported  to  have  been  found 
close  to  the  Elkton  mine.  The  Mount  Pisgah  excitement  occurred 
in  April,  1894  —  rich  placer  ground  having  been  reported  as  found 
there.  It  has  been  called  the  "  Mount  Pisgah  fiasco  —  a  horde 
of  deluded  prospectors  were  drawn  thither  by  the  assay  obtained 
from  certain  claims  whose  croppings  had  been  subjected  to  the 
Keeley  cure  and  inoculated  with  chloride  of  gold  at  the  hands  of 
designing  schemers."  1 

It  is  reported  that  the  Gold  Coin  mine  was  discovered  while  ex- 
cavating for  the  foundation  of  a  hotel.2 

Robert  Womack  may  be  considered  the  discoverer  of  Cripple  Creek. 
He  located  a  prospect  in  Poverty  Gulch.  Houghton  was  also  a  pros- 
pector at  work  on  Gold  Hill  and  it  was  he  who  first  called  Stratton's 
attention  to  the  locality  by  showing  him  specimens  that  he  called 
galena. 

Stratton  on  examining  them  with  a  glass  detected  cubes  of  rusty 
gold,  but  did  not  recognize  the  sylvanite,  which  had  been  taken 
for  galena  by  Houghton.  Further,  it  is  not  recorded  who  was  first 
to  recognize  the  tellurides  of  Cripple  Creek,  but  there  is  a  story  to 
the  effect  that  the  ore  was  melted  in  a  fire  by  miners  and  thus  first 
revealed  its  true  character.  According  to  Stratton  a  piece  of  float 
which  was  full  of  gold  was  picked  up  by  him  where  Goldfield  now 
stands,  and  here  the  prospecting  began.  Later,  seeing  a  piece  of 
rock  from  Battle  Mountain,  Stratton  immediately  went  thither  to 
prospect,  which  work  ultimately  led  him  to  a  big  granite  outcrop  — 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  72,  p.  284. 
3  Colliery  Engineer,  Vol.  17,  p.  210. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  69 

this  was  the  Independence  lode.  Not  suspecting  that  the  lode  was 
the  vein  yielding  gold  in  the  loose  dirt  and  porphyry,  he  ignored  it. 
He  had  samples  of  the  various  veins  in  the  neighborhood  assayed, 
but  with  results  less  encouraging  than  his  panning  tests  had  shown. 
It  then  came  to  him  that  the  granite  must  be  the  lode  and  he  pro- 
ceeded to  locate  his  claims  —  the  Independence  and  the  Washing- 
ton on  the  Fourth  of  July,  1891.  The  following  day  he  had  samples 
assayed  at  Colorado  Springs,  with  the  result  that  they  showed 
nineteen  ounces  in  gold  per  ton.1 

The  absence  of  prominent  outcrops,  due  to  the  small  per  cent  of 
silica  in  the  rocks,  is  probably  the  reason  why  Cripple  Creek  was 
not  earlier  discovered. 

In  1895,  for  the  first  time  in  a  quarter  of  a  century  the  annual  gold 
yield  of  Colorado  had  exceeded  in  value  the  silver  product.  During 
1897,  a  new  telluride  district  was  opened  at  Eldora  in  the  south- 
western corner  of  Boulder  County.  Although  there  were  no  new 
discoveries  of  note  in  the  state,  yet  mining  experienced  an  unparalleled 
degree  of  prosperity,  which  was  due  largely  to  improvements  in 
transportation,  especially  installations  of  tramways,  and  the  estab- 
lishing of  several  water-power  plants  and  lines  for  the  electrical 
transmission  of  power  to  the  mines. 

As  previously  noted,  1899  was  the  record  year  for  the  state  in 
gold  production,  with  the  Cripple  Creek  mines  leading. 

In  1902,  mining  was  somewhat  depressed  by  the  decline  of  silver, 
and  the  exhaustion  of  some  large  gold  mines,  with  no  commen- 
surate increase  from  developments  in  new  districts.  And  although 
the  tonnage  of  the  Cripple  Creek  mines  was  materially  increased 
the  gold  production  was  increased  but  little,  showing  that  lower- 
grade  ores  were  being  worked. 

Probably  the  most  interesting  event  of  1903  was  the  starting 
and  completion  of  the  drainage  adit,  which  made  connection  with 
the  El  Paso  mine  on  September  6,  1903.  This  tunnel  proved 
conclusively  that  all  of  the  mines  of  the  district,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  on  the  east  side,  are  more  or  less  connected  by  water 
channels. 

The  most  important  discovery  of  the  year  was  that  of  the  Old 
Gold  on  Beacon  Hill.  In  1904,  the  effect  of  the  lowering  of  the  water- 
level  was  the  discovery  of  ore-bodies,  especially  on  Beacon  Hill. 
Discoveries  in  the  Reindeer  and  Conorado  mines  have  infused  new 
life  in  the  Leadville  district.  Stimulated  by  more  favorable  smelter 
1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  68,  p.  67. 


70  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

rates,  the  old  districts  of  Gilpin  and  Clear  Creek  were  still  active. 
Placer  mining,  especially  at  Snowstorm  in  the  Fairplay  and  Alma 
/listricts,  had  a  good  season;  two  electrical  dredgers  were  operated  at 
Clear  Creek. 

Although  there  were  no  sensational  finds  in  1905,  yet  there  was 
a  decided  advance  in  production.  Leadville  had  been  benefitted  by 
the  rise  in  silver  and  was  in  excellent  condition.  Camp  Bird  was 
the  principal  producer  of  the  San  Juan  district.  The  Smuggler-Union, 
Liberty  Bell,  and  Tomboy  of  Telluride  were  prosperous,  while  in  the 
Silverton  district  the  Silver  Lake,  Gold  King,  and  Sunnyside  con- 
tinued to  be  the  principal  mines.1 

"  Thus,  from  humble  beginnings,  a  great  and  complicated  indus- 
try has  been  created.  Its  development  may  be  summarized  in  four 
periods:  the  discoveries  in  Gilpin  County  and  the  adjoining  camps 
in  the  granite  rocks  of  the  Front  range;  the  era  of  silver  mining  in 
the  carboniferous  limestones  of  Leadville,  Aspen,  and  Rico;  the 
development  of  the  fissure- veins  in  the  andesites  of  the  San  Juan; 
and  lastly,  the  revival  of  gold  mining  consequent  upon  the  uncover- 
ing of  a  great  series  of  ore  deposits  in  the  volcanic  complex  of  the 
Pike's  Peak  region."  2 

Connecticut.  —  Probably  the  first  of  the  early  colonists  to  turn 
his  attention  to  the  mineral  wealth  of  this  state,  in  particular,  was 
Governor  Winthrop3  who  interested  himself  to  a  considerable 
extent  in  examining  the  metalliferous  deposits  of  the  Connecticut 
Valley,  especially  in  the  vicinity  of  Haddam  and  Middletown,  during 
the  period  1650  to  1660.  However,  we  have  no  record  of  any  actual 
mining  being  done.4 

Considerable  galena  is  found  in  the  state  which  is  often  highly 
argentiferous.  Probably  the  most  important  silver-lead  mine  was 
near  Middletown,  and  was  worked  in  a  limited  way  during  1852. 
It  is  supposed  that  this  mine  was  operated  many  years  prior  to  the 
Revolutionary  War.5 

1  Mineral  Industry  for  1892  to  1906. 
3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  26,  p.  848. 

3  The  license  received  by  Governor  John  Winthrop  permitted  him  to  work 
mines  of  "  lead,  copper,  or  tin,  or  any  minerals  as  antimony,  vitriol,  black-lead, 
alum,  salt,  salt-springs,  or  any  other  the  like, "  and  "to  enjoy  forever  said  mines, 
with   the    lands,  woods,  timber,  and  water  within  two  or  three  miles   of  said 
mines. "    Trans.  Am.  Inst.  Min.  Engrs.,  Vol.  5,  p.  169,  1876-77. 

4  Whitney's  Metallic  Wealth  of  the  United  States,  1854,  p.  xxii. 

6  Whitney's  Metallic  Wealth  of  the  United  States,  1854,  pp.  393,  394;  and 
Report  of  the  Geol.  Surv.  of  Conn.,  p.  52. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  71 

Galena  and  silver  were  found  disseminated  through  a  quartz- 
bed  at  the  Lane's  mine,  Monroe,  Connecticut.  Silver  predominated, 
although,  according  to  Professor's  Silliman's  analysis,  there  were 
present  from  2  to  3.5  per  cent  of  lead.1 

Georgia.  —  Gold  was  first  discovered  in  the  state  about  1829, 
although  exactly  when  and  by  whom  found  is  a  disputed  point. 
John  Witheroods,  a  North  Carolinian,  claims  to  have  made  the  first 
discovery  at  Dukes  Creek  in  1829  —  the  exact  locality  being  near 
Nacoochee,  Habersham  County.  However,  Jessie  Hogan,  also  of 
North  Carolina,  lays  claim  to  a  previous  discovery  in  a  branch  of 
Ward's  Creek,  near  Dahlonega.  The  earliest  mint-returns  were 
in  1830.2  Following  the  discovery  in  1829,  there  was  a  rush  to 
diggings  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state,  but  the  excitement  was  of 
short  life. 

This  event  is  interesting,  as  it  is  undoubtedly  the  second  gold 
excitement  of  which  there  is  record  in  the  United  States.  The  scene 
of  the  excitement  was  Leather's  Ford  and  Dahlonega3  on  the  Chesta- 
tee  River.  The  mineral  lands  were  claimed  by  the  state  and  were 
disposed  of  by  lottery.4 

Auraria  and  Dahlonega  were  the  principal  localities  in  which  gold 
was  regularly  mined  in  the  early  days. 

Placer  mining  by  the  hydraulic  method  originated  in  1868,  although 
gravels  had  been  washed  for  many  years  previous.  At  this  time  a 
combination  method  consisting  of  hydraulicing,  sluicing  and  mill- 
ing was  inaugurated  in  a  number  of  the  mines,  being  known  as  the 
Georgia  or  Dahlonega  method. 

Mechanical  dredges  were  operated  on  the  Chestatee  River,  some 
time  after  1844,  while  the  hydraulic  gravel  elevator  was  employed 
about  1883  at  Dahlonega.  The  Hendy  lift  was  in  use  the  same 
year  in  the  mines  of  Dawson  County. 

Vein  mining  began  sometime  prior  to  1834,  on  the  discovery 
of  the  Reynolds  vein,  lot  No.  10,  near  Nacoochee,  White  County. 

An  argentiferous  lead  vein  was  discovered  in  Davidson  County, 
North  Carolina,  sometime  prior  to  1853.  This  deposit  was  sub- 
sequently worked  and  was  known  as  the  Silver  Hill  mine.  Beauti- 

1  Whitney's  Metallic  Wealth  of  the  United  States,  1854,  p.  392. 

2  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Rept.,  pt.  6,  p.  112,  1898-99. 

3  Dahlonega  means  in  the  Cherokee  language  "  yellow  money,"    being  so 
named  by  John  C.  Calhoun,  who  owned  property  in  the  vicinity.     The  Gold 
Mines,  Scenery  and  Climate  of  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas,  R.  C.  Stone,  p.  20. 

4  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  52,  p.  615. 


72  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

ful  specimens  of  crystallized  carbonate  of  lead  and  other  crystalline 
products  of  alteration  of  galena  were  found  near  the  surface.1 

The  first  regular  California  stamp-mill  was  built  at  the  Shingleton 
mine  in  1866,  by  Dr.  Hamilton. 

The  chlorination  process  was  experimented  with  at  Dahlonega, 
and  the  Clopton  mine,  Villa  Rica;  at  the  former  some  years  ago, 
at  the  latter  recently.  In  1892,  increased  interest  in  mining  was 
shown  by  the  erection  of  cyanide  works  at  the  Franklin  mine,  Chero- 
kee County,  while  three  years  later  a  chlorination  plant  was  in- 
stalled at  the  same  mine. 

During  1895,  considerable  prospecting  and  development  was  being 
done,  especially  at  the  Camille,  Franklin,  Piedmont  and  Walker 
mines.  In  the  following  year  the  Creighton  and  Walker  mines  were 
the  main  source  of  the  gold  production.  The  Old  Camille  mine  was 
rechristened  the  Royal  and  was  successfully  reopened. 

In  1899,  the  Dahlonega  Consolidated  Gold  Mining  Company 
placed  considerable  new  equipment.  A  revival  of  mining  interests 
was  especially  noticeable  in  1900  at  the  Lumpkin  and  Cherokee 
County  mines,  the  most  important  work  being  done  at  the  Old 
Cherokee  mine.  A  suction  dredge  was  tried  but  without  much 
success. 

During  1902,  the  Parks  and  Columbia  mines  were  the  largest 
producers. 

In  1904,  the  gold  placers  of  Harlson  County  were  operated.  These 
placers  are  on  the  Tallaposa  River  twelve  miles  from  Buchanan, 
and  are  composed  of  quartz  gravel.2 

Idaho.  —  Although  there  was  a  Jesuit  mission  established  on 
the  St.  Joseph  River  in  1842,  for  the  Coeur  d'Alene  Indians  and 
was  later  moved  to  its  present  site  on  the  Coeur  d'Alene  River, 
yet  no  knowledge  of  gold  or  silver  seems  to  have  been  had  until 
years  later.  Gold  gravels  were  discovered  in  the  Pen  d'Oreille 
River  as  early  as  1852  by  a  French  Canadian,  and  seven  years  later 
on  the  Sunelkameen  River.  In  the  spring  of  1860,  a  rush  occurred, 
and  for  a  time  excitement  ran  high.  Placers  rivaling  those  of 
California,  so  claimed,  were  located  on  the  Oro  Fino  Creek  by  a 
Mr.  E.  D.  Pierce  and  party  in  the  fall  of  1860.  In  May,  1861,  aurif- 
erous gravels  were  found  at  Elk  City  covering  an  area  of  fully 
twenty  miles  square  and  consisting  of  gulches,  bars,  and  flats.  This 
was  at  the  head  of  the  Clearwater  River.  A  small  area  about  two 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  804  and  Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  1,  pp.  360^370. 
a  Mineral  Industry  for  1892  to  1906. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  73 

miles  square  was  discovered  in  August,  1861,  on  the  creek  tributary 
to  the  Salmon  and  was  probably  the  richest  gold  placer  ever  worked. 
In  August  of  the  following  year,  James  Warren  discovered  the  dig- 
ging southeast  of  Florence  which  was  named  after  him.  About 
thirty  miles  further  up  the  river  in  a  depression  were  located  the 
mines  of  the  Boise  Basin,  discovered  by  one  Grimes,  in  1862,  who 
led  a  party  (prospecting)  from  Walla  Walla.  Grimes  was  killed 
by  Indians  and  the  party  driven  off,  but  later  returned  and  worked 
the  placers.1 

In  1854,  General  Lander  discovered  gold  while  making  explora- 
tions for  a  military  road  from  Columbia  River  to  Fort  Bridger. 

Probably  the  earliest  record  relates  to  discoveries  in  the  Coeur 
d'Alene  Mountains  in  1858-59,  and  were  made  by  a  party  under 
Captain  John  Mullan  after  whom  the  Mullan  road  was  named.  This 
road  was  built  in  1855.2 

The  Buffalo  Hump  district  was  discovered  in  1861.  It  is  a  free- 
milling  gold  district  and  is  located  to  the  west  of  the  Bitter  Root 
Range. 

The  placer  mines  of  Silver  City  and  DeLamar  were  discovered 
some  distance  below  DeLamar  in  1863,  by  a  party  under  Jordan. 

The  veins  of  the  Warren  district,  often  known  as  the  Washington 
district,  lying  in  the  Owyhee  Mountains  south  of  the  Salmon  River, 
were  discovered  in  1862,  but  mining  did  not  really  begin  until  1866. 

After  the  exhaustion  of  the  placers  of  Silver  City  and  DeLamar, 
attention  was  turned  to  the  quartz  mines  which  were  located  in 
1863.  The  Oro  Fino  and  War  Eagle  mines  were  the  first  of  impor- 
tance discovered,  which  were  followed  in  1865  by  the  Golden  Chariot 
and  Poorman.  The  first  mill  was  built  in  1864.  In  1868,  the  Oro 
Fino  was  one  of  the  most  productive  mines  of  the  state. 

In  1866,  quartz  mining  was  carried  on  in  Boise,  Alturas,  and 
Owyhee  counties,  the  latter  being  largely  silver  producing. 

The  Tiger-Poorman  mines  were  discovered  in  1884,  and  the 
Bunker  Hill  and  Sullivan  on  September  17,  1865.  The  latter  was 
discovered  by  W.  M.  Kellogg,  and  in  connection  therewith  is  an 
amusing  story  of  how  a  donkey  participated  in  the  discovery.  The 
following  is  from  the  Tanana  Daily  Miner:  "  The  story  of  how  a 
learned  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  decided  that  a  donkey  discov- 
ered the  Bunker  Hill  and  Sullivan  mines,  now  worth  $15,000,000, 
and  thereby  caused  the  court  to  award  his  master  a  third  interest 

1  Am  Jour,  of  Min.,  Vol.  I,  p.  133. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  60,  p.  172. 


74  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

in  the  mines,  was  recalled  last  week  by  the  death  of  O.  0.  Peck, 
owner  of  the  donkey,  at  his  home  in  this  city. 

"  Though  the  story  is  stranger  than  fiction,  it  is  literally  true,  and 
the  facts  are  familar,  not  only  to  all  mining  and  business  men  in  the 
territory,  but  can  be  substantiated  by  the  court  records.  Peck  and 
W.  M.  Kellogg  were  prospecting  through  the  Coeur  d'Alene  Moun- 
tains when  the  famous  mine  was  discovered.  Two  weeks  prior  to 
the  actual  discovery  they  dissolved  partnership.  But  Kellogg 
retained  a  donkey  that  belonged  to  Peck.  Kellogg  appropriated 
the  donkey,  using  it  as  a  pack-animal,  and  they  were  together  when 
the  great  mineral  deposit  was  found.  According  to  the  Supreme 
Court,  the  donkey's  participation  in  the  discovery  entitled  Peck 
to  an  interest.  Baer  and  Goetz,  of  this  city,  who  had  grub-staked 
Kellogg,  shared  the  latter's  interests,  and  he  fared  more  poorly  than 
Peck.  Goetz  and  Baer  subsequently  sold  their  fractional  interest 
for  $200,000." 

According  to  Kellogg  he  had  been  prospecting  on  the  mountain, 
and  while  so  engaged  the  donkey  wandered  further  up  the  slope. 
On  going  for  him  Kellogg's  attention  was  attracted  to  an  outcrop 
which  had  been  exposed  by  the  donkey  stepping  upon  it;  thus  was 
the  ore-deposit  discovered. 

The  Morning  mine  was  located  in  1885;  the  Empire  State  in  1886; 
the  Hecla  and  Standard  in  1887;  and  the  Hercules  in  1889. 

In  the  early  eighties  placers  on  Prichard  Creek,  a  tributary  to  the 
North  Fork,  were  worked  at  Murray  and  Delta  and  attracted  con- 
siderable interest. 

In  Custer  County  extremely  rich  gravels  were  found  at  Robinson 
Bar  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  and  both  river  and  bar  mining  were 
employed.  Loon  Creek  proved  an  attractive  place  for  miners  in 
1870,  and  for  Chinese  as  late  as  1879,  when  they  were  driven  out  by 
the  Indians. 

The  Ramshorn  mine,  Bay  horse,  Custer  County,  was  the  deepest 
and  best  developed  copper-silver  mine  in  the  state  in  1900. 

In  1899,  a  steam  gold  dredge  was  in  operation  on  Baboon  Creek 
in  the  Florence  district.  The  comparatively  low-grade  gravels  of 
the  Snake  River  have  been  worked  successfully  by  dredges,  and  in 
1895  a  suction  dredge  was  in  successful  operation. 

In  1892,  the  chief  event  was  the  strike  which  closed  many  of  the 
mines  in  the  Coeur  d'Alene  district. 

During  1897,  the  Boise  Basin  and  DeLamar  district  produced 
most  of  the  gold.  In  the  vicinity  of  Elk  City,  Idaho  County,  there 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD   AND  SILVER.  75 

were  five  large  hydraulic  plants  operating.  Some  work  was  also 
being  done  on  Newsome  Creek. 

In  1899,  the  DeLamar  still  continued  to  lead  in  the  production 
of  gold.  Extensive  placer  operations  materially  added  to  the  yield 
from  Elmore  County.  The  placer  working  still  continued  to  swell 
the  gold  production  in  1900,  most  of  which  came  from  dredging 
on  Snake  River. 

In  1901,  gold  was  found  on  Thunder  Mountain  in  the  central 
part  of  the  state.  During  the  following  year  Thunder  Mountain 
did  not  come  up  to  expectations.  However,  Owyhee,  Boise,  and 
Lemhi  counties  .produced  over  $300,000. 

Silver  had  become  the  most  important  product  of  the  mines  in 
1904.  An  important  discovery  of  telluride  ores  was  made  in  the 
Iron  Spring  mine,  located  on  a  tributary  of  the  Rapid  River.  Thun- 
der Mountain  made  good  progress. 

During  1905,  the  gold  production  decreased  somewhat  owing  to 
several  causes,  namely:  first,  light  snowfall  and  short  winter  season 
which  seriously  affected  the  placer  mines,  and  second,  the  burning 
of  the  Kittie  Burton  mine  in  Lemhi  County.  Gold  was  discovered 
near  Elk  City,  Idaho  County.  The  Coeur  d'Alene  district  was  the 
principal  silver  producer.1 

Illinois.  —  The  following  statement  is  quoted  from  a  report  on 
the  Geology  of  Illinois,  about  1866: 

"  In  a  few  instances  minute  parities  of  gold  have  been  found  in 
the  drift,  and  sometimes  charlatans,  professing  to  be  geologists, 
have  availed  themselves  of  this  fact  to  proclaim  to  the  world  won- 
derful and  valuable  discoveries  of  gold  and  silver."  2 

Gold  was  found  in  Hardin  County  in  1868,  and  in  1870  it  was 
found  in  thin  gravel  beds,  "  but  not  in  sufficient  amount  to  be 
anything  more  than  a  periodical  source  of  excitement  to  the 
ignorant."  3 

Indiana.  —  Wherever  gold  is  found  in  the  state  it  is  always  asso- 
ciated with  the  glacial  drift.  It  is  seldom  found  along  the  larger 
streams,  but  occurs  in  the  sands  and  gravels  of  the  small  streams 
which  skirt  the  southern  border  of  the  drift  and  the  area  of  the 
terminal  morain.  The  counties  in  which  gold  has  been  discovered 
in  noticeable  quantities  are:  Brown,  Jennings,  Morgan,  Franklin, 
Northington,  and  Warren. 

1  Mineral  Industry  for  1892  to  1906. 

3  Geology  of  Illinois,  Vol.  1,  p.  35. 

3  Geology  of  Illinois,  Vol.  4,  p.  263,  1870. 


76  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Gold  was  discovered  in  Morgan  County  as  early  as  1837.  D.  D. 
Owens  is  reported  to  have  made  some  observations  on  the  gold 
found  in  Bean-Blossom  Creek  (Kept.  State  Geologist  of  Indiana, 
Nos.  8,  9,  and  10,  1879).  In  1850,  miners  returning  from  the  Cal- 
ifornia gold  mines  prospected  the  black  sands  of  Brown  and  Morgan 
counties.  The  gold  occurs  in  exceedingly  fine  grains  and  scales: 
the  loss  in  washing  is  therefore  great.  However,  as  much  as  50 
cents  to  $1.00  a  day  was  made  by  panning.  The  statement  is  made 
that  the  glacial  drift,  which  is  gold-bearing,  covers  thousands  of 
square  miles  and  ranges  from  10  to  500  feet  deep  (13th  Annual 
Kept.,  1883).  According  to  the  First  Annual  Report  of  the  State 
Geologist  issued  in  1869,  gold  was  found  in  Franklin  County  on  Sein 
Creek,  but  in  such  small  quantities  that  it  took  a  pailfull  of  sand  and 
gravel  to  yield  from  two  to  three  particles,  usually  scales,  and  never 
larger  than  a  grain  of  wheat.  Mention  is  made  of  the  finding  of 
gold  in  Bean-Blossom  Creek  (in  the  Sixth  Report,  1875,  Folio  CVII). 
The  fineness  is  said  to  be  twenty-four  carats,  which  is  attributed 
to  the  glacial  action.  The  largest  nugget  found  was  worth  $1.10. 
The  yields  given  vary  from  $2,900  to  $10,000.  The  report  for  the 
following  year  states  that  gold  was  found  in  black  sand  in  the  bed 
of  the  Muscatatuck  Creek.  In  Northington  County  the  drift  has  a 
depth  of  100  to  150  feet  and  covers  practically  the  entire  area. 

Gold  was  reported  in  1873  at  Mooresville,  on  a  small  creek.  The 
sands  and  gravels  were  claimed  to  have  yielded  from  25  to  200 
colors  to  a  pan. 

Seventy  dollars  were  reported  collected  at  Gold  Branch  of  Pine 
Creek  in  1873.1 

Silver  mines  were  mentioned  in  the  mining  journals  about  1888, 
as  being  worked  in  Dubois  County,  and  the  run  of  a  local  smelter 
on  1500  pounds  of  ore  is  given  at  58  ounces  in  silver  and  4.10  ounces 
in  gold  per  ton.2 

Kansas.  —  As  previously  mentioned  under  the  head  of  Colorado, 
gold  was  found  in  western  Kansas  in  1849  by  a  party  of  Georgians 
bound  for  California.  However,  the  mountains  of  Colorado  have 
always  proven  more  alluring  than  the  plains  of  Kansas,  therefore 
in  the  early  days  little  prospecting  was  done  within  the  state. 

Attention  was  first  called  to  the  occurrence  of  gold  in  central 
western  Kansas  in  1895,  when  H.  H.  Artz  and  others  sunk  a  shaft  on 
the  bank  of  the  Smoky  Hill  River  while  prospecting  for  Sine.  The 

1  Geology  of  Indiana,  1873,  p.  224. 

2  Min.  and  Scientific  Press,  Vol.  56,  p.  102. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  77 

report  that  the  shales  at  this,  and  other  points  in  Gove,  Trego,  and 
Ellis  counties,  contained  gold,  caused  quite  a  flurry  of  excitement 
in  the  state,  and  although  the  price  of  land  rose  somewhat,  there 
was  no  rush  to  the  locality. 

Dr.  J.  T.  Lovewell  of  Topeka,  in  a  paper  read  before  the  Kansas 
Academy  of  Science,  1902,  made  the  statement  that  of  several 
hundred  assays  the  average  value  was  $2  to  $3  in  gold  and  silver 
per  ton,  and  one  series  of  assays  gave  an  average  of  $10  per  ton. 
Dr.  Ernest  Fahrig  of  Philadelphia  (Kansas  Daily  Capital,  Topeka, 
May  3,  1902)  obtained  from  actual  mill  runs  in  an  experimental 
plant  an  average  yield  of  $2,80  per  ton.1 

Tests  were  run  by  various  persons  and  emphatic  denials  made 
regarding  the  existence  of  gold  in  any  quantity.2 

Samples  of  the  shale  were  collected  and  assayed  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  and  the  following  report 
was  made  by  Dr.  E.  T.  Allen:  "  I  have  examined  19  samples  of 
shales  from  western  Kansas,  collected  by  Mr.  Lindgren,  and  find 
no  gold  in  any  of  them."  However,  in  one  sample  .005  of  an  ounce 
of  gold  per  ton  was  obtained,  while  the  silver  values  ranged  from 
.007  to  .097  ounce  per  ton.  The  total  value  of  the  shale  per  ton 
ranged  from  $0.004  to  $0.06  per  ton.3 

Kentucky.  —  Practically  no  gold  or  silver  has  been  found  in  the 
state  4  although,  as  previously  stated,  the  Indians  in  early  days 
seemed  to  have  a  limited  amount  of  silver,  but  as  no  mines 
were  ever  located  in  the  state  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that 
the  source  of  that  metal  was  without  the  state  and  very  likely  in 
Tennessee. 

As  early  as  1856,  silver  was  claimed  to  have  been  found  below  the 
falls  of  the  Cumberland  and  in  Whitley  County,  but  extensive  search 
for  the  same  has  been  fruitless.5 

Maine.  —  The  Lubec  lead  mines  were  discovered  in  1832. 6     Al- 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  74,  p.  111. 

2  Kansas  Semi-Weekly  Capitol,  Topeka,  June  6,  1902.     Mineral  Resources 
of  Kansas  for  1898,  Lawrence,  Kan.,  1899. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  74,  p.  111. 

4  Early  records  state  that  the  Indians  of  southeastern  Kentucky  in  Daniel 
Boone's  time  and  later,  exchanged  native  silver  with  the  white  men  in  barter 
for  other  goods.     Further,  it  related  that  the  silver  thus  obtained  had  been 
smelted  or  reduced  into  a  rough  bullion  by   a  process  unknown  to  the  white 
men.     The  veins  from  which  the  silver  was  obtained  were  never  located. 

5  Rept.  Kentucky  Geol.  Surv.,  1856,  p.  235. 

6  Whitney's  Metallic  Wealth  of  the  United  States,  1854,  p.  388. 


78  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

though  not  definitely  stated  it  is  probable  that  the  ore  from  this 
mine  was  slightly  argentiferous. 

Various  mines  yielding  small  and  variable  quantities  of  gold 
and  silver  have  been  worked  in  this  state,  the  most  active  mining 
operations  having  been  carried  on  during  the  early  eighty's.  At  Mil- 
ton Plantation,  Mount  Glines,  Oxford  County,  gold  was  reported,  but 
if  present  is  of  rare  occurrence.  Assays  by  members  of  the  United 
States  Geological  Survey  show  the  following  results.1 

Gold None    .    .    .    .     None Trace 

Silver  (ounces)  .    .        " " 3.50 

Copper  (per  cent)     0.16 0.18 3.33 

Lead  (per  cent)     .   0.25 0.08 47.95 

The  Cana  mine  yielded  gold,  silver,  lead,  and  copper.  The  Sul- 
livan mine  yielded  gold  and  silver.2 

Gold-bearing  quartz  found  in  pyritous  mica-schist  occurs  at 
Baileyville  on  the  Maine  side  of  the  St.  Croix  River.3 

Professor  C.  H.  Hitchcock  thinks  that  the  Ammonoosuc  gold  field 
of  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont  probably  extends  into  Maine.4 

Maryland.  —  Although  gold  was  known  to  exist  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Potomac  as  far  back  as  Colonial  times,  yet  the  first  authen- 
tic record  we  have  of  its  discovery  on  the  north  side  of  the  Potomac 
or  in  Maryland  is  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  American  Philosophical 
Society  for  April,  1849,  where  mention  is  made  of  gold-bearing  quartz 
veins  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Samuel  Ellicott,  in  Montgomery  County, 
some  thirty  miles  west  of  Baltimore.  Reported  assays  of  samples 
from  these  veins  show,  it  is  claimed,  a  range  in  value  of  $168,  $610, 
and  $787  per  ton.  As  no  further  record  of  this  locality  is  obtainable, 
it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  its  exploitation  begun  and  ended 
with  the  observation  noted.5 

Many  gold-bearing  quartz  veins  are  to  be  found  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  Washington,6  but  prospecting  has  been  limited  to  pan- 
ning gravels  and  soils.  However,  the  principal  developments  of 
gold  were  made  in  the  vicinity  of  Great  Falls,  from  fifteen  to  sixteen 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No.  225,  pp.  82-84. 
^  Current  Issues  of  the  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  and  local  newspapers. 

3  Holmes  and  Hitchcock,  Second  Annual  Kept.  Geol.  Maine,  1862,  p.  423. 

4  U.  S.  G.  S.,  16  Annual  Kept.,  pt.  3,  p.  330,  1894-5. 
6  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  18,  p.  393. 

6  Veins  in  gneiss  and  schist  country-rock,  with  quartz-filling,  showing  traces 
of  gold,  are  quite  common  in  the  District  of  Columbia.  Mineral  Resources  of 
the  United  States,  1887,  p.  719. 


DISCOVERY  OF   GOLD  AND  SILVER.  79 

miles  west  of  the  city.  Reports  say  that  gold  was  discovered  by 
California  volunteers  who  camped  in  the  neighborhood  during  the 
war.  The  Maryland  mine  was  opened  in  1867,  and  is  located  mid- 
way between  Great  Falls  and  the  Harrison  estate. 

Early  in  1888,  gold  was  discovered  on  the  Harrison  farm  by  Mr. 
Kirk,  a  Georgia  miner,  who  after  prospecting,  did  some  exploratory 
work  by  sinking  pits.  The  following  year  it  came  into  the  possession 
of  Dr.  W.  Kempster  and  others  who  carried  on  some  systematic 
developments.  A  three-stamp  mill  was  erected  and  later  a  ten- 
stamp  mill  took  its  place. 

In  1889,  owing  to  the  successful  operation  of  the  Harrison  prop- 
erty, a  number  of  other  properties  were  developed,  the  most  impor- 
tant being  the  Allerton-Ream,  the  Pine  Hill,  Broad  Rock,  Eagle, 
etc.,  all  not  far  distant  from  the  Harrison  property.1 

Although  mining  may  be  said  to  have  begun  in  1849  on  the 
Ellicott  farm,  the  mint  reports  show  no  returns  previous  to  1868. 

Massachusetts.  —  Early  records  state  that  mines  of  gold,  silver, 
and  lead  were  known  in  Revolutionary  times  at  least,  but  the  first 
mine  of  which  we  have  accurate  information  is  the  Newburyport 
mine.  The  first  discovery  of  gold  in  this  locality  was  made  about 
October  10,  1874;  however,  the  first  pit  was  sunk  in  May,  1874. 
A  ton  of  picked  ore  from  the  mine  yielded  about  $33.60  in  lead, 
$28.60  silver,  and  $4.37  gold.2 

Michigan.  —  The  Cliff  mine,  Keweenaw  Point,  in  which  native 
silver  is  found  associated  with  native  copper,  was  discovered  in  the 
summer  of  1845.  Considerable  silver  has  been  obtained  from  this 
mine  during  its  operations.3 

The  gold  veins  northwest  of  Ishpeming  were  first  examined  by 
Mr.  Julius  Ropes,  who  had  his  attention  called  to  them  in  1863. 
The  mines  were,  however,  first  worked  for  argentiferous  galena, 
but  finding  that  a  number  of  assays  showed  gold  in  paying  quanti- 
ties a  more  thorough  search  revealed  the  veins  bearing  the  gold. 
The  gold  veins  were  not  discovered,  however,  until  1881.  Regular 
mining  was  begun  in  October,  1882,  and  within  a  year  a  five-stamp 
mill  was  erected.  As  has  been  remarked:  "  This  is  the  only  genuine 
gold  mine  in  Michigan,  and  its  history  has  not  been  an  enviable 
one." 

In  1885,  gold  was  discovered  about  three  miles  west  of  the  Ropes 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  18,  p.  398. 

3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  3,  pp.  443-444. 

3  Foster  and  Whitney's  Rept.,  1850,  p.  128. 


80  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

mine,  following  which  was  much  excitement,  but  the  mine  or  pros- 
pect yielded  nothing  but  samples,  some  of  which  were  excellent.1 

These  mines  have  probably  yielded  one  million  dollars  in  gold 
alone  since  1883,  when  $1,286.74  was  realized  by  the  Ropes  mine. 

Minnesota.  —  In  1866,  H.  H.  Eames  reported  the  discovery  of 
gold  and  silver,  which  caused  much  speculation  regarding  the  value 
of  the  deposits  found.  Vermillion  Lake  was  the  scene  of  much 
activity,  but  neither  profitable  nor  paying  deposits  were  located. 
The  losses  experienced  here  cooled  the  ardor  of  most  of  the  would-be 
miners  and  in  a  year  or  two  practically  all  work  had  ceased.  During 
1870,  a  vein  was  discovered  in  Benton  County  and  considerable 
work  was  done,  but  it,  too,  closed  in  a  few  years.  Auriferous  gravel 
was  found  in  the  glacial  drift  in  Fillmore  County.  Small  quantities 
of  gold  were  also  found  at  Jordan  and  Spring  Valley.  However, 
the  locality  in  which  the  most  gold  was  found  as  a  gravel-content, 
was  from  Rochester  to  the  Wabasha  County  line  on  the  Zumbro 
River,  Olmsted  County.  Next  in  order  of  importance  come  Itasca, 
Saint  Louis,  Wabasha  and  Kandiyohi  counties.  As  late  as  1893, 
there  was  considerable  excitement  aroused  over  the  discovery  of  the 
Delhi  mine,  Redwood  County,  but  assays  showed  the  gold-content 
to  be  extremely  small.  In  the  early  eighties  there  was  an  excite- 
ment over  a  quartz-vein  near  Granite  Falls,  Yellow  Medicine  County, 
and  quite  a  little  work  was  done,  notwithstanding  never  more  than 
a  trace  of  gold  was  ever  found.  A  belt  of  slates  and  schists  extend- 
ing from  Thomson  and  Carlton  to  and  beyond  Little  Falls,  contains 
many  quartz-veins,  and  much  work  has  been  done  with  little  or  no 
returns.2 

In  comparatively  recent  years  interest  has  been  centered  almost 
entirely  in  a  region  along  the  international  boundary,  particularly 
the  Rainy  Lake  district. 

The  Rainy  Lake  region  lies  in  the  western  part  of  Ontario  extend- 
ing for  a  distance  of  approximately  two  hundred  miles  north  and 
south,  and  fifty  miles  east  and  west.  It  is  known  to  reach,  and 
even  extend  beyond,  the  line  of  the  Canadian  Pacific  Railway  on  the 
north,  and  to  occupy  considerable  area  in  northern  Minnesota  on 
the  south.  Although  the  region  was  carefully  studied  and  mapped 
by  A.  C.  Lawson  of  the  Dominion  Geological  Survey,  in  1885-87, 
yet  no  mention  was  made  of  the  presence  of  gold.  He,  however, 
inferred  its  presence  from  a  knowledge  of  the  occurrence  of  the 

1  Trans.  Lake  Superior  Inst.  Min  Engrs.,  Vol.  2,  p.  68,  1894. 

2  Trans.  Lake  Superior  Inst.  Min.  Engrs.,  Vol.  5,  p.  55,  1898. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  81 

Keewatin  rocks  which  bear  gold  in  the  district  of  the  Lake  of  the 
Woods.  The  first  discoveries  of  gold  in  this  region  were  made  late 
in  1893,  and  from  recent  developments  it  is  probable  that  it  will 
become  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  gold  fields  of  the  United 
States  and  Canada.1 

Mississippi.  —  The  occurrence  (possible)  of  gold  was  reported  as 
having  been  discovered  in  the  state,  Jackson  County,  as  early  as 
1854.2  No  further  record  of  the  finding  of  gold  in  the  state  is  at 
hand. 

Missouri.  —  Search  for  the  precious  metals  in  the  Mississippi 
Valley  began  as  early  as  the  eighteenth  century.  In  1705,  the  gover- 
nor of  Louisiana  led  an  expedition  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas 
River.3  Similar  exploring  parties  located  the  lead  mines  of  Mis- 
souri, both  of  the  eastern  and  western  parts  of  the  state.  M.  de  la 
Motte  Cadillac  discovered,  in  1715,  the  mine  since  known  by  his 
name.4  In  1719,  active  mining  was  begun  on  the  Meramec  River, 
by  the  Sieur  de  Lochon,  while  in  1721,  the  Renault  mine  was  dis- 
covered by  the  superintendent  of  the  Meramec  mines,  which  was 
worked  in  1742.  Further,  the  Potosi  mines  and  the  southwestern 
Missouri  mining  district  were  discovered  in  1798  and  1851,  respec- 
tively.5 Although  the  ore  obtained  from  these  mines  is  largely 
galena  and  blende,  yet  it  contains  some  silver,  in  such  quantities, 
in  fact,  as  to  permit  of  separation. 

Silver  Creek  in  St.  Clair  County,  took  its  name  from  the  explorers 
under  Renault,  and  tradition  says  that  a  considerable  quantity  of 
silver  ore  was  raised  and  sent  to  France.  It  is  doubtful,  however, 
whether  any  successful  discoveries  were  ever  made.6 

Gold  was  reported  to  have  been  found  in  the  state  as  early  as 
1855. 7  Regarding  the  occurrence  of  gold,  Nason  says:  "  Gold  has 
never  been  found,  and  it  is  a  metal  which  is  probably  entirely  foreign 
to  this  area."  8 

In  1875,  C.  P.  Williams,  head  of  the  School  of  Mines,  at  Rolla, 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  58,  p.  581. 

Trans.  Lake  Superior  Inst.  Min.  Engrs.,  Vol.  5,  p.  57,  and  Reports  on  the 
Agriculture  and  Geology  of  Mississippi,  Wailes,  B.  S.  C.,  1854. 

Geol.  Surv.  of  Missouri,  1873-74,  Vol.  1,  pp.  11,  12. 

State  Mine  Inspector  of  Missouri,  1902,  16  Annual  Rept.,  p.  146. 

Geol.  Surv.  of  Mo.,  1873-74,  Vol.  1,  p.  11,  12. 

Western  Annals,  1850,  p.  673. 

First  and  Second  Annual  Repts.  of  the  Geol.   Survey   of  Missouri,    1855, 
p.  164. 

8  Missouri  Geol.  Survey,  Rept.  on  Iron  Ores,  Nason,  1892,  p.  95. 


82  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

made  a  thorough  examination  of  the  properties  where  gold  wag 
reported  as  found.  The  gold  was  found  in  small  particles  in  the 
glacial  drift  formation,  the  productive  part  being  composed  of  three 
strata  of  gravel,  which  on  panning  showed  colors.  However,  tests 
did  not  show  that  sufficient  gold  could  be  obtained  to  pay  for  work- 
ing. The  area  covered  by  the  drift  is  quite  large,  extending  from 
Macon  County,  northward,  beyond  the  Iowa  line.  Boulders  of  granite 
syenite,  hornblende,  greenstone,  trap,  and  quartz,  together  with  the 
gravel,  are  estimated  as  being  65  feet  thick.  The  principal  occur- 
rences were  along  the  Great  Charlton  River,  although  traces  have 
been  found  in  many  localities,  especially  at  Kirksville  in  Adair 
County,  where  considerable  excitement  had  been  worked  up.1 

Montana.  —  The  first  discovery  of  gold  in  the  state  is  claimed  to 
have  been  made  by  an  old  Mexican  miner,  known  as  "  Gold 
Tom,"  in  1861.  The  location  was  about  five  miles  below  Pioneer 
Village.2 

The  placers  of  Bannack  were  the  first  successfully  worked  in  the 
state  —  they  were  discovered  in  the  summer  of  1862.  July  of  the 
following  year  saw  the  discovery  of  the  Alder  Gulch  placers,  which 
caused  the  almost  complete  abandonment  of  the  Bannack  working 
by  the  following  spring.  Work  was,  however,  revived  again  in 
1866,  and  they  were  actively  operated  for  many  years.  Other 
diggings  discovered  in  the  meantime,  such  as  the  Ram's  Horn, 
Radersburg  and  Cow  Creek,  and  Last  Chance  were  worked  for  a 
few  feet,  then  supposing  that  the  ground  below  was  barren,  they 
were  deserted,  but  were  again  opened  up  and  worked  to  a  depth  of 
40  to  50  feet  in  1869.3 

In  1863,  the  placers  of  Horse  Prairie  Creek  were  discovered,  and 
two  years  later  those  at  Helena  were  located. 

The  placers  of  Bear  Gulch  were  discovered  in  October,  1865,  by 
prospectors  under  Jack  Reynolds.  A  rush  began  March,  1866,  and 
during  the  same  year  the  first  quartz  location  was  made  by  a  Mex- 
ican named  Guayness.4 

The  first  lode  said  to  have  been  located  in  the  Phillipsburg  camp 
was  discovered  by  Hector  Horton  in  1865,  and  was  named  the 
Cordoba.. 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  31,  p.  338. 

2  Quotation  from  the  Mineral  Resources  of  the  U.  S.,  1868,  pp.  38,  39.    Rept. 
Director  of  the  Mint.,  1882,  p.  215. 

3  The  Mines  of  the  West,  R.  W.  Raymond,  1869,  p.  143,  etc. 

4  Rept.  Director  of  Mint,  1882,  p.  215. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  83 

Rich  gold  deposits  were  located  in  the  valley  of  Trout  Creek  by 
hunters  in  1866. 

The  Elkhorn  district  was  early  prospected,  and  a  number  of  quartz 
lodes  were  located  as  early  as  1869,  but  it  was  not  until  the  A.  M. 
Holter  lode  was  developed  that  the  district  came  into  prominence. 

The  Eikhorn  mine  was  located  on  the  Holter  lode  on  January 
2,  1875,  and  has  been  the  principal  producer  of  the  district.1 

Gold  was  probably  first  discovered  in  the  Boulder  district  on 
Baboon  Mountain  in  1864,  by  two  prospectors,  John  Allen  and 
Barney  Hughes.2 

The  Marysville  district  was  opened  up  first  as  a  placer  field  in  the 
early  seventies,  which  led  to  the  discovery  of  ledges  which  have 
made  the  district  famous.  The  first  placers  worked  in  this  district 
were  at  Silver  Creek.3 

The  placers  of  Flint  Creek,  ten  miles  south  of  Drummond  Moun- 
tain, were  worked  as  early  as  1873,  while  those  of  Cedar  Creek  in 
Missoula  County  were  first  located  in  1870.  It  was  not  until  1895 
that  an  attempt  was  made  to  install  hydraulic  machinery. 

When  the  principal  gulches,  as  the  Prickly  Pear,  Grizzly,  and 
Last  Chance,  with  a  recorded  yield  of  some  forty  million  dollars, 
were  exhausted,  placer  mining  in  the  state  practically  ceased. 

Butte  was  first  known  as  a  placer  camp  as  early  as  1864,  when 
the  gravels  of  Missoula  Gulch  were  washed.  Owing  to  the  promi- 
nence of  the  quartz  ledges  they  were  soon  examined  and  found  to 
contain  silver.  No  great  success  rewarded  these  early  efforts  until 
the  discovery  of  rich  silver  ore  was  made  in  the  Travona  in  1876. 4 
The  ores  were  shipped  to  Salt  Lake  City  and  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  capitalists  which  led  to  the  opening  up  of  other  mines  — 
the  Alice  mine,  in  Missoula  Gulch,  was  opened  in  the  following  year. 

The  first  railway  entered  the  Butte  district  in  1881,  from  which 
time  the  development  has  been  steady  and  rapid. 

In  1892,  gold  and  silver  mining  was  particularly  prosperous. 
The  Alice  mine  (silver)  was  in  bonanza.  The  Drumlummon  at 
Marysville  barely  paid  expenses.  The  silver-lead  mines  of  Jefferson 
County  were  profitably  operated.  The  Cumberland  mine  had  shut 
down,  while  the  Elkhorn  continued  to  pay  large  dividends.  The 
Helena  and  Victor  mines  of  Missoula  County  were  reasonably  pro- 


1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Kept.,  pt.  2,  p.  411,  1901. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  60,  p.  583. 


3  Economic  Bull.,  213,  U.  S.  G.  S.,  p.  66. 

4  Ore  deposits  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  J.  F.  Kemp,  1905,  p.  200. 


84  GOLD   AND  SILVER. 

ductive.  The  Boulder  region,  some  60  miles  south  of  Livingston, 
has  produced  some  of  the  most  valuable  mines  of  the  state. 

During  1895,  a  large  dredging  plant  was  installed  on  Grasshopper 
Creek  near  Bannack.  Most  of  the  silver-lead  mines,  especially 
those  of  Castle,  were  quite  active. 

The  silver  production  of  1897,  came  largely  from  the  copper- 
silver  ores  of  Butte  and  to  a  less  extent  from  the  silver-lead  ores 
of  Castle,  Barker,  and  Neihart.  Several  new  ore-bodies  discovered 
in  the  old  Drumlummon  mine  have  revived  operations  there.  The 
Bald  Butte  mine  of  the  Marysville  district  was  a  good  producer. 
Four  dredges  were  operating  at  Grasshopper  and  Alder  Gulches, 
and  ordinary  placer -workings  at  Bannack  and  Helena. 

In  1898,  although  there  was  an  increased  production,  there  were 
no  new  developments  of  importance,  while  during  the  following 
year  the  production  of  gold  decreased,  that  of  silver  increasing. 

Successful  operations  in  the  Judith  district  had  materially  increased 
the  production  of  gold  for  the  year  1902,  while  the  operations  in  the 
silver  mines  of  Fergus  County  had  been  retarded  owing  to  the 
depression  in  the  silver  market.  Extensive  installations  of  electrical 
equipment'  of  the  Butte  mines  were  under  way. 

In  1903,  the  extension  of  the  Montana  railway  from  Harlowtown 
to  Lewistown  acted  as  a  stimulant  to  the  gold  industry  of  Fergus 
County.  Both  the  Drumlummon  and  Cable  mines  were  still  oper- 
ating. Five  gold  dredges  were  operating  throughout  the  season: 
three  at  Laurin  in  the  old  Alder  Gulch  placer,  one  in  French  Gulch, 
and  one  at  Bannack. 

During  1904,  the  Whitlace  mine  was  reopened  after  lying  idle  for 
27  years.  In  1905,  about  four-fifths  of  the  silver  came  from  the 
Butte  copper  mines.  Fergus  County  led  as  a  gold  producer,  the 
chief  center  being  Kendall.  During  this  year  the  only  placers  work- 
ing were  those  at  Grasshopper  and  Rattlesnake  creeks.1 

The  importance  of  Montana  as  a  precious  metal  producer  is  shown 
fay  the  record  of  production  for  the  year  1905;  she  stood  first  among 
the  states  in  the  production  of  silver  and  fifth  in  the  production  of 
gold. 

Nebraska.  —  This  state  like  most  of  the  central  states  of  the 
Union  has  been  subject  to  gold  excitements  from  time  to  time. 
However,  the  most  important  discovery  of  gold  was  that  at  Milford 
in  1895  and  1897.  There  are  two  possible  sources  of  gold  in  the 
state,  namely:  the  glacial  drift  in  the  south  and  east,  and  that  from 
1  Mineral  Industry  for  1892  to  1905. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  85 

the  Rocky  Mountains  on  the  west.  Throughout  the  drift,  especially 
in  the  southern  counties,  there  have  been  found  from  time  to  time 
small  quantities  of  fine  gold,  and  occasionally  a  pebble  rich  in  free- 
gold.  Unauthentic  records  of  assays  give  results  ranging  up  to 
$200.  Assays  of  the  gravels  at  Crete  and  Milford  are  reported  to 
have  shown  an  average  of  $.62  to  $5.50  and  $8  to  $10,  respectively. 
Forty  tons  of  gravel  washed  under  the  supervision  of  Mayor  Norris 
of  Crete,  yielded  $12,  approximately  thirty  cents  per  cubic  yard. 
The  centers  of  excitement  were  chiefly  Seward,  Stanton,  and 
Franklin  counties,  but  it  extended  also  as  far  as  Harlan  County. 
It  is  reported  that  one  citizen  spent  at  least  $1,000  in  1896  prospect- 
ing for  gold.  At  Scott's  Bluff,  in  the  high  terraces  of  the  Platte 
River  several  hundred  claims  were  staked  out  during  the  years 
1898-99.  Lincoln  was  the  center  of  dry-concentrating  apparatus 
manufacture  for  these  dry  placers. 

"  Gold  in  minute  quantities  is  occasionally  found  in  the  sands  of 
the  Platte,  Nebraska,  and  other  streams.  .  .  .  The  minute  quan- 
tities along  our  river  beds  no  doubt  came  from  the  mountains  by 
drift  agencies."  1 

It  has  been  aptly  said:  "The  mineral  resources  of  such  a  state 
lie  in  her  soil,  from  which  more  gold  can  be  extracted  by  the  plow 
than  otherwise."  2 

Nevada.  —  The  first  district  to  produce  free-milling  metals  in  the 
United  States  was  discovered  in  this  state,  the  first  mines  of  im- 
portance being  those  of  the  Comstock  lode. 

The  first  discovery  of  gold  in  Nevada  is  credited  both  to  emigrants 
and  prospectors;  to  the  former  in  the  spring  of  1849,  to  the  latter 
in  the  summer  of  1850.  However,  as  the  former  is  authentic  history 
it  will  be  considered  as  the  first  discovery  of  which  we  have  record 
in  this  state. 

The  first  settlers  to  enter  the  state  were  Mormons,  and  settlements 
were  made  by  them  as  early  as  1848.  The  gold  excitement  of  1848 
attracted  Mormons,  as  well  as  others,  and  considerable  numbers 
went  to  California  from  Salt  Lake  City.  In  1849,  a  party  of  Mor- 
mons, while  camping  on  the  Carson  River  at  McMarlins'  Station 
waiting  for  the  mountains  to  become  passable,  panned  some  of  the 
sands  of  Gold  Canon,  and  to  their  surprise  discovered  gold.  On 
passing  on  to  California  later  they  reported  to  the  miners  of  Placer- 

1  Sketches  of   the  Physical  Geography  and  Geology  of   Nebraska,  Samuel 
Aughey,  1880,  p.  316. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  67,  p.  408. 


86  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

ville  that  one-half  ounce  diggings  were  to  be  found  on  Carson  River. 
Immediately  prospectors  crossed  the  mountains  and  worked  the 
gravels,  but  the  gold  was  low-grade  owing  to  the  presence  of  silver. 
It  was  not  until  about  1852-53  that  much  interest  was  felt  in  the 
discoveries.1  The  following  account  possibly  relates  to  the  same 
event,  although  probably  it  was  an  independent  discovery. 

In  May,  1850,  two  prospectors,  by  name  Prouse  Kelly  and  John 
Orr,  set  out  in  the  first  wagon  train  leaving  for  California;  while 
stopping  to  rest  on  the  bank  of  the  Carson  River,  Kelly  took  a  milk 
pan  and  washed  some  of  the  gravel  and  found  values  worth  a  few 
cents  in  a  few  minutes7  work.  He  then  named  the  place  Gold  Canon, 
which  name  it  still  retains.  This  is  claimed  to  be  the  first  discovery 
of  gold  in  Nevada.  It  is  further  related  regarding  Kelly  and  Orr, 
that  later,  returning  to  the  place  to  prospect,  they  found  a  gold 
nugget  worth  about  $8.25  at  a  point  further  up  the  canon.  This 
latter  discovery  was  in  June,  1850.2 

According  to  Degroot:3  "  Gold  mines  of  considerable  richness 
have  been  worked  since  1850,  at  various  points  along  Carson  River, 
and  recently  silver  ore  of  unexampled  value  has  been  found,  extend- 
ing over  a  large  scope,  the  area  of  which  is  likely  to  be  augmented 
by  further  explorations." 

In  1857,  gold  was  discovered  in  Six  Mile  Canon,  the  next  large 
canon  north  of  Gold  Canon;  the  gold  discovered  here  was  at  a  point 
about  a  mile  below  the  location  where  silver  was  first  found.  Thus 
the  search  for  gold  was  leading  the  prospectors  slowly  but  surely 
toward  the  Comstock  lode. 

In  January,  1859,  three  prospectors,  James  Finney  (or  Phinney  — 
known  as  "  Old  Virginia  "),  John  Bishop  and  H.  T.  P.  Comstock, 
were  prospecting  up  towards  the  head  of  Gold  Canon,  near  the  present- 
site  of  Gold  Hill,  and  happened  to  begin  operations  upon  the  decom- 
posed outcrop  of  what  was  later  known  as  the  Comstock  lode. 
They,  however,  thought  it  was  a  gold  placer  and  worked  it  quite 
profitably  as  such,  making  from  $5  to  $25  per  day.  Although  this 
was  on  the  famous  silver  lode,  yet,  as  subsequent  operations  showed, 
the  silver  ore  was  at  least  300  feet  below  the  surface  at  this  point. 

Peter  O'Reiley  and  Patrick  McLaughlin  were  also  working  on 
Gold  Hill,  but  in  a  low  depression  at  the  head  of  the  Canon.  Later, 
they  went  above  all  signs  of  previous  work  and  began  prospecting. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  52,  p.  637. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press.,  Vol.  40,  p.  342. 

3  Twelve  Years  in  the  Mines  of  California,  1862,  p.  79. 


DISCOVERY   OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  87 

Their  success  was  small,  however,  and  as  was  customary,  a  ditch 
was  cut  up  the  slope  with  the  hope  that  the  gold  might  increase  in 
quantity  —  it  decreased  instead.  Being  in  need  of  water  they 
proceeded  still  further  up  the  slope  and  dug  a  pit  in  which  to  collect 
it,  but  were  forced  to  dig  deeper  than  they  previously  had,  and  so 
by  mere  chance  came  to  the  rich  black  sulphuret  ore  in  the  decom- 
posed cropping  of  the  Comstock  lode  —  thus  was  the  Ophir  mine 
discovered.  The  gold  occurred  in  the  loose,  decomposed  mass  in 
small  grains  and  flakes,  being  both  light  in  weight  and  color.  So 
rich  was  the  material  that  they  were  soon  washing  out  as  much  as 
$1,000  a  day  with  rockers. 

The  prospect  proved  to  be  a  puzzle  to  them,  both  with  regard  to 
the  peculiar  black  appearance  of  the  material  and  its  shape,  being 
angular  instead  of  rounded  like  ordinary  gravel.  They  finally  con- 
cluded that  it  was  not  gravel  and  proceeded  to  stake  off  claims  — 
one  each  of  200  by  300  feet,  and  an  additional  one  by  right  of  dis- 
covery. About  this  time,  Comstock  came  along,  and  on  seeing  the 
prospect  and  the  gold  it  yielded,  suspected  a  big  strike;  then,  as  was 
characteristic  of  the  man,  he  immediately  determined  to  acquire  a 
share  of  it  for  himself,  which  he  shortly  succeeded  in  doing  by  lay- 
ing claim  to  the  ground  upon  which  it  was  located  together  with  the 
spring  and  practically  everything  in  sight.  He  also  demanded 
an  additional  100  feet  for  an  assumed  water  right  and  lastly  a 
share  for  a  friend,  Emmanuel  Penrod.  Fearing  trouble,  a  compro- 
mise was  effected  embodying  all  of  Comstock's  claims,  whereupon 
he  at  once  became  to  all  intents  jand  purposes  the  chief  owner  and 
spokesman  for  the  company,  and  although  the  mine  had  already 
been  named  the  Ophir,  mine  and  lode  were  known  as  the  Com- 
stock, which  name  has  ever  since  clung  to  the  lode.1 

A  claim  is  made  for  the  Grosh  Brothers,  Allen  and  Hosea,  sons  of 
a  Universalist  clergyman,  as  the  possible  first  discoverers  of  the 
famous  silver  lode.  They  arrived  in  San  Francisco  harbor  on  the 
30th  of  August,  1849.  They  found  their  way  to  Gold  Canon  in  1853, 
but  meeting  with  discouraging  results,  returned  to  California  the 
next  year.  However,  they  returned  to  Gold  Canon  in  1856,  and  in 
a  letter  dated  the  3d  of  November,  1856,  they  said:  "  We  found  two 
veins  at  the  forks  of  Gold  Canon.  .  .  .  One  of  these  veins  is  a  perfect 
monster."  And  later:  "  We  have  hopes  almost  amounting  to  cer- 
tainty of  veins  crossing  the  canon  at  two  other  points."  Again 
quoting  from  a  letter  written  by  Allen  while  at  Gold  Canon:  "  Our 
1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  52,  p.  637. 


88  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

first  assay  was  one-half  ounce  of  rock;  the  result  was  $3,500  of  silver 
to  the  ton,  by  hurried  assay,  which  was  altogether  too  much  of  a 
good  thing  .  .  .  We  are  very  sanguine  of  ultimate  success."  * 
Notwithstanding  this  remarkable  and  extraordinary  evidence  as  to 
their  right  to  the  discovery,  no  definite  and  conclusive  evidence 
other  than  this  written  word  is  extant,  and  when  due  consideration 
is  given  to  the  excited  state  of  mind  of  most  of  the  early  prospectors, 
it  is  well  to  take  such  statements  with  a  grain  of  allowance. 

It  is  possible  that  the  discovery  of  Comstock  lode  dates  further 
back  than  the  date  given  above,  for  there  was  a  persistent  report 
in  the  early  days  of  work  having  been  done  there.  It  is  claimed 
that  the  early  pioneers  -to  this  section  found  Mexicans  engaged  in 
working  the  gold  veins  on  Gold  Hill  and  operating  a  number  of 
arastras,  which  was  carried  on  as  late  as  1857  —  two  years  prior 
to  O'Reilly's  and  McLaughlin's  discovery.  The  reason  why  these 
early  workings  have  not  since  been  discovered,  if  they  ever  existed, 
is  accounted  for  by  a  Mexican  who  said  that  the  mine  was  owned 
by  one  Moldonado  and  was  worked  by  Savariano,  the  ore  mined 
being  so  rich  that  the  amount  carried  by  a  single  mule  was  worth 
from  $1,000  to  $1,200,  and  was  packed  to  California.  It  was  found 
one  morning  that  Savariano  had  decamped  between  suns  with  a 
pack  train  of  ore,  and  had  so  carefully  concealed  the  locality  of  the 
mine  that  it  has  always  remained  undiscovered.2 

There  is  another  story  regarding  the  manner  in  which  Comstock 
acquired  a  share  in  the  Ophir  property;3  however,  from  the  infor- 
mation at  hand  the  above  account  seems  the  most  plausible. 

With  regard  to  the  first  assay  of  the  Comstock  ore,  and  by  whom 
made,  thus  establishing  its  identity  and  value,  there  is  also  much 
controversy.  We  will,  however,  cite  what  appears  to  be  a  reason- 
able statement,  referring  the  reader  to  the  other  claims  from  which 
he  can  draw  his  own  conclusions.4 

It  is  claimed  that  the  first  assay  of  the  ore  from  the  Ophir  mine 
was  made  by  Mr.  Melville  Atwood,  of  Grass  Valley,  on  June  27, 
1859,  at  the  request  of  Judge  Walsh,  who  had  received  the  ore  from 
a  Mr.  Stone,  it  having  been  brought  from  the  Comstock  by  B.  A. 

1  Mrs.  L.  M.  Dettenrieder,  Virginia  City,  Nevada  —  Letters  of. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  34,  p.  290,  and  Vol.  33,  p.  65. 

8  Rept.  upon  the  Mineral  Resources  of  the  States  and  Territories  west  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  1867,  p.  88. 

4  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  45,  p.  392,  Ibid.  Vol.  46,  p.  266,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  46, 
p.  354. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  89 

Harrison.  The  results  showed  a  value  of  $3,000  in  silver  and  $876 
in  gold.  To  verify  these  results,  Mr.  Stone  took  some  of  the  ore  to 
Nevada  City  where  it  was  assayed  by  J.  J.  Ott,  on  July  28,  1859. 
Although  there  was  considerable  difference  in  the  two  assays,  the 
extreme  richness  of  the  ore  was  manifest  and  a  mad  rush  ensued. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  written  in  Virginia  City  in 
April,  1860,  gives  an  idea  of  affairs  at  that  time: 

"  Of  a  certainty,  right  here,  is  Bedlam  broke  loose.  One  cannot 
help  thinking,  as  he  passes  through  the  streets,  that  all  the  insane 
geologists  extant  have  been  corraled  at  this  place.  Most  vehement 
is  the  excitement.  I  have  never  seen  men  act  thus  elsewhere. 
Not  even  in  the  early  stages  of  the  California  gold  movements  were 
they  so  delirious  about  the  business  of  metalliferous  discovery. 
Hundreds  and  thousands  are  now  here  who,  feeling  that  they  may 
never  have  another  chance  to  make  a  speedy  fortune,  are  resolved 
this  shall  not  pass  unimproved."  1 

In  1859-60  an  early  winter  set  in  and  a  severe  one,  practically 
stopping  all  work  on  the  Comstock  lode,  and  as  a  further  set-back,  an 
Indian  war  broke  out.  It  was  not  until  the  spring  of  1861  that  the 
work  of  mining  was  actively  resumed,  following  which  came  a  period 
of  uncertainty  and  a  reaction  set  in.  Not  until  the  discoveries  and 
excitements  of  the  Reece  River  district  occurred  did  the  work  of 
prospecting  and  development  on  the  Comstock  lode  become  active 
again.  The  stampede  to  the  White  Pine  district,  coming  at  about 
this  time,  marked  the  culminating  point  in  vein-mining  excitements 
of  the  period. 

The  Buena  Vista,  Eldorado,  and  Gold  Run  districts  of  Humboldt 
County  were  organized  in  1861,  1862,  and  1866,  respectively. 

The  direct  result  of  the  discovery  of  rich  mineral  in  Nevada  was 
an  increase  in  population,  which  was,  of  course,  localized  at  Virginia 
City;  the  indirect  result  was  the  exploration  and  development  of  the 
surrounding  country,  which  would  not  have  been  done  so  effectively 
in  scores  of  years  had  it  not  been  for  the  great  and  permanent 
attraction  of  the  Comstock  lode.  In  1860,  the  silver  districts  of 
Esmeralda,  Potosi,  Coso,  and  Humboldt  were  discovered,  together 
with  others  of  less  note;  however,  the  Comstock  was  the  center 
of  attraction  and  became  the  home  of  a  large  and  excited 
population. 

Ore  was  first  discovered  in  quantity  in  the  Eureka  district  in 

1  Report  upon  the  Mineral  Resources  of  the  States  and  Territories  West  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  1867,  p.  28. 


90  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

1863  or  1864,  and  at  a  point  near  the  "  76  "  mine  in  New  York 
canon.  The  deposit  was  worked  to  a  depth  of  48  feet  between 
1857-63.  The  first  claims  were  very  rich  but  were  soon  exhausted 
and  were  shortly  abandoned.  The  district  lay  idle  until  about 
1868-69,  when  work  was  resumed  on  Mineral  Hill.1 

The  Eureka  mine  was  first  located  on  February  7,  1851,  and 
closed  in  1877,  but  was  not  developed  to  any  extent  until  1863  or 
1864,  only  an  8-foot  pit  having  been  sunk.  The  mines  at  Pioche  were 
first  worked  in  the  seventies,  when  no  attempt  was  made  to  save 
any  but  the  gold  and  silver  values.  It  is  claimed  that  the  copper 
values  left  in  the  mine  and  on  the  dumps  exceeded  those  recovered 
in  gold  and  silver.2 

The  first  discovery  in  the  Esmeralda  district  occurred  on  August 
22,  1860,  and  was  made  by  three  prospectors:  James  M.  Brady, 
J.  C.  Corey  and  E.  R.  Hicks.  The  first  discovery  of  ore  at  Aurora 
was  made  in  1862,  and  in  a  few  months  fully  16,000  people  were  on 
the  ground;  however,  the  excitement  did  not  culminate  until  1863, 
the  boom  holding  on  until  1864.  In  1882,  a  New  York  company 
purchased  the  Cortez  mine  on  Silver  Hill  and  began  active  develop- 
ments which  resulted  in  the  uncovering  of  several  bonanzas.  These 
mines  produced  both  gold  and  silver.3 

The  White  Pine  district  was  organized  in  1865,  although  it  was 
not  until  two  years  later  that  it  became  the  scene  of  a  great  excite- 
ment due  to  the  discovery  of  the  rich  mines  of  Treasure  Hill.  It  is 
reported  that  an  Indian  offered  to  show  the  miners  a  place  where 
ore  similar  to  that  mined  at  the  Monte  Cristo  could  be  found  in 
abundance,  and  forthwith  guided  them  to  Treasure  Hill  where  the 
Hidden  Treasure  mine  was  located  on  September  14,  1867.  The 
abundant  covering  of  white  pine  timber  gave  White  Pine  mountain 
its  name.  The  discovery  of  the  Keystone  and  Eberhardt  deposits 
followed  immediately  after  that  of  the  Hidden  Treasure.4 

Regarding  the  Pahranagat  district,  Lincoln  County,  Raymond 
said  in  1870:  "The  developments  in  this  district  are  both  costly  and 
extensive,  but  have  been  conducted  with  such  conspicuous  absence 
of  skill  and  common  sense,  that  they  may  be  said  to  have  produced 
hardly  any  results  whatever."  The  excitement  following  the 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Monograph  VII,  p.3,  and  Bean's  Directory  of  Nevada. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  35,  p.  8,  and  Bean's  Directory  of  Nevada. 

3  School  of  Mines  Quarterly,  Vol.  3,  p.  133,  and  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  36, 
p.  296. 

4  The  Mines  of  the  West,  Raymond,  1869,  p.  85. 


DISCOVERY   OF  GOLD   AND  SILVER.  91 

development  of  the  White  Pine  caused  most  of  the  mines  to  be 
abandoned. 

The  principal  districts  in  which  mining  was  carried  on  in  1881, 
and  for  the  following  five  or  ten  years  with  a  large  increased  pro- 
duction from  development  therein,  were:  the  Elko  mines  in  Tusca- 
rora;  the  Northern  Belle  in  Columbus  district;  the  Gold  Mountain 
district;  the  Richmond  mine,  Eureka  district;  the  Keystone  mine, 
Central  district;  the  Starr-Grove  mine,  Lewis  district;  the  May- 
flower mine,  Bristol  district;  the  Raymond  and  Ely  mine,  Pioche 
district;  the  Belmont,  Monitor,  El  Dorado,  etc.,  Gold  Park  district; 
the  Star  mine,  Ward  district,  etc. 

Between  the  years  1866  and  1868,  the  Battle  Mountain  and 
Columbus  districts  were  organized,  while  the  Eberhardt,  Lander 
County,  was  located  by  prospectors  in  December,  1867. 

In  May,  1900,  J.  L.  Butler  while  prospecting  near  Klondike 
discovered  the  outcrop  of  the  Mizpah  vein  from  which  he  took 
samples,  but  not  liking  the  looks  of  them  and  not  having  much 
money  decided  to  have  them  assayed  on  shares.  They  were  given 
to  T.  L.  Oddie,  a  lawyer  and  also  manager  of  the  Stokes  mine  at 
Austin;  Oddie  in  turn  gave  the  sample  to  W.  C.  Gayhart  with  a 
similar  promise.  Gayhart  at  once  pronounced  them  worthless  and 
threw  them  away.  However,  on  discussing  the  matter  with  Butler 
later,  Oddie  decided  to  have  an  assay  made,  which  was  done  at 
Austin,  with  the  result  that  high  values  in  gold  and  silver  were 
shown.  Butler  and  Oddie  then  went  to  the  scene  of  the  discovery 
and  staked  out  claims;  with  them  was  Wilse  Brougher  who  fur- 
nished tools  and  provisions  necessary  for  prospecting.  The  cash 
assets  of  the  three  on  reaching  the  place  was  $25.  This  was  in 
August,  1900;  in  October,  they  leased  the  property  at  25  per 
cent  royalty.  During  the  early  part  of  1901,  mining  operations 
were  actively  carried  on,  and  the  district  began  to  come  into 
prominence.  The  eight  claims  owned  by  this  company  were 
bonded  by  O.  A.  Turner  for  $336,000,  cash  $50,000  being  paid 
down.1 

The  occurrence  of  piles  of  quartz  makes  it  evident  that  Mr.  Butler 
was  not  the  original  discoverer  of  the  district,  and  as  the  monu- 
ments are  old,  the  locality  must  have  been  prospected  many  years 
ago,  but  by  whom  remains  a  mystery. 

The  district  was  named  Tonopah  by  its  discoverer,  being  Sho- 
shone  for  "  water  bush."      Eight  ledges  were  known  in  1901,  which 
1    Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  86,  p.  338,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  88,  p.  364. 


92  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

with  others  discovered  later  are  arranged  into  three  groups:  first, 
the  Butler;  second,  Gold-Hill;  and  third,  the  Clifford.1 

The  development  of  the  district  by  a  system  of  small  lease-holds 
has  proven  to  be  a  great  bonanza  for  the  lessees. 

Float  gold  was  discovered  on  Columbia  Mountain  in  the  fall  of 
1902  by  Harry  Stimler  and  William  Marsh,  at  which  time  the  Sand- 
storm and  Kendall  mines  were  located,  the  former  being  staked  in 
December.  As  the  deposits  discovered  were  not  especially  promis- 
ing, most  of  the  miners  left  the  district  for  the  winter.  A.  D.  Mayers 
and  R.  C.  Hart  remained  behind,  however,  and  on  May  24,  1903, 
had  located  the  Combination  lode,  beginning  development  work  at 
once.  This  stimulated  prospecting,  but  it  was  not  until  the  summer 
of  1904  that  ore  was  being  shipped  from  the  district,  the  principal 
producers  being  the  Jumbo,  Florence  and  January  mines.  Thus 
were  the  districts  of  Goldfield  and  Bullfrog  opened  up:  Goldfield  is 
in  the  southwestern  part  of  Nevada,  and  was  first  called  "  Grandpa  " 
district;  while  Bullfrog  is  situated  in  Nye  County,  also  in  the  south- 
western portion  of  the  state  and  south  of  Goldfield.  The  original 
Bullfrog  mine,  which  gave  its'  name  to  the  district,  is  about  three 
miles  west  of  Rhyolite.2 

In  1892,  there  was  a  serious  decline  in  the  production  of  silver 
owing  to  the  depreciation  of  that  metal.  The  depression  was  espe- 
cially keenly  felt  at  the  Comstock  mines,  at  Eureka,  in  the  Cortez, 
White  Pine,  and  the  Tuscarora  mines. 

The  Diamond  was  the  only  producer  of  importance  at  Eureka, 
while  in  Esmeralda  County,  the  Mount  Diablo  mine  began  opera- 
tions near  the  end  of  the  year.  The  litigation  which  had  tied  up 
the  Indian  Queen  and  Poorman  mines  for  a  number  of  years,  having 
been  settled,  work  in  them  was  resumed. 

During  the  year  1893,  a  notable  discovery  was  made,  being  the 
De  Lamar  mine,  Lincoln  County  —  this  mine  has  had  a  marked 
influence  on  the  gold  production  of  the  state,  which  was  felt  as 
early  as  1895.  In  1897,  the  De  Lamar  mines  led  in  the  production 
of  gold  in  the  state.  However,  in  1899,  the  Tuscarora  and  Phila- 
delphia mines  also  contributed  to  the  production  of  gold;  and  dur- 
ing the  same  year  an  important  strike  was  made  in  White  Pine 
County  at  the  Chainman  mine. 

In  1900,  the  introduction  of  electric  power  into  the  Comstock 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  83,  p.  192. 

2  U.  S.  G.  S.  Economic  Bull.  303,  1907,  p.  8;  the  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  90, 
p.  393,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  90,  p.  273. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  93 

mines  was  begun.  The  development  of  the  Tonopah  Lake  district, 
Nye  County,  was  stimulated  by  a  system  of  leasing  whereby  small 
leases  could  be  operated  profitably. 

The  year  1902  showed  considerable  activity  in  the  installation 
of  mine  and  mill  equipments,  which  was  especially  noticeable  at  the 
De  Lamar  mine. 

In  1905,  the  Tonopah  district  was  the  most  important  in  southern 
Nevada,  the  Tonopah  mine  being  the  best  in  the  district,  the  Mon- 
tana coming  next.1 

Nevada  entered  the  Union  in  March,  1864,  and  is  known  as  the 
"  battle  born  state."  During  the  ten  years  following  the  entrance 
into  statehood,  Nevada  could  boast  of  containing  within  her 
borders  the  most  prosperous  mining  camps  on  earth  —  the  Corn- 
stock  lode  became  the  greatest  "  Mining  School  "  in  the  world. 
Bonanzas  were  discovered  at  Virginia  City,  Reese  River,  Aurora, 
Eureka,  White  Pine,  Pioche,  Tuscarora  and  to  a  less  extent  at 
Cornucopia  and  Candelaria.  During  recent  years  the  De  Lamar, 
Tonopah,  Goldfield,  Bullfrog  and  various  minor  districts  have  been 
the  chief  producers. 

The  history  of  mining  and  especially  silver  mining  in  Nevada, 
is  in  some  respects  a  peculiar  one  owing  largely  to  the  irregular 
character  of  the  ore-bodies  worked.  The  growth  of  the  mining 
industry  has,  however,  been  continuous,  but  far  from  uniform; 
the  production,  at  times,  meager,  at  other  times,  reaching  stupen- 
dous proportions,  the  average  being  normal  and  taken  by  periods 
showing  a  marked  increase,  while  the  development  has  been  sporadic 
and  in  many  cases  used  more  as  a  means  to  manipulate  the  stock  mar- 
ket than  to  prove  ore-deposits  and  put  the  mines  on  a  paying  basis. 

New  Hampshire.  —  The  presence  of  gold  in  certain  rocks  of  the 
state  has  been  known  for  some  time,  but  has  usually  been  found  in 
such  small  quantities  as  not  to  warrant  any  attempt  at  extraction. 
Gold  was  discovered  in  the  Townships  of  Franconia  and  Lisbon, 
north  of  Mount  Washington  and  on  the  lower  Ammonoosuc  River 
as  early  as  1866.2  The  Eaton  lode  was  discovered  in  1826,3  and 
yielded  lead-silver  ore.  The  Ammonoosuc  gold  field  has  been 
described  by  Professor  C.  H.  Hitchcock  as  auriferous  slates  and 
schists  occurring  along  the  Connecticut  River,  and  lying  mostly  in 
New  Hampshire. 

1  Mineral  Industry  for  1892  to  1904. 

2  American  Jour,  of  Min.,  Vol.  2,  p.  386. 

3  Whitney's  Metallic  Wealth  of  the  United  States,  1854,  p.  389. 


94  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Up  to  1877,  a  production  of  $50,000  is  reported  to  have  been  made 
by  the  Dodge  vein  in  eastern  Lyman.  The  Lisbon,  Cook  and  Brown 
mines  yield  both  free-gold  and  auriferous  mispickel,  but  were  not 
of  much  importance  as  producers  of  the  precious  metals.1 

New  Jersey.  —  The  Bridgewater  copper  mine  of  this  state  is 
said  to  have  yielded  considerable  native  silver.  This  mine  has  not 
been  operated  for  years  as  far  as  we  can  learn,  but  there  is  a  family 
tradition  to  the  effect  that  the  ores  obtained  from  it  by  Aarent 
Schuyler  contained  sufficient  silver  to  cover  the  cost  of  smelting 
abroad,  and  that  some  of  the  silver  was  always  returned  to  the 
United  States  in  the  shape  of  English  coin.2 

New  Mexico.  —  The  mines  of  this  Territory  are  among  the  oldest 
in  the  United  States,  having  been  worked  under  the  Spaniards  as 
early  at  least  as  the  15th  century,  but  owing  largely  to  their  inac- 
cessibility they  have  not  been  developed  as  much  in  proportion  to 
their  importance  as  have  most  of  the  other  precious  metal-bearing 
districts  of  the  country. 

The  first  gold  mined  by  white  men  came  from  placers,  which  were 
worked  on  both  sides  of  the  Rio  Grande,  especially  in  Sierra  County, 
also  at  San  Xavier,  Santa  Rita  district.  The  Santa  Rita  was  a 
flourishing  gold-producing  district  in  1770,  being  known  to  the 
American  prospectors  as  the  "  Pot  Holes,"  but  was  formerly  known 
as  San  Dyonisius  and  later  included  in  the  Mission  of  Concepcion.3 
Gold-bearing  lodes  were  discovered  at  Pinos  Altos  as  early  as  1866. 

The  mines  of  Silver  Lake  were  discovered  in  August,  1878,  by 
G.  W.  Lufkin  and  were  worked  practically  continuously  until  1893. 
It  is  remarkable  that  these  ore-bodies  were  not  discovered  by  the 
Spaniards,  occurring  so  close  to  the  surface  —  nevertheless  the 
Spaniards  passed  by  them  for  three  centuries  apparently  without 
suspecting  their  presence.4 

The  principal  gold-bearing  counties  are:  Grant,  Dona  Ana,  Lincoln 
and  Socorro,  besides  both  gold  and  silver  were  found  in  Santa  Fe, 
Bernalillo,  Coif  ax,  and  Taos  counties.  The  famous  placers  of 
Bernalillo  and  neighboring  counties  have  yielded  large  quantities 
of  gold,  and  their  exploitation  has  disclosed  the  occurrence  of  rich 
gold  and  silver  lodes  in  the  mountains  bordering  the  Cerrillos  district. 
Before  the  discovery  of  gold  in  Pike's  Peak  country,  Colorado,  gold 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  16  Annl.  Kept.,  pt.  3,  p.  329,  1894-95. 
»  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  33,  p.  90. 
*  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  81,  p.  280. 
4  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  24,  p.  138. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  95 

had  been  found  near  Taos,  being  known  to  army  officers  stationed 
at  old  Fort  Massachusetts  and  other  posts.1 

The  principal  gold-  and  silver-producing  districts  in  1881  were  as 
follows :  the  Chloride,  Georgetown,  Burro  Mountain,  Virginia,  Lords- 
burg,  Lone  Mountain,  Hillsborough,  Organ  Mountain,  Magdalena,  etc. 

As  late  as  1892,  conditions  in  the  mining  camps  of  New  Mexico 
were  not  encouraging;  however,  considerable  work  was  done,  espe- 
cially in  the  Pinos  Altos  district,  which  led  in  gold  production.  The 
Old  Abe  mine,  which  gave  promise  of  being  a  good  producer,  was 
being  developed  during  the  year.  Considerable  ore  was  mined  at 
Cook's  Peak. 

The  principal  mines  operating  in  1894  were  the  Grande,  Bella 
and  Apache;  during  this  and  the  following  years,  although  work 
was  actively  carried  on  in  the  Cochiti  and  other  districts,  there  was 
no  adequate  increase  in  production. 

In  1899,  the  Cochiti  district  came  to  the  front  and  it  was  proposed 
to  open  up  the  San  Pedro  grant. 

The  Sierra  de  Mogollon  mining  properties  were  being  developed 
in  1902,  while  large  bodies  of  medium-grade  ore  were  reported  in 
the  Black  Range  and  the  Sierra  Blanca.  In  spite  of  considerable 
development  in  both  new  and  old  districts,  the  gold  production 
showed  a  steady  decrease  for  a  number  of  years,  being  still  low  in 
1904. 

The  dredging  operations  on  the  Moreno  placers,  Colfax  County, 
especially  with  the  El  Oro  dredger,  were  very  successful.  Other 
counties  producing  placer  gold  were:  Grant,  Sierra,  Santa  Fe,  Taos, 
Lincoln  and  Socorro;  while  the  richest  gold  mining  districts  were  the 
Mogollon,  the  Red  River  and  the  Elizabethtown.2 

In  1905,  gold  dredging  had  become  a  fixed  and  profitable  industry. 

New  York.  —  Gold  occurs  in  a  number  of  countries  in  New  York 
State,  which  have  been  arranged  into  four  districts  as  follows:  first, 
Hamilton,  Fulton,  Saratoga,  Herkimer  and  Washington;  second, 
Dutchess;  third,  Westchester  and  Rockland;  and  fourth,  Erie  and 
Alleghany.  Gold  is  also  found  on  Manhattan  Island.3 

No  record  is  at  hand  as  to  when  the  presence  of  gold  in  the  state 
was  first  discovered. 

Argentiferous  lead  deposits  occur  in  the  metamorphic  rocks  of 

1  Rept.  Director  of  Mint,  1882,  p.  339,  etc. 
3  Mineral  Industry  for  1892  to  1905. 

8  Annual  Rept.  Am.  Inst.  City  N.  Y.,  Vol.  25,  p.  827:  Am.  Jour.  Sci.  and  Arts, 
Vol.  47,  p.  139;  and  Am.  Jour.  Min.,  Vol.  6,  p.  370,  1868. 


96  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

Columbia,  Dutchess,  Washington  and  Rensselear  counties.  Prob- 
ably the  most  important  mine  was  the  Ancram  or  Livingston,  in 
Columbia  County.  Further,  lead  mines  were  prospected  for  by 
German  miners  southeast  of  Pine  Plains,  in  Dutchess  County,  as 
early  as  1740.  Following  and,  in  fact,  during  the  Revolutionary 
War  limited  mining  operations  were  undertaken  by  the  Committee 
of  Public  Safety,  in  an  endeavor  to  supply  the  army  with  lead. 
This  ore  is  said  to  be  rich  in  silver.1 

Ohio.  —  Gold  occurs  in  glacial  drift  in  this  state  also.  Old  miners 
claim  to  see  a  marked  resemblance  in  the  channels  and  general 
occurrence  of  gold  here  to  those  of  California,  the  floor  of  the  gravel 
beds  often  being  rough  and  in  most  part  covered  with  considerable 
depth  of  gravel.  In  1868,  gold  to  the  value  of  $17  was  taken  from 
the  drift  north  of  Brownsville  in  Bowling  Green  Township  —  the 
largest  particles  were  the  size  of  wheat  grains. 

Regarding  gold  in  Licking  County,  Professor  Andrews  reports 
the  quantity  to  be  small,  but  quite  uniformly  distributed,  as  nearly 
every  panful  washed  showed  colors.  The  gold  comes  mainly  from 
the  clay,  sands,  and  gravels  of  small  streams  that  cut  a  range  of 
terraces  extending  along  the  Licking  River.  It  is  also  stated  that 
gold  was  found  in  quartz. 

Professor  Orton  writes  (Folio  71):  "  A  few  years  since,  the  Cler- 
mont  gold  mines  attracted  a  short-lived  notoriety  .  .  .  Clermont 
County  has  no  monopoly  of  the  gold-bearing  formations  of  Ohio  .  .  . 
This  formation  should  be  called  the  drift  gold  field  rather  than  the 
Clermont  gold  field."  2 

Gold  has  also  been  found  at  Bellville,  in  southern  Richland  County, 
while  about  1898  gold  was  discovered  at  Mai  vine,  Carroll  County, 
in  an  old  Indian  cave.  Here  the  gold  occurred  in  a  yellow  sand- 
stone.3 Nothing  more  substantial  than  excitements  have  resulted 
from  the  discovery  of  gold  in  this  state,  and  it  is  safe  to  predict  that 
future  and  past  history  will  concur  in  this  respect. 

Oklahoma.  —  What    was    formerly    the    Indian    Territory,4    but 

1  Whitney's  Metallic  Wealth  of  the  United  States,  pp.  394-396,  1854. 

2  Kept.  Geol.  Survey  of  Ohio,  Vol.  1,  Folio  462,  and  Ibid.,  1874,  Folio  70. 

3  Trans.  Lake  Superior  Inst.  Min.  Engrs.,  Vol.  5,  p.  57. 

4  Gold  in  small  quantities  has  been  found  in  the  Wichita  Mountains  situated 
in  that  part  of  the  Indian  Territory  which  was  later  known  as  Oklahoma.     Min- 
ing excitements  have  from  time  to  time  brought  numbers  of  people  to  this 
locality,  the  latest  and  probably  most  extensive  movement  having  taken  place 
during  1902  and  1903.     U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1887,  p.  730,  and  Ibid., 
Bull.  No.  225,  pp.  120-122,  1904. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD   AND  SILVER.  97 

later  (in  1907)  united  with  the  territory  of  Oklahoma  to  form  the 
state  Oklahoma,  yields  no  gold  or  silver,  no  trace  of  either  having 
been  reported  to  our  knowledge. 

Rumors  of  the  existence  of  rich  gold  and  silver  mines,  especially 
in  the  Wichita  Mountains,  have  been  circulated  for  many  years 
and  have  been  largely  responsible  for  much  prospecting  in  the 
district. 

Legends  of  Spanish  mines  and  miners  are  connected  with  this 
locality  as  with  many  others  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  are  largely 
responsible  for  the  constantly  recurring  periods  of  excitement 
which  come  to  those  resident  in  the  region,  the  subsidence  of  which 
leaves  disappointed  and  embarrassed  individuals. 

Owing  to  considerable  friction  growing  out  of  the  filing  of  mineral 
claims  on  settlers'  land,  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  under- 
took, in  1903,  to  ascertain  the  truth  regarding  the  occurrence  of 
gold  in  these  hills.  The  result  of  tests  on  samples  taken  showed 
no  trace  of  gold,  and  later  samples  of  ore,  collected  by  those  inter- 
ested in  the  so-called  Beam  process  of  gold  extraction,  were  taken 
to  Washington  and  assayed  with  similar  results.  It  is  evident 
that  if  gold  does  exist  in  the  rocks  of  the  Wichita  Mountains  it  is  in 
such  small  quantities  as  to  be  of  no  economic  importance.1 

Oregon.  —  Auriferous  gravels  were  discovered  in  this  state  shortly 
after  gold  mining  began  in  California.  Gold  was  discovered  in 
Josephine  County  in  1851,  and  placer  mining  was  actively  carried 
on  along  the  Applegate,  Illinois,  Josephine,  and  Galice  rivers.  It 
is  estimated  that  fully  $9,000,000  in  coarse  gold  were  obtained 
during  1851-55.  Much  of  the  gold  subsequently  obtained  from 
mining  operations  came  from  the  ancient  river  channels,  the  occur- 
rence being  similar  to  that  in  California.2 

The  Bohemia  mining  district  of  western  Oregon  was  discovered 
in  August,  1858,  by  Dr.  W.  W.  Oglesby  and  Frank  Brass.  The 
region  was  named  after  James  Johnson,  called  Bohemia  Johnson, 
who  with  George  Ramsey  explored  it  by  way  of  the  North  Fork 
of  the  Umpqua  River  and  Steamboat  and  City  creeks  in  1863.  The 
free-gold  was  soon  exhausted  and  in  1891  the  Musick  ledge,  the  first 
of  importance,  was  located.3 

The  discovery  of  gold  in  the  Blue  Mountain  district  did  not  occur 
until  the  fall  of  1861,  when  it  was  found  by  a  prospector  named 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  76,  p.  896,  and  Vol.  77,  p.  148. 
9  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  74,  p.  582. 
»  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20th  Kept.,  pt.  3,  p.  7,  1899. 


98  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Griffin,  who  with  others  was  prospecting  the  Powder  River  and  its 
tributaries.  The  discovery  was  made  in  Griffin  Gulch  southwest  of 
Baker  City.  The  rich  placers  of  Auburn  were  located  in  the  follow- 
ing year  by  D.  Littlefield  and  several  others,  while  prospecting  in 
the  neighborhood,  and  in  the  same  year  the  John  Day's  River  placers 
were  discovered.  Quartz  mining  followed  soon  after,  the  Virtue 
mine  being  discovered  in  1862.  Ten  years  later  the  Connor  Creek 
mine  was  located. 

Lack  of  facilities  in  transporting  supplies  and  ore  was  respon- 
sible for  the  slow  development  of  quartz  mining,  and  it  was  not  until 
about  1885  that  the  mining  industry  took  on  new  life,  owing  to  the 
construction  of  the  transcontinental  railroad.  In  1886,  several 
valuable  discoveries  were  made  in  the  Eagle  Creek  Mountains  at  a 
point  near  Cornucopia.1 

The  Annie,  now  the  Noonday,  mine  was  located  and  opened  in 
1892. 

The  gold-beach  deposits  of  Oregon  are  among  the  richest  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  the  two  most  important  locations  being  at  the  mouths 
of  the  Coquille  and  Rogue  rivers.  The  former  is  in  the  south- 
western part  of  the  state,  the  gold  occurring  with  platinum,  while 
the  latter  were  once  among  the  richest  placers  in  the  state. 

The  principal  gold  mining  sections  in  1892  were  in  the  south- 
western part  of  the  state,  Baker  and  Union  counties  being  the  most 
progressive.  At  this  time  the  Monumental,  a  silver  mine,  Baker 
County,  was  the  only  one  equipped  with  a  stamp  mill;  however, 
the  Champion  installed  a  10-stamp  mill  in  1895.  The  production 
of  both  gold  and  silver  showed  a  marked  decrease,  which  was  fol- 
lowed in  1896  by  an  increase  in  gold  production,  due  to  the  Baker 
City  mines  and  both  the  quartz  and  gravel  mines  of  the  southern 
part  of  the  state.  During  the  following  year  the  Baker  City  mines 
were  still  the  chief  producers  of  gold. 

In  1898,  the  production  of  gold  fell  off  again.  Dredging  oper- 
ations on  the  alluvial  gold  deposits  were  begun  in  1899. 

A  new  property,  the  Oregon  King,  was  opened  up  in  1901,  south 
of  the  North  Pole  and  Galconda  mines,  which  are  the  two  largest 
producers  in  the  district.  Placers  were  also  operated  in  Josephine 
County,  but  were  reported  as  exhausted  in  1902. 

Considerable  development  work  was  done  in  the  Sumpter  dis- 
trict during  1902,  which  is  one  of  the  richest  districts  in  the  state. 

In    1904,   interest   was   centered   principally   in   the   Cornucopia 
1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  22nd  Kept.,  pt.  2,  p.  563,  1901. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND    SILVER.  99 

camp  some  60  miles  east  of  Baker  City.  During  this  year  atten- 
tion was  turned  to  placer  mining  in  southern  Oregon.1 

Pennsylvania.  —  Lead-silver  mines  with  some  gold  are  worked 
in  Montgomery  and  Chester  counties. 

A  mine  in  Chester  County  was  opened  in  1850,  following  which 
a  number  of  other  mines  were  developed.2  Gold  was  found  in  the 
clay  underneath  the  city  of  Philadelphia  in  1861.  The  clay  bed 
has  an  extent  of  3  square  miles  and  averages  probably  15  feet  in 
thickness.  The  gold-content,  based  on  samples  assayed,  is  1  to 
1,224,000  by  weight.3 

Porto  Rico.  —  Evidences  of  early  or  prehistoric  mining  in  these 
islands  are  lacking,  although  the  presence  of  certain  of  the  metals 
was  known  to  Ponce  de  Leon  in  the  early  part  of  the  sixteenth 
century.  Probably  mining  by  the  Borinquenos  or  their  Spanish 
conquerors  was  done  only  in  the  most  primitive  and  desultory  way. 
As  early  as  1788,  gold  was  sent  to  Spain  and  was  probably  obtained 
from  river  washings  by  slaves.4  However,  as  early  as  1530,  follow- 
ing the  great  hurricane,  the  statement  is  made  that  the  mines  were 
all  submerged  by  the  overflow  of  the  rivers.5 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  report  on  Porto  Rico:6  "  Gold 
placers  were  worked  for  some  years  by  the  Spaniards  in  the  first 
century  of  the  conquest,  and,  according  to  official  statistics,  2,700 
pounds  of  gold  were  sent  to  Spain  from  the  year  1509  to  the  year 
1536.  It  is  believed  that  that  figure  only  represents  the  part  belong- 
ing to  the  crown  of  Spain  —  that  is  to  say,  the  fifth  of  the  total 
production  during  that  period  of  time. 

"  The  Sierra  de  Luquillo,  the  more  abrupt  and  the  highest  of  all 
the  mountains  in  Porto  Rico,  belongs  to  the  main  cordillera,  or 
chain,  which  cuts  the  island  from  east  to  west,  with  a  prolongation 
to  the  Windward  Islands,  by  the  east,  and  to  the  little  island  of 
Desecheo,  situated  opposite  to  Mayaguez  and  Anasco,  by  the  west. 
That  mountain,  or  sierra,  is  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  island, 
and  owing  to  its  situation  and  the  elevation  of  its  hills  —  the  highest 
being  El  Yunque,  1,200  meters  (3,937  feet)  above  sea  level  —  is 

1  Mineral  Industry  for  1892  to  1905. 

2  Whitney's  Metallic  Wealth  of  the  United  States,  1854,  pp.  328,  396-398, 
and  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1887,  p.  784. 

3  Sci.  American,  n.s.v.  247,  and  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  A.  G. 
Lock,  1882,  p.  181. 

4  History  of  Porto  Rico,  Fray  Ifiigo,  1788. 

8  Special  Rept.  Census  Office,  Mines  and  Quarries,  1902,  pp.  1075,  1076. 

e  Second  Ann.  Rept.  of  Governor  of  Porto  Rico  to  the  President  of  the  U.  S. 


100  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

the  first  vessels  can  distinguish  in  coming  to  Porto  Rico.  From  El 
Yunque  and  the  hills  named  Cuchilla  Firme,  Meseta,  Pena,  Parada, 
and  others,  various  rivers  flow  in  which  gold  has  been  found.  The 
Mameyes,  one  of  the  richest  in  gold,  has  as  tributaries  the  rivulets 
known  as  Filipina,  Cajones,  Guaraguao,  La  Mina,  La  Maquina, 
Tabonuco,  and  Anon.  In  this  last  named,  the  Anon,  some  thirty- 
eight  years  ago  a  rich  concern  did  some  work  in  the  washing  of 
sands  or  auriferous  alluvia,  obtaining  from  one  to  two  pounds  of 
fine  gold  per  day.  The  rocks  more  abundantly  found  in  the  water- 
shed of  Mameyes  River  are  eurite  and  porphyry,  crossed  with  veins 
of  quartz  and  iron  pyrites.  The  alluvial  lands  occupy  a  good  exten- 
sion of  the  middle  and  lower  parts  of  these  watersheds,  and  are 
composed  of  clay,  sand,  and  bowlders,  forming  deposits  of  analogous 
nature.  Their  depth  is  variable.  In  the  valley  of  the  Anon  there 
are  some  cuts,  from  six  to  eight  meters  (20  to  26  feet)  deep,  made  in 
such  alluvial  deposits  with  the  view  of  exploiting  the  auriferous 
strata. 

"It  is  known  that  the  watershed  of  the  rivers  Corozal,  Negros, 
Congos,  Cibuco,  Na villa,  and  Manati  contain  auriferous  sands.  The 
idea  which  occurs  to  one  examining  the  vicinity  of  Corozal  is  that 
that  valley  was  emptied,  through  a  process  of  erosion,  by  the  diluvial 
waters,  which  produced  in  the  calcareous  soil  cuts  more  than  130 
meters  (427  feet)  deep,  through  which  ran  a  stream.  It  is  believed 
that  the  waters  of  that  stream  deposited  the  quaternary  alluvia. 
The  calcareous  soil,  said  to  be  of  the  Tertiary  formation,  occupies  the 
right  shore  of  the  river  and  extends  itself  by  the  north  toward  the 
sea.  On  the  left  shore,  and  in  the  bed  of  the  river,  the  limestone 
has  disappeared,  giving  place  to  potent  strata  of  sandstone,  on 
which  the  auriferous  quaternary  alluvia  lay.  The  alluvial  deposits 
are  more  potent  the  lower  they  are,  and  gold  is  found  very  near  the 
surface  in  the  higher  and  hilly  parts,  while,  on  the  contrary,  in  the 
great  deposits  of  the  lower  parts  of  the  valley  the  auriferous  strata 
are  covered  by  sterile  masses.  Near  the  source  of  the  Congos  River, 
in  the  bed  of  it,  and  25  centimeters  (9.8  inches)  deep,  some  pieces 
of  quartz  have  been  found  containing  from  8  to  10  grams  (123  to 
154  grains)  of  pure  gold.  In  the  jurisdiction  of  Corozal  some  wash- 
ing machinery  was  established,  and  the  result  was  from  $2.17  to 
$4.30  for  each  ton  of  sand. 

"  There  are  also,  according  to  official  information,  some  gold 
placers  in  Mayaguez,  San  German,  Yauco,  and  Coamo.  The  gold  is 
found  in  grains  or  nuggets  of  $2  or  $3  value,  and,  rarely,  nuggets 


DISCOVERY  OF    GOLD  AND  SILVER.  101 

of  even  higher  value.  In  the  Fajardo  River  a  piece  was  found 
which  weighed  4  ounces,  and  in  the  Congos  another  piece  of  1 
pound  was  also  found;  but  the  biggest  piece  of  pure  native  gold  was 
discovered  in  the  lands  belonging  to  Mr.  Bou,  in  the  jurisdiction  of 
Corozal.  That  piece  was  sold  to  Mr.  Bou  by  the  finder  for  $200  in 
money  and  some  other  valuable  things.  In  the  bed  of  the  Filipina 
rivulet  there  were  obtained  from  60  kilograms  (132  pounds)  of  sand, 
six-tenths  of  a  gram  (9  grains)  of  pure  gold,  which  make  10  grams 
(154  grains)  for  1  ton  of  sand.  The  enterprises  mentioned  were 
abandoned,  and  the  only  work  on  the  mines  was  done  by  the  "  lava- 
dores/'  washmen.  They  use  an  instrument  called  "  gaveta,"  made 
of  wood,  shaped  like  a  plate,  of  40  centimeters  (16  inches)  in  diam- 
eter and  12  centimeters  (5  inches  deep).  In  the  watersheds  of 
Mameyes  River  and  in  all  the  rivers  crossing  the  jurisdiction  of 
Corozal,  numbers  of  peasants  can  be  seen  engaged  in  the  work 
of  washing  auriferous  sand,  from  which  they  obtain  gold  in  amounts 
sufficient  to  pay  for  their  support. 

"  Since  the  American  occupation,  work  on  the  mines  has  had 
renewed  life,  and  the  number  of  applications  for  mining  concessions 
filed  in  the  Bureau  of  Agriculture  and  Mines  has  increased.  Up  to 
July,  concessions  have  been  granted  for  107  hectares  (264  acres)  of 
land. 

"  The  existence  of  silver  in  the  island  has  been  officially  recognized. 
On  July  19,  1538,  the  '  oficiales  reales  '  wrote  to  the  King  of  Spain 
that  '  veins  of  lead  containing  some  silver  have  been  found/  and 
on  March  29,  of  the  following  year  they  wrote,  '  With  respect  to 
the  silver  mines  here  discovered  we  arranged  that  that  mineral  be 
fused  here,  but  there  is  no  person  who  knows  how  to  do  it.  In 
some  places  veins  of  that  metal  have  been  found,  but  nothing  has 
been  done,  waiting  the  arrival  of  some  one  who  knows  how  to  fuse 
and  work  it.'  In  the  '  History  of  Porto  Rica/  by  Fray  Inigo  Abad, 
with  notes  by  Don  Jose  Julian  Acosta,  the  statement  is  made  that 
in  the  Serrania  de  Afiasco  there  was  a  mine  containing  silver;  and 
in  a  report  prepared  in  1879  by  the  chief  engineer  of  the  bureau  of 
mines,  reference  is  made  to  certain  samples  of  silver  found  in  the 
barrio  Llamos,  of  the  municipality  of  Isabela.  In  other  official 
documents  the  existence  of  silver  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the 
island  is  affirmed.  Concessions  have  been  made  of  silver  mines  in 
Naguabo,  Corozal,  Rio  Grande,  Fajardo,  Lajas,  and  Las  Piedras." 

In  a  report  on  Cuba  and    Porto   Rico,  by  Robert  T.  Hill,1  the 
1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  "  Cuba  and  Porto  Rico/'  Robert  T.  Hill. 


102  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

following  brief  statement  is  made:  "  A  little  placer  gold  is  found 
in  the  rivers  of  the  Sierra  Luquillo  and  Corozal,  .  .  .  Gold  was 
formerly  mined  by  the  early  Spanish  settlers  and  is  still  taken 
out  in  small  quantities  by  the  natives." 

South  Dakota.  —  The  exact  date  of  the  beginning  of  mining  in 
the  Black  Hills  of  South  Dakota  is-  unknown,  but  from  relics  such 
as  stone  walls,  remnants  of  log  cabins,  picks  and  spades,  skeletons, 
excavations  and  inscriptions  cut  in  rocks,  it  would  seem  to  indicate 
that  this  locality  was  visited  as  early  as  1852,  or  earlier.1  However, 
gold  was  actually  known  to  exist  in  the  Black  Hills  as  early  as 
1868,  which  fact  is  mentioned  in  an  early  report  by  Hayden.  Further, 
it  is  very  probable  that  gold  was  known  to  traders  in  the  Hills, 
who  of  necessity  came  in  contact  with  the  Sioux.  The  Indians  tell 
that  Father  De  Smet,  a  Jesuit  priest  who  spent  much  time  with 
them,  cautioned  them  against  showing  gold  or  making  any  mention 
whatever  of  it  to  white  men,  which,  if  true,  showed  his  wisdom  and 
thoughtfulness  of  the  Indians'  welfare. 

In  1874,  a  half-breed  Indian  exhibited  at  an  Indian  agency  (Fort 
Larmie,  Wyoming)  a  few  grains  of  placer  gold  which  he  had  col- 
lected and  placed  in  quills.  He  stated  they  were  found  in  the 
eastern  foothills  of  the  Black  Hills.  During  the  following  year  the 
rush  to  the  Hills  began  and  was  swelled  to  still  larger  proportions 
after  the  discovery  of  Deadwood  Gulch  in  1876. 

The  first  gold  discovered  by  the  miners  was  in  Ouster  County,  on 
French  Creek,  but  the  returns  were  small  and  did  not  warrant 
extensive  working.2 

Although  the  Black  Hills  were  included  in  an  Indian  reservation 
until  1876,  yet,  notwithstanding,  large  numbers  of  men  defied  both 
law  and  Indians  and  penetrated  to  the  heart  of  the  Hills,  and  the  per- 
sistent demands  of  the  miners  were  largely  responsible  for  its  opening. 

Besides  the  placer  at  French  Creek  others  were  located  on  Spring, 
Battle,  Castle  and  Rapid  creeks.  The  Goldon  party  while  search- 
ing for  lost  or  stolen  horses  entered  what  is  now  known  as  Deadwood 
Gulch,  and  there  found  a  gold  bar,  about  one  and  one-half  miles 
above  the  present  site  of  Deadwood  City.  This  turned  out  to  be 
one  of  the  richest  strikes  yet  made. 

A  search  for  quartz  lodes  soon  followed,  and  ultimately  led  to 
the  discovery  of  gold  in  outcrops  of  the  hard*  ferruginous  conglome- 
rate. The  Manuel  brothers  were  among  the  first  to  look  for  quartz 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  36,  p.  370. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  90,  p.  391. 


DISCOVERY  OF    GOLD  AND  SILVER.  103 

deposits,  and  in  1876  located  the  Homestake  on  the  western  side  of 
Gold  Run,  on  an  outcrop  of  deep  red  quartz.1  This  was  so  low  in 
value  as  to  cause  little  comment;  to  them,  however,  it  seemed 
good  and  they  therefore  called  it  "  Homestake,"  and  it  has  proven 
to  be  an  eminently  fitting  appellation. 

Owing  to  loose  and  ill  chosen  methods  of  mining,  disastrous  caves 
occurred,  which  danger  was  reduced  to  a  certain  extent  by  the  use 
of  square-set  timbering,  and  in  1878  the  open-cut  system  was  adopted 
where  possible  in  the  Homestake  mines. 

Silver  was  found  in  Dakota  contemporaneously  with  gold,  but 
as  gold  could  be  obtained  much  more  readily  than  silver,  the  former 
was  disregarded,  except  for  the  location  of  claims.  However,  on 
the  exhaustion  of  many  of  the  gold-bearing  lodes  the  silver  mines 
began  to  be  opened  up. 

The  discovery  of  the  Ragged  Top  district  of  the  Black  Hills  was 
made  by  a  prospector,  who  discouraged,  with  much  hard,  useless 
work,  made  a  last  try  as  a  "  drowning  man  catching  at  straws,"  and 
had  samples  of  the  bowlders  assayed  and  was  astonished  to  find 
they  were  high-grade  ore.  This  was  all  the  more  surprising,  seeing 
that  the  district  had  been  both  traveled  across  and  prospected  for 
years  by  miners  without  number.2 

The  "  cement  deposits,"  which  are  undoubtedly  gold-bearing 
gravels  cemented  into  a  conglomerate;  are  located  near  Central  City, 
and  as  late  as  1880  were  worked  with  considerable  profit. 

In  1881,  gold  and  silver  mines  were  worked  on  Bald  and  Green 
mountains  about  seven  miles  distant  from  Deadwood.  The  Phila- 
delphia Bar  above  Pactola,  and  Stockade  and  Swede  bars  below, 
have  been  profitably  worked.  These  mines  are  in  Pennington 
County,  while  in  Custer  County  a  number  of  hydraulic  mines 
were  in  operation. 

During  1892,  mining  in  South  Dakota  was  very  active  and  many 
low-grade  ores  were  being  developed.  The  Big  Missouri,  the  Hawkeye 
and  Minnesota  mines  of  the  Homestake  belt  were  started.  Between 
1892-95  the  mines  lost  ground  to  a  certain  extent  from  the  stand- 
point of  production,  but  by  1896  the  production  had  increased 
considerably,  due  to  the  operation  of  both  amalgamation  and  chlori- 
nation  mills.  The  production  for  1897-98  was  augmented  by  activ- 
ities in  the  Black  Hills.  The  Holy  Terror  mine  at  Keystone  made 
a  phenomenal  yield. 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  90,  p.  391. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  29,  p.  225. 


104  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

The  year  1900  was  noted  for  the  great  activity  in  construction 
of  cyanide  plants.  The  output  during  1901-02  was  increased  owing 
to  the  operation  of  both  old  and  new  mines,  and  to  the  improved 
equipment.  Up  to  the  close  of  1905,  mining  operations  had  been 
actively  carried  on,  although  gold  mining  especially  was  confined 
largely  to  the  Black  Hills,  which  occupies  an  area  about  40  miles 
wide  by  80  long.  In  1905,  properties  were  being  developed  in  the 
southern  Hills.1 

Tennessee.  —  The  many  relics  of  mining  operations  in  the  shape 
of  tools  and  workings  on  copper,  lead  and  zinc  veins  in  the  state 
would  seem  to  indicate  that  the  Spaniards  had  once  been  actively 
engaged  in  mining  operations,  not  for  these  base  metals  but  with 
the  expectation  of  finding  gold  and  silver. 

The  first  mint-return  from  the  state  was  in  1831,  but  as  it  is  an 
exceptional  case  when  sufficient  production  is  obtained  from  metal 
mining  operations,  and  especially  precious  metal  mining,  to  have  it 
reported  in  the  mint-returns  during  the  first  years  of  such  work, 
it  is  probable  that  mining  had  been  carried  on  somewhat  earlier. 
However,  the  first  mention  made  regarding  mining  was  that  gold 
was  found  in  Coca  Creek,  Monroe  County,  as  early  as  1831. 2 

Mention  has  already  been  made  regarding  the  silver  which  the 
natives  of  Kentucky  and  eastern  Tennessee  were  known  to  collect 
and  probably  smelt  by  some  crude  process  and  which  they  tendered 
to  the  early  settlers  in  barter.3  Although  the  mines  were  never 
located,  it  is  evident  that  they  must  have  existed  or  that  the  Indians 
had  by  chance  blundered  on  to  a  cache  of  the  Spaniards. 

Gold  has  been  discovered  at  numerous  localities  along  the  belt  of 
Ocoee  slates  and  shales  and  between  the  French  Broad  River  and 
the  Georgia  line.  The  principal  localities  in  which  gold  has  been 
found  are:  Mont  vale  Springs,  Blount  County;  Citico  and  Cane 
creeks  in  Monroe  County,  etc.  The  Coca  Creek  district  has  pro- 
duced the  largest  part  of  the  gold  yet  mined  in  the  state.4 

The  following  is  extracted  from  an  article  in  the  Mining  Magazine: 

"  Independent  of  the  trace  of  silver-ore  to  be  found  on  analysis 
in  the  lead-ores  of  Tennessee,  the  late  Dr.  Troost  describes  in  his 
Fifth  Report,  for  1834,  two  specimens  of  the  sulphuret  of  silver 

1  Mineral  Industry  for  1892-1906. 

3  Sanford's  Geology  of  Tennessee,  1869,  p.  489,  and  Resources  of  Term., 
J.  B.  Killebrew,  1874,  p.  265. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  43,  p.  302. 

4  Trans.  Am.  Inst.  Min.  Engrs.,  Vol.  5,  p.  59,  1898. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  105 

found  by  him  in  the  waters  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains.  .  .  . 
We  will  give  his  own  account: 

'  I  had  the  good  fortune,  during  my  last  excursion,  to  make  a  dis- 
covery which  may,  eventually,  be  of  great  importance.  Stopping  for 
the  night  at  the  house  of  Captain  Eastland,  on  Clift  Creek,  ...  he 
handed  me  some  small  fragments  of  ore  .  .  .  next  morning  I  left  the 
place,  and,  passing  through  Sparta,  I  descended  to  the  Calf-Killer 
Creek  to  water  my  horse;  my  attention  was  then  attracted  by 
something  uncommon  among  the  gravel;  I  dismounted  and  took  up 
the  substance  which  had  drawn  my  attention.  .  .  .  When  at  home,  I 
examined  both  these  ores,  and  found  that  the  fragment  of  Captain 
Eastland,  as  well  as  that  found  by  me  on  the  Calf-Killer  Creek,  was 
sulphuret  of  silver.  ...  I  am  at  a  loss  to  make  any  conjectures  as 
to  the  locality  of  this  ore.  .  .  .  I  do  not  know  from  whence  Captain 
Eastland  obtained  his  specimen  ...  as  he  told  me  it  was  about 
fifteen  miles  from  his  residence/  "  l 

Texas.  —  The  mines  of  El  Paso  were  probably  among  the  first 
worked  in  the  state.  Their  early  history  has  already  been  given, 
and  their  rediscovery  from  the  church  records  in  1872  bring  us  up 
to  comparatively  recent  times. 

The  Presidio  mine  was  discovered  in  1880  and  opened  in  1884, 
and  has  produced  constantly  ever  since.  This  is  a  silver  mine 
located  near  Shafter  in  Presidio  county. 

The  Hazel  mine,  El  Paso  County,  had  produced  fully  $60,000  of 
ore  up  to  1901  —  it  closed  in  1902.2 

In  1892,  the  state  continued  to  be  a  small  producer  of  gold  and 
silver,  the  principal  districts  being  in  Llano,  Mason,  and  adjoining 
counties  and  in  the  Trans-Pecos. 

During  1895,  no  gold  was  produced,  but  there  was  a  gain  in  the 
production  of  silver  from  the  Presidio,  Cibolo,  and  mines  in  the 
Trans-Pecos  district. 

Some  gold  was  produced  in  1902,  but  the  largest  part  of  the  prod- 
uct was  silver,  most  of  which  came  from  the  Presidio  mine  at  Shafter. 
The  ore  produced  here  is  silver  chloride,  carrying  small  quantities 
of  gold  and  lead.3 

Gold  occurs  in  small  quantities  in  Gillespie  County,  and  veins 
carrying  traces  of  gold  are  of  common  occurrence  in  Quitman  Moun- 
tains. 

1  Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  8,  p.  238. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  74,  p.  150. 
8  Mineral  Industry  for  1892  to  1905. 


106  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  Burnetan  rock  system  of  central  Texas  also  contains  gold, 
but  the  quantity  is  small  as  reported  by  the  Geological  Survey  of 
Texas.1  Gold  has  also  been  found  in  the  gravel  hills  near  the  Rio 
Grande  between  Eagle  and  Quit  man  Mountains.2 

Utah.  —  In  October,  1862,  General  Connor's  command  of  United 
States  volunteers  from  California  arrived  in  Utah  and  established  a 
post  at  Camp  Douglas.  As  this  command  was  largely  composed  of 
California  miners  it  was  but  natural  that  they  should  be  on  the  look- 
out for  gold,  and  considerable  prospecting  resulted.  Lieutenant 
Weitz  and  others  discovered  the  outcrop  of  a  lode  in  Bingham 
Canon  in  1863;  while  in  the  following  year,  the  government  re- 
serve, Company  L,  stationed  at  Rush  Valley,  located  a  number  of 
argentiferous  galena  veins.  The  first  mining  district  was  organized 
in  1863,  and  was  named  the  "  West  Mountain  Mining  District." 
This  district  included  the  whole  of  the  Oquirrh  range  west  of  Jordan 
Valley.  In  1864,  it  was  subdivided,  the  original  name  applying  to 
that  portion  lying  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  mountains,  while  the 
western  slope  was  called  "  Rush  Valley  Mining  District."  The 
principal  discoveries  in  the  Rush  Valley  district  were  made  during 
the  years  1864,  1865,  and  1866.  The  Subjugation  was  the  first  dis- 
covery made  in  1864,  and  was  followed  by  the  Wild  Delirium,  Saint 
Louis,  Mountain  Gem,  and  others.  Other  locations  were.:  Great 
Central,  August,  1864;  Bolivia  in  1865;  the  Eureka  in  1864;  Hard 
Times  in  1864,  and  the  Lady  Douglas  in  1865.3 

Gold  veins  were  first  discovered  in  the  Bingham  district  by  a 
party  of  prospectors  who  returned  from  Montana  in  the  fall  of  1864 
to  winter  at  Salt  Lake  City.  They  were  not  worked,  however,  until 
the  spring  of  1865.  Placers  were  discovered  in  the  fall  of  1866  by 
Peter  Clays  and  G.  W.  Crowdy.4 

In  1898,  hydraulicing  operations  were  carried  on  in  the  Argonaut 
mine  situated  at  the  mouth  of  Carr  Fork,  while  the  placer  mines  of 
Bear  Gulch  at  Dixon  Bar  were  operated  in  rather  a  desultory  way  by 
the  old  gravel  miner,  Bartholomew  Gardella,  as  late  as  1902. 5 

The  mines  first  developed  in  the  Bingham  Canon  were  silver-lead 
properties,  the  most  prominent  being:  the  Winnemucca,  Tiewau- 
kie,  Telegraph,  Galena,  Nast,  Giant,  Roman  Empire,  Spanish, 

1  Geol.  Sur.  Texas,  1  Annual  Kept.,  1889,  p.  331. 

3  Trans.  Lake  Superior  Min.  Inst.,  Vol.  5,  p.  59,  1898. 

8  Silver  and  Gold,  Kept,  of  1872,  Raymond,  pp.  304,  306,  307. 

4  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Economic  Bull.  213,  p.  119. 
6  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  213,  p.  119. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  107 

Stewart  and  Jordan.  The  first  attempts  at  smelting  the  ores  were 
not  very  successful,  until  in  1871,  when  it  was  successfully  accom- 
plished by  Colonel  David  Buell  of  Nevada.1 

Work  was  begun  in  the  Silver  King  in  1865,  in  the  Defiance  in 
1870,  and  the  Legal  Tender  in  1871. 

The  principal  mines  of  the  Ophir  or  East  Canon  district  in  1871 
were:  the  Tampico,  Mountain  Lion,  Mountain  Tiger,  Petaluma, 
Zella,  Silver  Chief,  Defiance,  Virginia,  Monarch,  Blue  Wing,  and 
Silveropolis.  Five  hundred  locations  had  been  made  up  to  April, 
1871. 

In  an  interview  in  Salt  Lake  City  in  1869,  Mr.  Brigham  Young, 
president  of  the  Church  of  Latter  Day  Saints,  said:  "  What  we  used 
to  call  lead  and  dig  and  melt  into  bullets,  these  fellows  call  silver 
now.  But  if  anybody  is  fool  enough  to  come  and  mine  it,  he'  may 
do  so,  and  welcome." 2 

The  Emma  mine  situated  in  Little  Cottonwood  Canon  was  dis- 
covered by  two  prospectors,  Woodman  and  Chisholm,  in  1868.  In 
1872,  the  available  stock  of  ore  having  been  exhausted  the  mine  was 
closed,  and  was  not  reopened  until  about  1883 .3 

The  Tintic  district  is  one  of  the  oldest  mining  camps  in  the  state, 
ore  having  been  discovered  in  December,  1869,  by  a  party  of  pros- 
pectors returning  from  the  western  part  of  the  state.  The  Stock- 
ton and  Little  Cottonwood  districts  were  discovered  in  1868. 

The  first  discovery  in  the  Tintic  district  was  the  Sunbeam  on 
December  13,  1869,  following  which  was  the  Black  Dragon  on 
January  3,  1870,  and  the  Mammoth  on  February  26,  1870. 4  Since 
1872,  the  Mammoth  mine  has  been  the  chief  producer  of  the  district. 
It  yields  gold,  silver,  copper,  lead  and  bismuth. 

The  Mercur  mines  were  discovered  by  prospectors  in  1871,  in 
Lewiston  Canon,  about  seven  miles  northwest  of  Camp  Floyd. 
These  mines  were  not  worked  long  and  were  abandoned  until  in  the 
latter  eighties  when  some  work  was  done,  but  actual  development 
really  began  in  1891.  About  this  time  it  was  discovered  that  the 
values  could  readily  be  extracted  from  the  ore  by  means  of  the 
cyanide  process,  and  since  its  application  no  trouble  has  been  ex- 
perienced.5 

1  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  19,  p.  377. 

2  The  Mines  of  the  West,  Raymond,  1869,  p.  168. 
8  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  46,  p.  272. 

4  U.  S.  G.  S.,  19th  Annl.  Rept.,  pt.  3,  p.  613. 
6  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  19,  p.  81. 


108  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

I 

Probably  the  earliest  mining  done  in  the  Park  City  district  was 
in  the  Millet  mine  situated  at  the  head  of  the  American  Fork  Canon, 
also  in  the  Emma,  Flagstaff  and  several  mines  near  Alta,  at  the 
head  of  Little  Cottonwood  Canon.  Other  mines  operated  about 
this  time  were  in  districts  near  the  head  of  the  Big  Cottonwood 
Canon  and  Snake  Creek. 

The  Ontario  mine  discovered  on  June  15,  1872,  by  Rector  Steen, 
is  usually  considered  to  mark  the  beginning  of  actual  mining  oper- 
ation in  the  district.1 

The  silver-bearing  sandstones  of  Silver  Reef,  Washington  County, 
were  discovered  by  John  Barker  in  1873.  It  is  said  that  the  pres- 
ence of  silver  in  the  rocks  was  accidentally  discovered  by  the  heat 
from  a  camp  fire  melting  the  silver  so  that  it  showed  on  the  surface. 
During  the  following  year  there  was  a  rush  to  the  district,  especially 
from  Nevada,  Utah  and  Montana.2 

The  State  Line  district  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  state,  Iron 
County,  was  located  in  1886.  The  ores  are  free-milling  gold  and 
silver. 

The  Chloride  Point  mine  was  worked  prior  to  1873,  and  was  still 
producing  considerable,  smelting  one  as  late  as  1897. 

Little  placer  mining  has  been  done  outside  of  the  Bingham  dis- 
trict, which  is  the  locality  where  placers  were  first  found,  and  con- 
siderable work  was  done  in  1871. 

On  April  30,  1879,  a  German  named  Arie  Pinedo  located  the 
Mercur  lode  in  the  Camp  Floyd  district,  and  believing  that  he  had 
discovered  a  mercury  mine  so  named  it  the  Mercur.  Cinnabar 
was  found  but  not  in  paying  quantities,  and  the  claim  was 
abandoned.  It  was  again  located  in  1883,  and  six  years  later 
Captain  Joseph  Smith  erected  a  mill  at  Marion  for  the  treatment 
of  the  ores.3 

In  1882,  the  principal  mines  operating  in  Washington  County 
were:  the  Silver  Point,  Silver  Crown,  Hillside,  Great  Western  and 
Northern  Light.  In  Beaver  County  the  Horn  Silver,  Carbonate  and 
Cave  were  worked.  Some  of  the  shipping  mines  of  Salt  Lake  County 
were:  Old  Telegraph,  Spanish,  Yosemite,  Neptune,  Lead,  Alladdin, 
Live  Yankee,  Giant  Chief,  Tiewaukie,  etc.  The  mines  of  Toole 
County  were  the  Great  Basin,  Leonore,  Quandary,  National,  Silver 
King  No.  2  and  the  Maybell. 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  213,  p.  34. 

8  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  20,  p.  323. 

8  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  63,  p.  403. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  109 

The  Daly  West  and  Ontario  mines  were  the  first  mines  of  import- 
ance in  the  Park  City  district.  The  latter  was  closed  in  1897. 

During  1892,  five  counties  contributed  the  bulk  of  the  ore,  viz.:  the 
Summit,  Juab,  Salt  Lake  and  Beaver.  The  Ontario  and  Daly  West 
were  the  most  important  mines  of  the  Territory,  while  the  silver 
producers  were  the  Anchor,  Crescent,  Woodside,  Mayflower  and 
Silver  King.  The  Big  and  Little  Cottonwood  districts,  Salt  Lake 
County,  were  large  producers  and  contain  such  mines  as  the  Emma, 
Flagstaff,  Maxfield,  and  Vallejo,  all  of  which  are  famous.  The  gold 
placers  of  Bingham  Canon  were  still  worked.  Juab  County  ranked 
first  as  a  gold  producer,  and  second  in  silver  production;  the  prin- 
cipal mines  being  the  Eureka  Hill,  Bullion-Beck  and  Champion, 
Mammoth,  Centennial-Eureka,  Caroline  and  Gemini.  The  Horn 
Silver  mine  was  the  only  mine  of  importance  in  Beaver  County. 

In  1895,  the  Ontario  and  Daly  West  were  still  prosperous.  Dur- 
ing this  and  the  following  year  there  was  considerable  activity  in 
gold  mining  in  the  states,  especially  in  the  Camp  Floyd  district. 
Nevertheless  there  was  a  decrease  in  the  gold  production  for  the 
following  year,  1897,  which  was  caused  by  the  fall  in  value  of  silver, 
increased  smelter  and  railroad  rates  and  higher  price  for  powder. 

During  1898,  the  Camp  Floyd  or  Mercur  district  continued  to  be 
the  chief  producer.  The  gold  production  steadily  increased  to 
1902,  although  no  new  camps  were  opened  up.  The  Annie  Laurie 
mine,  Pinto  County,  has  proven  to  be  a  good  producer  of  both  gold 
and  silver. 

A  number  of  gold-bearing  veins  were  discovered  in  Box  Elder 
County,  the  northeastern  part,  or  Park  Valley,  in  1900-01. 

In  1903,  there  seemed  to  be  a  falling  off  in  the  Mercur  camp.  The 
Eureka,  Robinson,  Mammoth,  Silver  City  and  Knightsville  mines 
had  come  to  the  front  again. 

In  1904,  there  was  a  marked  increase  in  gold  and  silver  production, 
which  was  mainly  contributed  by  the  Bingham  district.  The  gold 
districts  of  the  southern  part  of  the  state  felt  the  stimulus  of  in- 
creased railroad  facilities,  connection  being  made  with  the  Pacific 
coast. 

During  1905,  a  large  part  of  the  gold  came  from  the  smelting  of 
copper.1 

Vermont.  —  It  is  not  stated  definitely  in  the  published  records, 
exactly  when  gold  was  first  discovered  in  the  state,  but  it  was  prob- 
ably much  earlier  than  the  beginning  of  mining  operations. 
1  Mineral  Industry  for  1892  to  1905. 


110  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

According  to  Rev.  Z.  Thompson1  a  gold  nugget  weighing  8£  ounces 
was  found  in  Newfane  in  1826;  it  was  mostly  gold  with  a  small  piece 
of  quartz  attached. 

Two  gold  nuggets  were  found  at  Plymouth  in  1855-1861,  worth 
$9  and  $14  each.2 

Work  was  done  on  the  Taggart  vein  in  1859,  which  is  situated  on 
the  old  Thompson  farm,  about  a  mile  west  of  Bridgwater  Center. 
Gold  was  discovered  in  the  town  of  Bridge  water  about  1853  or 
1854,  and  within  the  next  ten  years  two  quartz  mills  had  been  built 
to  treat  the  ores.  Silver  also  occurs  with  the  gold.  "  At  Ply- 
mouth Five  Corners  a  mill  pond  .was  once  drained  and  worked  for 
placer  gold.  Sluice  boxes  and  rockers  were  used,  and  the  result  is 
variously  reported  at  from  $9,000  to  $13,000."  3 

There  is  a  belt  from  ten  to  twenty  miles  wide,  mostly  on  the  east- 
ern side  of  the  Green  Mountains,  which  is  known  to  contain  gold,  in 
which  area  there  has  been  found  many  traces  of  float  gold.  The 
Ammonoosuc  gold  field  along  the  Connecticut  River,  and  lying 
mostly  in  New  Hampshire,  also  extends  into  Vermont,  and  may  be 
connected  with  the  Chaudiere  region  of  Quebec.4 

The  Virginias.  —  As  Virginia  was  one  of  the  earliest  states  settled, 
it  is  but  natural  to  expect  some  mention  of  the  discovery  of  gold  or 
some  knowledge  of  its  presence  and  use  among  the  Indians,  provided 
it  was  to  be  found  in  the  country.  Tales  of  the  wealth  of  the  New 
World  in  gold  and  silver  had  undoubtedly  reached  England  from 
Spain,  and  without  doubt  the  early  emigrants  fully  expected  to  find 
the  precious  metals  in  abundance.  In  fact,  the  great  charter  granted 
by  King  James  in  1606  to  the  London  and  Plymouth  Companies 
giving  them  the  right  to  explore  and  settle  the  North  American 
continent,  provided  that  one-fifth  of  the  gold  and  silver  and  one- 
fifteenth  of  the  copper  discovered  should  go  to  the  crown. 

An  expedition  under  Captain  John  Smith  sought  to  establish  con- 
nection with  the  Pacific  Ocean  by  way  of  the  Chickahominy  River. 
Some  time  later,  a  mining  excitement,  probably  the  first  in  the  United 
States,  occurred,  which  was  caused  by  the  discovery  of  what  was 
supposed  to  be  gold.  A  large  quantity  was  sent  to  London  where 
it  was  found  to  be  only  iron-pyrites;  yet,  strange  enough,  gold  act- 

1  Appendix  to  Thompson's  Vermont,  p.  48. 

2  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No.  225,  p.  85. 

3  Kept.  Vermont  State  Geologist,  G.  H.  Perkins,  1903-04;  pp.  56-57;  U.  S. 
G.  S.,  Bull.  225,  1903,  G.  O.  Smith,  pp.  85-88. 

4  U.  S.  G.  S.,  16  Kept.,  pt.  3,  p.  329,  1894-95. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  Ill 

ually  does  exist  in  the  locality  whence  this  material  was  taken,  and 
it  is  not  surprising  that  there  should  have  been  some  confusion  in  the 
minds  of  the  people  regarding  the  identity  of  the  two  substances.1 

Gold  is  said  to  have  been  first  discovered  in  the  state  by  the 
English  as  early  as  1799.2  Jefferson  mentions  the  discovery  of  a 
nugget  of  gold  below  the  falls  of  the  Rappahannock  River  in  1782, 
but  there  were  no  mint-returns  until  1829. 

The  Tellurium  and  Vaucluse  mines  were  discovered  in  1832, 
which  probably  marks  the  beginning  of  vein  mining  in  the  state.3 
An  attempt  was  made  to  smelt  the  ores  of  the  Vaucluse  mine  in 
1847,  but  without  success. 

A  gold-quartz  vein  was  discovered  in  Louisa  County  in  1845  by 
George  Fisher,  and  was  developed  by  him. 

Gold  and  silver  were  reported  as  occurring  in  the  shales  of  the 
coal  measures  of  the  Panhandle,  West  Virginia,  in  the  early  50's, 
but  no  extensive  mining  has  been  done. 

No  mention  is  made  regarding  the  mining  operations  in  Virginia 
in  the  report  of  the  director  of  the  Mint  for  1881;  we  must,  there- 
fore, conclude  that  the  amount  of  work  done  was  comparatively 
insignificant.  Further,  the  Mineral  Industry  for  1895  says:  "  In 
Virginia  the  production  of  gold  was  trifling  in  amount,  and  very 
little  legitimate  work  was  done."  Other  references  to  later  develop- 
ments are  fully  as  meager. 

Washington.  —  The  Peshastin  Creek  placers  were  discovered  in 
1860,  and  have  been  worked  very  irregularly.  The  Swauk  placers, 
located  in  1868,  have  been  much  more  successfully  operated.  Gold- 
bearing  veins  were  discovered  in  the  Peshastin  district  in  1873,  in 
the  Swauk  in  1881. 4 

The  first  discovery  in  the  Peshastin  district  was  by  Culver  and 
Saunders,  and  was  called  the  Culver  vein.  In  1879,  J.  Black  dis- 
covered a  pocket  from  which  was  taken  $60,000. 

The  Republic  mine  was  located  and  staked  on  March  5,  1896,  by 
Ryan  and  Creasor,  prospectors  from  the  Coeur  d'Alene  district. 
Fifteen  days  later  the  Mountain  Lion  mine  was  discovered  by 
Arthur  Best,  while  on  September  7,  the  Fraction,  Flat  Iron  and 
Last  Chance  were  located  by  George  Rennels  and  J.  Bell.5  In  1900 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  5,  p.  166. 

Am.  Jour.  Min.,  Vol.  1,  p.  313. 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  682,  1895. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  213,  p.  76. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  68,  p.  635,  and  Vol.  69,  p.  285. 


112  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

the  Mountain  Lion  mine  ranked  next  to  the  Republic  as  one  of  the 
great  mines  of  the  Eureka  district  and  consists  of  six  claims,  of 
which  three  are  given  above,  the  others  being  the  Mountain  Lion 
Fraction,  Navahoe  and  Zeta. 

In  1881,  the  mining  operations  were  practically  confined  to  Yokima, 
Peshastin  district,  and  Spokane  counties  and  to  the  Snake  River  in 
Columbia,  Garfield  and  Whitman  counties.  In  Stevens  County  are  the 
Mount  Chopaco  mines,  often  known  as  the  "Smilkameen."  The  min- 
ing operations  were  confined  to  eight  counties  including  the  above. 

The  Lone  Pine  and  Last  Chance  were  among  the  first  recorded 
locations  in  the  Mercur  district,  being  staked 'on  February  28  and 
29,  1896.  The  Pearl  claim  was  located  on  March  5,  the  Surprise  on 
July  18. 

The  largest  producers  of  silver  in  1898  were  in  Stevens  County. 
The  first  discovery  in  the  Embry  camp  occurred  in  1883,  about  two 
miles  east  of  Chewelah,  the  most  noted  mine  being  the  Eagle,  which 
consists  of  six  claims.  Other  important  mines  in  this  locality  are 
the  Alice,  Copper  King,  Jay  Gould  and  Golden  Crown.  These 
mines  produce  gold,  silver, -lead  and  copper.  The  north  half  of  the 
Colville  Indian  reservation  was  open  to  mineral  entries  in  February, 
1897,  and  since  then  much  development  work  has  been  done.  North 
of  Colville  is  the  Old  Dominion  mine.  Near  Marcus  is  the  Old  Gold 
Hill  property,  which  was  successfully  worked  in  1898.  Other  noted 
mines  near  Northport  are  the  Clara  and  Lakeview  on  Red  Top 
Mountain.1 

In  1892,  three  small  hydraulicing  operations  were  underway  in 
Kittitas  County,  the  best  claims  being  the  Black,  Bigny  and  Delig. 

During  1895,  there  was  a  decrease  in  gold  production  in  the  state. 
In  1899,  the  mines  of  the  Republic  district  were  actively  developed, 
but  owing  to  the  closing  down  of  the  Republic  mine  the  output  was 
still  low.  During  1902,  practically  all  of  the  Republic  mines  were 
operating,  while  in  1904  both  the  gold  and  silver  production  had 
increased. 

The  Sherman  District  some  ten  miles  northwest  of  the  Republic 
was  again  attracting  attention  in  1904. 

The  mining  industry  of  Washington  needs  capital  to  develop  the 
different  districts  which  are  widely  scattered;  further,  the  season  is 
short  and  therefore  restricts  operations  to  a  shorter  period  of  yearly 
activity  than  is  enjoyed  by  the  districts  further  south.2 

1  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  18,  p.  313. 
3  Mineral  Industry  for  1892  to  1905. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  113 

Wisconsin.  —  The  Keweenawan  system  of  rocks  that  are  silver- 
bearing  in  Michigan,  near  Ontonagon,  also  occurs  in  Wisconsin,  and 
according  to  R.  D.  Irving  traces  of  silver  have  been  found  along  the 
Montreal  River.  When  silver  was  first  reported  from  this  locality 
is  unknown.  Regarding  the  occurrence  of  silver  in  this  locality  the 
state  geologist  of  Wisconsin  says:  "The  unfavorable  experience 
of  the  operations  in  Michigan,  however,  leaves  little  ground  for  ex- 
pecting rich  deposits  in  that  horizon,  though  nothing  is  known  to 
forbid  it."  He  further  says:  "  While  silver  has  very  frequently 
been  unauthoritatively  reported  from  various  parts  of  the  state, 
and  undoubtedly  occurs  not  infrequently  in  minute  quantities, 
nothing  is  known  that  gives  substantial  grounds  for  expecting  any 
valuable  discoveries.  Experience  and  observation  give  an  adverse 
probability.1 

According  to  the  same  authority  although  gold  might  be  ex- 
pected to  occur  in  the  crystalline  rocks  of  northern  Wisconsin,  yet 
in  one  instance  only  was  it  and  silver  found  in  quartz  associated  with 
pyrite  and  arsenopyrite,  in  northern  Clark  County.2 

Gold  has  been  found  in  ledges  of  diabase  in  Douglas  County.  The 
Chippawa  mine  further  up  the  range  gives  a  yield  of  from  $2  to  $11 
per  ton  in  gold. 

The  discovery  of  gold  in  the  iron  ores  of  the  Emmet  mine  in  1879 
created  quite  an  excitement,  which  was,  however,  rather  short 
lived.3 

In  1902,  gold  was  found  in  glacial  drift  at  St.  Croix  Falls,  at  the 
head  of  St.  Croix  River.  Very  little  gold  has  been  obtained  although 
worked  from  time  to  time.4 

Wyoming.  —  With  the  main  range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  ex- 
tending across  the  territory  from  southeast  to  northwest,  together 
with  the  Big  Horn,  Wind  River  and  Medicine  Bow  mountains  and 
Black  Hills  lying  partly  within  the  state,  Wyoming  would  seem  to 
be  an  ideal  country  for  prospecting.  However,  the  powerful  and 
warlike  Indian  tribes  inhabiting  the  regions  where  the  prospectors 
would  naturally  go  in  search  of  mineral  deposits  were  an  effectual 
set-back  to  all  such  work.  Following  the  subjection  of  the  Indians 

1  Geology  of  Wisconsin,  Vol.  1,  p.  661,  1873-1879;  Ibid.,  Vol.  2,  p.  27;  Ibid., 
Vol.  3,  pp.  201,  206,  358  and  669;  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  4,  pp.  382-383. 

. 2  Trans.  Wisconsin,  Academy  Sci.  Arts  and  Letters,  Vol.  1,  and  Geol.  of  Wis., 
Vol.  1,  pp.  310  and  661,  1873-1879. 

3  Geology  of  Wisconsin,  Vol.  3,  p.  669. 

4  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  74,  p.  248. 


114  GOLD   AND  SILVER. 

the  country  became  a  great  grazing  range,  and  for  a  time  the  preva- 
lent opinion  was  that  the  territory  was  preeminently  a  stock  coun- 
try. Lack  of  railroad  facilities  also  retarded  the  growth  of  the 
mining  industry. 

Ex-Governor  J.  W.  Hoyt,  formerly  state  geologist  of  Wisconsin, 
says  in  his  last  message:  "  I  know  of  no  region  in  the  United  States 
in  which  gold  appears  so  widely  distributed  as  in  Wyoming,  and  I 
cannot  doubt  that  eventually  numerous  mines  of  much  value  will  be 
worked,  thus  placing  this  great  territory,  so  rich  in  other  resources, 
among  the  most  important  of  the  gold  sections.  We  have  many 
mines  that  already  yield  handsome  returns  whenever  the  requisite 
combination  of  energy  and  skill  with  sufficient  capital  can  be  brought 
about."  1 

Probably  the  first  discovery  of  gold  was  made  in  Wyoming,  in 
1867,  in  which  year  the  placers  of  the  Sweetwater  River  were 
located.  That  such  discovery  had  not  been  made  prior  to  this  date 
is  rather  surprising,  as  the  territory  had  been  traversed  ever  since 
the  discovery  of  gold  in  California  by  parties  of  prospectors,  and  by 
Mormons  on  their  way  to  Utah  —  the  Laramie  trail  being  one  of  the 
principal  highways.2 

It  appears  that  silver  mines  were  discovered  in  the  Seminole 
Mountains  as  early  as  1869  by  three  prospectors  who  were  subse- 
quently killed  by  Indians.  Although  the  discoveries  then  made 
were  not  located,  gold-bearing  veins  were  found  instead. 

"  Gold  has  been  found  in  nearly  every  gulch  in  this  district,  and 
some  have  proved  almost  as  rich  as  the  famous  Dutch  Flat  diggings 
in  California,  though  of  far  less  extent,  the  ravines  being  narrow. 
But  their  large  yield  is  the  best  evidence  of  the  number  of  rich  lodes 
in  this  district."  3 

The  Bald  Mountain  district  began  its  existence  as  a  placer  camp, 
following  which  a  large  deposit  of  gold-bearing  conglomerate  was 
located  and  developed. 

In  October,  1898,  the  discovery  of  the  Rudefeha  or  Haggerty- 
Ferris  mine  was  made  near  Battle  Lake  in  the  Grand  Encampment 
district.  The  mines  of  both  the  Grand  Encampment  and  the  Sari- 
toga  districts  yield  copper,  lead,  silver  and  gold.  During  this  year 
numerous  discoveries  of  minor  importance  were  made;  further, 

1  Rept.  Director  of  Mint,  1883,  pp.  594-595. 

2  King's  Handbook  of  the  United  States,  pp.  906  and  907,  also  Special  Report 
Census  Bureau,  Mines  and  Quarries,  1902,  pp.  346,  347. 

3  Rept.  Director  of  Mint,  1883,  pp.  371-375. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER  115 

there  was  an  attempt  made  at  working  some  dry  placers  by  steam 
shovel. 

Conditions  remained  about  the  same  up  to  1902,  although  the 
Carissa  had  forged  to  the  front  as  the  largest  producer.  There  was 
also  considerable  activity  in  the  Sweetwater  district,  which  in  1902 
led  in  the  production  of  gold  and  silver.  At  this  time  there  was 
marked  advance  noticeable  in  all  mining  operations,  and  the  mining 
industry  seemed  to  be  on  a  better  footing  than  ever  before.1 

CHRONOLOGY  OF   GOLD   AND   SILVER  MINING   IN  THE 
UNITED   STATES. 

The  following  brief  statements  regarding  the  discovery  of  mines 
and  mineral  properties  and  the  events  which  have  been  influential 
in  the  development  of  mining  districts  and  the  mining  industry  as  a 
whole,  are  given  in  order  to  epitomize  the  history  of  precious  metal 
mining,  and  summarize  the  more  detailed  account  previously  given. 

1513. 

A  cacique  of  gold  was  reported  to  Ponce  de  Leon  while  lying  off 
the  coast  of  Florida. 

1516. 

Diego  Miruelo  reported  that  he  had  obtained  gold  from  the  natives  of 
the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States. 

1619. 

Pineda  while  sailing  along  the  coast  of  Florida  and  Texas  is  re- 
ported to  have  observed  gold  in  the  rivers,  and  its  use  as  ornaments 
by  the  natives. 

1521. 

The  mines  of  Mexico  were  actively  worked  by  the  Spaniards  dur- 
ing 1521-1810.  i/ 

1527. 

The  first  definite  information  regarding  the  occurrence  of  gold 
was  made  by  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez  who  landed  at  Tampa  Bay 
Florida. 

1538. 

The  Spaniards  while  exploring  the  valley  of  the  Rio  Grande  dis- 
covered a  Tegu  Pueblo  village  and  mines  worked  by  the  natives, 
whom  they  forced  to  work  for  their  own  benefit.  In  1680  the 

1  Mineral  Industry  for  1892  to  1905. 


116  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Indians  revolted  and  drove  out  the  Spaniards.     The  village  was 
recaptured  in  1692. 

1539. 

Conor  ado  discovered  the  dry  placers  of  northern  Sonora,  Mexico. 
De  Sota  explored  the  Southern  states  for  gold  and  silver,  and  prob- 
ably did  some  mining. 

1564.  Y 

Lemoyne,  historian  for  Landonniere,  describes  a  method  of  wash- 
ing gold  sands,  employed  by  the  Indians,  in  hollow  reeds.  He  also 
reported  gold  as  being  found  in  the  Appalachian  Mountains. 

1579. 

Sir  Francis  Drake  touched  the  coast  of  California,  and  reported  gold 
as  occurring  in  abundance. 

1610. 

After  the  conquest  of  Mexico  by  the  Spaniards  they  made  some 
twenty  expeditions  in  the  country,  which  is  now  Arizona,  New 
Mexico  and  California,  in  search  for  gold,  but  with  no  definite  results. 

1650. 

A  grant  to  work  silver-lead  mines  at  Middletown,  Connecticut, 
was  given  to  Governor  John  Winthrop.  Governor  Winthrop  of 
Connecticut  became  interested  in  the  silver-lead  deposits  of  Haddam 
and  Middletown,  but  no  active  mining  was  done. 

1660. 

A  charter  was  granted  to  the  London  and  Plymouth  Companies 
of  Virginia  by  King  James,  giving  them  the  right  to  explore  and 
settle  the  North  American  continent,  provided  that  one-fifth  of  the 
gold  and  silver  and  one-fifteenth  of  the  copper  discovered  should  go 
to  the  crown. 

The  discovery  of  gold  on  the  Chickahoming  River,  Virginia,  by  an 
expedition  under  Captain  John  Smith,  occurred  subsequent  to  1660, 
exact  date  not  available,  and  considerable  excitement  followed,  this 
was  probably  the  first  gold  excitement  recorded  in  the  States. 

1680. 

The  monks  of  the  order  of  St.  Francis  discovered  and  worked  the 
silver  mines  of  El  Paso,  Texas.  These  mines  were  closed  and  hidden 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  117 

by  them,   remaining   unknown   until   1793,   and   were   reopened   in 
1872. 

1701. 

Father  Kino,  a  Jesuit  priest,  reported  the  presence  of  gold  and 
silver  among  the  Yuma  Indians  on  the  Colorado  River  above  the 
mouth  of  the  Gila  in  Arizona. 

1736. 

During  1736  to  1741  there  was  a  silver  excitement  at  San  Xavier  del 
Bac,  near  the  Arizona  line. 

1740. 

Lead  mines  were  prospected  in  New  York,  southeast  of  Pine 
Plains,  Dutchess  County. 

1769. 

The  silver  mines  of  Santa  Rita,  New  Mexico,  were  made  known 
to  the  white  men  by  a  Yaqui  Indian.  After  much  trouble  with  the 
Indians  the  mines  were  closed  until  1880. 

A  company  of  Cornish  miners  were  landed  at  Ontonagon  River, 
Michigan,  to  mine  silver.  The  project  was  abandoned  in  1770. 

1770. 

The  Santa  Rita  gold  district,  New  Mexico,  was  flourishing,  and 
was  known  to  the  American  prospectors  as  the  "  Pot  Holes." 

1775. 

The  placers  of  southeastern  California  were  discovered  by  Mexi- 
cans. 

1776. 

The  Mission  of  San  Francisco  was  founded  on  October  9. 

1782. 

Jefferson  mentions  the  discovery  of  a  gold  nugget  below  the  falls 
of  the  Rappahannock  River  in  Viriginia. 

1786. 

La  Prouse  undertook,  for  the  French  Government,  to  find  a 
northeast  passage  to  the  Hudson  Bay  from  the  west  coast  of 
America,  but  got  no  further  than  Litua  Bay.  A  similar  attempt 
was  made  by  Kotzebue  in  1816. 


118  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

1792. 

The  legal  ratio  between  gold  and  silver,  in  the  United  States,  was 
made  15  to  1  by  act  of  Congress,  a  mint  being  created. 

The  famous  bonanza  at  Sombrerete,  Zacatecas,  Mexico,  was  dis- 
covered. 

1798. 

The  great  silver  bonanza  at  Ramos,  Mexico,  was  discovered. 

1799. 

The  Reed  nugget  was  discovered  which  led  to  the  location  of  the 
Reed  mine,  in  North  Carolina,  in  1813. 

Gold  is  said  to  have  been  first  discovered  by  the  English  in  Vir- 
ginia. 

1802. 

A  silver  vein  was  discovered  at  Olozal  in  the  district  of  Mon- 
terey, California. 

1812. 

Gold  placers  were  discovered  near  the  Spanish  mission  of  San 
Fernando  in  Los  Angeles  County,  California. 

1826. 

Gold  ores  were  reduced  by  hand  mortars  in  the  Southern  Appal- 
achian states.  Vein-mining  probably  first  began  in  Montgomery 
County,  North  Carolina. 

The  San  Isidro  placers  were  discovered  in  San  Diego  County, 
California. 

1826. 

A  gold  nugget  weighing  eight  and  one-half  ounces  was  found  in 
New  Fane,  Vermont. 

1828. 

The  Eaton  lode,  yielding  lead-silver  ore,  was  discovered  in  New 
Hampshire. 

1829. 

Gold  was  discovered  in  Georgia  following  which  was  an  excite- 
ment, probably  the  second  of  the  kind  occurring  in  the  United 
States. 

The  first  period  of  activity  in  placer  mining,  in  the  Southern 
Appalachian  states,  began,  and  ended  in  1836. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  119 

1830. 

Gold  was  discovered  in  Alabama,  and  considerable  mining  was 
done  up  to  1850. 

1831. 

Gold  was  found  and  worked  on  Coca  Creek,  Tennessee.  The  first 
mint-returns  were  reported. 

1832. 

The  argentiferous  lead  mines  of  Lubec,  Maine,  were  discovered. 
Assays  on  the  ore  from  Mount  Glines,  Maine,  showed  values 
in  gold. 

The  Tellurium  and  Vaucluse  mines  were  discovered  in  Virginia 
and  their  development  marked  the  beginning  of  vein-mining  in  the 
state. 

1833. 

The  Bechtler  gold  coins  were  made  slightly  over  weight  to  ensure 
their  reception  in  competition  with  the  Mexican  silver  coins  in  North 
Carolina. 

Gold  placers  were  worked  in  the  valley  of  the  Santa  Clara  River, 
California. 

1834. 

Dease  Lake  was  discovered  by  J.  McLeod  while  seeking  a  passage 
to  the  Pacific  coast  through  some  westward  flowing  stream  in  the 
Northwestern  territory. 

Several  specimens  of  silver  sulphide  were  found  in  the  Cumber- 
land Mountains,  Tennessee.  The  legal  ratio  between  silver  and 
gold  was  made  16  to  1  in  the  United  States.  Vein-mining  began  at 
the  Reynolds  vein,  Georgia. 

1835. 

Stamp  mills  (called  vertical  mills)  were  in  use  in  mills  of  the 
Southern  states,  that  at  the  Tellurium  mine,  Virginia,  is  claimed  to 
have  been  the  first  used  in  the  United  States.  Rolls  were  also 
used  together  with  the  Tyrolese  amalgamating  bowls. 

1836. 

The  Washington  mine,  later  known  as  Silver  Hill,  Davidson 
County,  North  Carolina,  is  claimed  to  be  the  first  silver  mine 
worked  in  the  United  States,  was  worked  till  1852,  was  reopened 
in  1855. 


120  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

1837. 

Gold  was  discovered  in  Morgan  County,  Indiana,  also  in  Franklin 
County,  on  Sein  Creek  in  1869,  and  at  Mooresville  in  1873. 

1838. 

The  placers  of  San  Franciscoquito,  California,  were  discovered. 
Robert  Campbell  established  a  fort  on  Dease  Lake,  British  Co- 
lumbia. 

1839. 

The  second  period  of  activity  in  mining  in  the  Southern  Appal- 
achian states  began  and  ended  in  1849,  and  was  brought  about  largely 
by  vein-mining. 

1840. 

Robert  Campbell  while  exploring  the  Colville  River,  British 
Columbia,  discovered  Frances  Lake. 

First  mint-returns  reported  from  Alabama. 

The  Portis  mine  was  discovered  in  North  Carolina. 

1841. 

Placers  were  discovered  in  the  San  Feliciana  canyon,  some  45 
miles  northwest  of  Los  Angeles,  although  other  authorities  give  the 
date  of  discovery  as  1838. 

1842. 
Pelly  Banks  post  was  established  in  British  Columbia. 

1845. 

A  Chippeway  Indian  reported  finding  native  silver  on  the  Onto- 
nagon  River,  Michigan. 

The  Mexicans  began  to  recognize  the  mineral  wealth  of  Cali- 
fornia, as  is  shown  by  letters  to  the  President  from  that  province. 

Senior  Castillo  of  New  California  presented  to  the  School  of  Mines 
of  Mexico,  specimens  of  gold,  silver,  lead,  etc.,  and  tried  to  induce 
his  government  to  protect  its  interests. 

The  Cliff  mine  of  Michigan  was  discovered.  This  mine  produced 
native  copper  and  silver. 

A  gold-quartz  vein  was  discovered  in  Louisa  County,  Virginia. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  121 

1846. 

T.  O.  Larkin,  United  States  Consul  at  Monterey,  wrote  to  James 
Buchanan,  Secretary  of  State,  regarding  the  mineral  wealth  of  Cali- 
fornia, and  inferred  that  it  would  be  better  under  the  American  flag. 

Mr.  Forrest  Sheppard  led  a  prospecting  party  along  the  north 
shore  of  Lake  Superior,  and  made  a  number  of  locations  on  silver 
veins.  The  silver  Islet  mine  was  included  in  one  of  the  locations, 
but  no  silver  was  at  that  time  known  to  exist  there.  The  Prince's 
location  in  Thunder  Bay  was  probably  the  first  to  be  developed,  but 
was  abandoned  in  1850. 

1847. 

Concentration  of  sulphurets  was  effected  at  the  Vaucluse  mine, 
Virginia,  by  means  of  tables  and  strakes.  Raw  amalgamation  was 
also  practiced  here,  and  was  probably  the  first  application  of  the 
process  in  this  country.  Pyritic  smelting  was  also  tried  at  the  Vau- 
cluse mine  by  Commodore  Stockton,  but  was  abandoned. 

Robert  Campbell  founded  Fort  Selkirk,  British  Columbia. 

1848. 

Gold  was  discovered  at  Coloma,  on  the  Sacramento  River,  Cali- 
fornia, by  J.  W.  Marshall,  on  the  19th  of  January.  Later  a  soldier 
of  Stevenson's  regiment  found  a  nugget  in  the  Mokelumne  River, 
which  resulted  in  a  fresh  excitement.  This  nugget  was  sent  east  in. 
care  of  General  Beale,  and  when  shown  in  New  York  City  created 
great  excitement,  and  the  rush  to  the  gold  fields  of  California  began. 

John  Bidwell  discovered  gold  on  the  Feather  River,  Butte  County, 
California,  in  March,  and  two  weeks  later  on  Butte  Creek,  and  located 
Bidwell's  bar  near  Oroville  on  the  4th  of  July.  The  North  Fork  Dry 
diggings  were  discovered  on  May  16.  The  long-torn  was  introduced 
into  California  from  Georgia. 

The  argentiferous  galena  deposits  of  Iron  River,  Michigan,  were 
discovered. 

Mr.  William  Tingle  began  mining  lead-ore  some  two  miles  east 
of  Joplin,  Mo. 

.849. 

Silver  was  found  on  Furniss  Creek,  near  Poison  Springs,  Cali- 
fornia. 

Grass  Valley,  California,  was  discovered  by  emigrants  to  Cali- 
fornia. 


122  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  California  gold  excitement  was  responsible  for  the  decline  of 
gold  mining  in  the  south. 

Gold  was  found  on  Cherry  Creek,  Colorado,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Platte,  by  a  party  of  Georgians  bound  for  California.  The  same 
party  discovered  the  placers  of  Gold  Run  and  Russel  Gulch  in  1858. 

Gold-bearing  quartz  veins  were  discovered  in  Montgomery  County, 
Maryland. 

Gold  was  discovered  in  Gold  Canon,  Nevada,  which  led  to  the  dis- 
covery of  the  Comstock  lode. 

1850. 

Quartz-mining  began  in  California. 

Lead-silver  mines  were  operated  in  Chester  and  Montgomery 
counties,  Pennsylvania,  but  were  not  of  much  importance. 

Mining  began  near  Granby,  Newton  County,  Missouri.  There 
was  a  considerable  output  of  lead  from  the  mines  in  1857. 

The  first  ditch  was  constructed  for  carrying  water  for  hydraulic- 
mining  in  California,  and  in  1860  there  were  6,000  miles  of  canals  in 
the  state. 

River-mining  was  most  actively  carried  on  in  California  during 
1850-56. 

Machine  drills  were  first  used  in  the  mines  of  the  United  States. 

The  first  quartz  mill  was  erected  at  Grass  Valley,  California,  by 
two  Germans,  which  was  purchased  in  1852  by  an  English  company 
and  enlarged  to  twenty-one  stamps  in  1853. 

Gold  placers  were  discovered  at  Grass  Valley,  California,  in  June, 
quartz  ledges  were  located.  In  October  gold-quartz  veins  were  dis- 
covered on  Gold  Hill,  and  following  this  similar  finds  were  made  on 
Massachusetts,  Ophir  and  Rich  hills.  The  placers  of  Plufnas  and 
Sierra  counties  were  discovered  in  1880-81. 

The  reported  discovery  of  gold  at  Gold  Lake,  California,  and  the 
resulting  excitement  occurred  in  1850. 

1851. 

A  quartz-vein  was  located  at  Nashville,  El  Dorado  County,  Cali- 
fornia, but  was  not  worked  until  1868. 

Mining  began  in  southwestern  Missouri,  near  Minersville  on 
Center  Creek.  The  locality  is  now  called  Oronogo.  Lead  and  zinc 
mining  is  carried  on  here. 

The  famous  Plumas-Eureka  gold  ledge  of  Gold  Mountain,  Cali- 
fornia, was  discovered. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  123 

The  Ocean  beach  at  Gold  Bluff,  California,  was  worked  for  gold. 
The  Eureka  mine,  Nevada,  was  located  on  February  7,  and  closed 
in  1877. 

Placers  were  discovered  in  Josephine  County,  Oregon. 

1852. 

The  first  riffles  for  catching  gold  were  patented. 

The  Blake  jaw-crusher  was  invented  by  E.  W.  Blake,  but  it  was 
not  until  1860  that  it  was  employed  in  breaking  ore. 

Pocket  mines  were  discovered  on  Bald  Mountain,  Tuolumne 
County,  near  Sonora,  California. 

The  placers  at  Indiana  Hill,  California,  were  discovered  which 
were  the  first  diggings  between  the  North  Fork  and  Bear  River. 

The  silver-lead  mine  of  Middletown,  Connecticut,  was  worked. 

Auriferous  gravel  was  discovered  on  the  Pen  d'  Oreille  River, 
Idaho. 

The  Black  Hills,  South  Dakota,  were  prospected. 

1853. 

Gold  was  discovered  at  Bridge  water,  Vermont. 

E.  E.  Mattison  invented  the  hydraulic  method  of  mining. 

Silver  was  reported  as  occurring  in  shale  below  the  falls  of  the 
Cumberland  River,  Kentucky,  in  Whitley  County,  but  tests  did  not 
substantiate  the  report. 

Blankets  were  first  used  in  saving  gold  and  sulphurets,  being 
used  on  tables  in  the  mills  of  Grass  Valley,  California. 

1854. 

According  to  Tuomey,  the  first  bench  gravels  worked  at  Arba- 
coochee,  Alabama,  were  ground-sluiced. 

General  Lander  discovered  gold  on  the  Columbia  River,  Idaho. 
The  presence  of  gold  was  reported  in  Jackson  County,  Mississippi. 

1865. 

Two  gold  nuggets  were  found  at  Plymouth,  Vermont,  during 
1855-61. 

The  Mowry  mine  of  Tucson,  Arizona,  was  purchased  by  Major 
Ewell  and  others. 

The  ancient  river  channels  of  Tuolumne  County,  California,  were 
discovered. 


124  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Important  changes  were  made  in  the  construction  of  stamp  mills, 
notably  increased  height  of  mortar  box  in  order  that  it  might  con- 
tain both  feed  and  discharge  openings.  Iron  mortar  boxes  were 
devised  and  iron  stems  introduced. 

The  first  automatic  ore  feeder  was  devised  by  C.  P.  Stanford. 

Inside  plates  were  employed  in  the  mortars  at  the  Wiggam  mill, 
Nevada  City,  Nevada. 

The  Yosemite  Valley  was  discovered  as  a  result  of  the  search  for 
gold. 

Doroshin  was  sent  to  report  on  Alaska  by  the  Emperor  of  Russia, 
but  made  an  unfavorable  report  as  to  its  mineral  resources. 

Silver  was  discovered  on  the  Little  Iron  River,  not  far  from  the 
the  Pewabic  River,  Michigan. 

Ground-sluicing  was  carried  on  at  Arbacoochee,  Alabama,  mercury 
being  used. 

Kern  River,  California,  was  a  point  of  attraction  during  the  year 
but  was  a  failure. 

Gold  was  discovered  in  glacial  drift  in  Missouri,  but  in  too  small 
quantities  to  be  worked. 

1856. 

A  forty-inch  pipe  line  was  constructed  for  hydraulicing  purposes 
in  California. 

The  Fraser  River,  British  Columbia,  held  the  attention  of  miners 
and  prospectors. 

1867. 

The  Chavanne  brothers  made  the  first  attempt  to  save  auriferous 
sulphurets  in  Grass  Valley,  California. 

The  Hudson  Bay  Company  received  from  the  Indians  at  points, 
on  the  Fraser  and  Thompson  rivers,  British  Columbia,  300  ounces 
of  gold.  This  led  to  a  report  by  Governor  Douglas  of  Alaska  and  a 
great  excitement  resulted. 

Gold  was  discovered  at  Six  mile  Canon,  Nevada. 

1858. 

Rich  veins  of  lead  ore  were  discovered  at  Guymard,  New  York. 

The  Mowry  mine,  Arizona,  passed  into  the  hands  of  Lieutenant 
Sylvester  Mowry,  who  from  this  date,  operated  it  on  a  consider- 
able scale.  This  is  probably  the  first  silver-lead  mine  worked  exten- 
sively west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  It  is  claimed  that  lead  for  the 
Confederate  army  came  from  this  mine. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  125 

The  Rowland  rotary  stamp,  probably  the  first  form  of  revolving 
stamp  employed  in  this  country,  was  introduced  at  this  time. 

Shaking  tables  (copper  plates)  were  first  used  in  the  mills  of 
Montana. 

Deetkin  attempted  to  smelt  the  sulphurets  of  Grass  Valley,  Cal- 
ifornia, in  a  reverberatory  furnace  also  in  a  blast  furnace,  but  owing 
to  the  lack  of  lead  and  cheap  fuel  it  was  abandoned. 

Captain  John  Mullen  discovered  gold  in  the  Coeur  d'A16ne  Moun- 
tains, Idaho,  in  1858  or  1859. 

The  Bohemia  mining  district  of  Western  Oregon,  was  discovered 
in  August. 

1859. 

The  Comstock  lode,  Nevada,  was  discovered  at  the  point  where 
the  Ophir  mine  is  located. 

Pike's  Peak  excitement;  discovery  of  gold  placers  in  Gilpin 
County,  Colorado,  at  California  Gulch  and  at  Breckenridge.  Mines 
of  Georgetown,  Colorado,  were  discovered. 

Hydraulic-mining  was  first  practiced  at  Pilot  Mountain,  Burke 
County,  N.  C. 

Work  was  done  on  the  Taggart  vein  near  Bridgewater  Center, 
Vermont. 

Gold  is  said  to  have  been  discovered  at  Idaho  Springs,  Colorado, 
January  21.     This  is  claimed  to  have  been  the  first  discovery  in' 
Colorado. 

Placer-mining  began  on  Fraser  River,  Alaska,  and  was  actively 
carried  on. 

Mining  in  Colorado  really  began  in  this  year. 

The  Gregory  brothers  and  others  discovered  the  Gregory  lode  on 
Clear  Creek,  Colorado,  on  May  6.  Boulder  was  also  discovered. 

Jackson's  Bar  on  Chicago  Creek,  Colorado,  was  discovered  in 
January. 

The  first  assay  of  Comstock  ore  was  made  on  June  27  and 
served  to  identify  it;  following  which  a  mad  rush  began  to  the 
Comstock  lode  country. 

1860. 

Washoe  pan  process  was  probably  invented  by  Almarin  B.  Paul 
and  James  Smith. 

The  Gould  &  Curry  and  Savage  bonanzas,  Comstock  lode,  were 
discovered. 

The  Boise  Basin  gold  placers,  Idaho,  were  discovered. 


126  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Square  set  timbering  was  devised  and  introduced  into  the  Ophir 
mine  of  the  Comstock  lode,  by  P.  Deidesheimer. 

Mr.  A.  B.  Paul  built  the  first  stamp  mill  in  Gold  Canon,  Nevada; 
the  first  work  was  done  on  August  11. 

Stamp  mills  of  the  California  type  were  introduced  into  the  mills 
of  Gilpin  County,  Colorado,  prior  to  1860. 

The  placers  of  Iowa  Gulch,  Colorado,  were  discovered  on  April  6. 

The  Cariboo  and  Omerica,  British  Columbia,  were  discovered,  but 
the  Omerica  was  not  worked  until  1867. 

The  Columbia,  Hoosier  and  other  veins  in  the  Ward  district, 
Colorado,  were  discovered  during  1860-61. 

The  Pen  d'Oreille  placers,  Idaho,  attracted  considerable  attention. 
Placers  were  also  located  on  Oro  Fino  Creek  in  the  fall  of  the  year. 

The  silver  districts  of  Esmeralda,  Potosi,  Coso  and  Humboldt, 
Nevada,  were  discovered.  The  first  discovery  was  made  in  the 
Esmeralda  district  on  August  22. 

1861. 

Rich  placers  were  discovered  in  Oregon. 

The  first  steam  hoist  was  installed  at  the  Ophir  mine,  Comstock  lode. 

During  1861  there  were  76  mills  erected  adjacent  to  the  Comstock 
lode  for  treating  the  ores. 

The  Dolores  River,  Colorado,  was  prospected  by  Lieutenant 
Howard,  and  five  years  later  by  Colonel  Nash. 

The  Whale  lode,  Colorado,  was  discovered. 

Auriferous  gravels  were  located  at  Elk  City,  Idaho,  in  May. 

The  Buffalo  Hump  district,  Idaho,  was  discovered,  free-milling 
gold  being  found. 

The  discovery  of  the  gold  placers  of  Pioneer  Village,  Montana, 
was  claimed  to  have  been  made  by  an  old  Mexican  miner. 

The  Buena  Vista,  Eldorado  and  Gold  Run  districts,  Humboldt 
County,  Nevada,  were  opened  during  1861-62,  and  63,  respectively. 

Gold  was  discovered  in  the  Blue  Mountains,  Oregon,  in  the  fall  of 
the  year. 

1862. 

There  was  a  suspension  of  specie  payments  in  the  United  States. 
The  Reece  River  silver  district,  Nevada,  was  discovered. 
The  plant  of  the  Mowry  mine,  Arizona,  was  destroyed  by  Federal 
troops. 

An  O'Harra  mechanical  furnace  was  erected  at  Dayton,  Nevada, 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  127 

to  treat  the  Comstock  ores.  This  was  the  first  furnace  of  the  kind 
to  be  erected  in  the  west. 

The  mines  of  Boise  Basin,  Idaho,  were  discovered  by  Grimes. 

The  Warren  district,  later  known  as  the  Washington  district, 
Idaho,  was  discovered  but  was  not  worked  until  1866. 

The  Bannack  placers,  Montana,  were  discovered,  and  in  July, 
1863,  the  Alder  Gulch  placers  were  located. 

The  first  discovery  was  made  at  Aurora,  Nevada,  and  a  great  rush 
began.  The  excitement  here  culminated  in  1863,  the  boom  holding 
on  till  1864. 

The  Virtue  mine,  Oregon,  was  discovered. 


1863. 

The  discovery  of  argentiferous  lead  ores  was  made  in  Little  Cotton- 
wood  Canon,  Utah.  The  Jordan  mine  was  located  in  Bingham 
Canon,  Utah. 

Silver-lead  ores  were  discovered  at  Castle  Dome,  Arizona,  but 
owing  to  Indian  troubles  the  mines  were  not  worked  until  1869. 

The  placers  of  Silver  City  and  De  Lamar,  Idaho,  were  discovered 
by  a  party  under  Jordan.  The  quartz  mines  of  Silver  City  and 
De  Lamar  were  located  during  the  same  year. 

The  Ropes  gold  veins  of  Michigan  were  worked  as  argentiferous 
lead  lodes,  but  it  was  not  until  1887  that  the  presence  of  gold  ores 
was  known. 

The  Horse  Prairie  Creek  placers  of  Montana  were  discovered,  and 
two  years  later  those  near  Helena  were  located. 

The  first  mining  district  in  Utah  was  organized,  being  known  as 
the  "  West  Mountain  Mining  District." 

The  mill  building  boom  on  the  Comstock  culminated  and  was 
followed  by  a  panic  in  stock  during  1864. 

The  Hendy  shaking  table  was  first  employed  at  the  Keystone 
mine,  California. 

Ivan  Simonsen  made  the  first  trip  to  Fort  Yukon,  Alaska,  from 
the  west  coast. 

Mr.  W.  P.  Blake  visited  Alaska  and  subsequently  predicted  the 
occurrence  of  gold  in  paying  quantities. 

Some  of  the  best  placers  of  Yavapai  County,  Arizona,  as  the  Linx 
Creek,  Big  Bug  and  Hassayampa,  were  discovered  and  worked. 

Placers  and  gold  veins  were  discovered  at  Sulphur  Creek,  Colusa 
County,  California. 


128  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Ore  of  considerable  value  was  first  discovered  in  the  Eureka 
district,  Nevada,  at  or  near  the  "  76  "  mine  in  N.  Y.  Canon.  The 
first  claims  were  soon  exhausted,  and  the  camp  lay  idle  until  1868, 
when  work  began  on  Mineral  Hill. 

1864. 

Placers  were  discovered  in  Last  Chance  Gulch,  Montana,  also  at 
Butte. 

The  Yellow  Jacket-Kentcuk-Crown  point  and  Belcher  bonanzas 
of  the  Comstock  lode  were  discovered. 

The  first  flexible  goose-neck  hydraulic  giant  was  used. 

The  stamp  mill  of  the  Wide  West  mine,  Esmeralda  district, 
Nevada,  was  built,  being  the  first  in  the  district. 

The  first  mill  built  in  Idaho  was  at  the  Oro  Fino  mine. 

An  employee  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  was  the  first  white 
man  over  the  Chilkoot  Pass,  Alaska. 

The  first  discovery  of  gold  made  in  the  Boulder  district  was  on 
Baboon  Mountain,  Montana. 

Placer-mining  was  carried  on  at  Butte,  Montana,  in  Missoula 
Gulch. 

Nevada  entered  the  Union  in  March,  and  is  known  as  the  "  Battle 
born  State." 

The  Subjugation  mine  was  discovered,  being  followed  shortly  by 
the  Wild  Delirium,  Saint  Louis,  Mountain  Gem,  etc.,  in  Utah. 

Gold  veins  were  first  discovered  in  Bingham  district,  Utah,  but 
were  not  worked  till  1865. 

1865. 

The  silver  lodes  at  Phillipsburg,  Deer  Lodge  County,  Montana, 
were  discovered. 

The  Chollar-Potosi  bonanza  of  the  Comstock  lode  was  discovered. 

Smelting  works  were  erected  and  operated  at  Argenta,  Montana, 
which  are  credited  as  being  the  first  beginnings  of  silver-lead  smelt- 
ing in  the  United  States. 

The  placers  of  Hahns  Peak  district,  Colorado,  were  discovered. 

The  Bear  Gulch  placers  of  Montana  were  discovered  in  October, 
and  the  rush  began  in  1866. 

The  White  Pine  district,  Nevada,  was  organized,  but  the  excite- 
ment did  not  come  until  the  Treasure  Hill  mines  were  located. 

Work  was  begun  at  the  Silver  King  mine,  Utah. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  129 

1866. 

The  Overman-Segregated,  Belcher-Caledonia  and  Hale  and  Nor- 
cross  bonanzas  on  the  Comstock  lode  were  discovered. 

The  Selby  smelting  and  refining  works  were  established  at  San 
Francisco. 

A  smelting  furnace  for  treating  Comstock  ores  was  erected  at 
Galena,  Nevada. 

Placers  were  discovered  in  the  Bingham  district. 

The  Reservoir  mill  was  built  by  the  Gould  and  Curry  Company, 
Comstock  lode,  for  the  treatment  of  tailings,  and  was  the  first  of 
the  kind  built  in  the  United  States. 

The  first  California  stamp  was  built  in  Georgia  by  Dr.  Hamilton. 

Quartz-mining  was  carried  on  in  Boise,  Altruras  and  Owyhee 
counties,  Idaho. 

The  first  gold-quartz  location  was  made  near  Bear  Gulch,  Montana. 

Rich  gold  deposits  were  discovered  in  the  Valley  Trout  Creek, 
Montana. 

The  Battle  Mountain  and  Columbus  districts,  Nevada,  were 
organized  during  1866  and  1868,  the  Eberhardt  being  located  in 
December,  1867. 

Gold  was  found  in  the  lead-silver  mines  of  Franconia  and  Lisbon 
townships,  New  Hampshire. 

1867. 

Rich  deposits  of  silver  ore  were  discovered  at  White  Pine,  Nevada. 
These  are  the  first  large  bodies  of  silver  ore  found  in  limestone  in  the 
United  States. 

The  Boston  and  Colorado  smelting  works  were  established  at 
Black  Hawk,  Colorado,  and  was  an  important  step  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  Gilpin  County  mines. 

Silver-lead  ore  was  discovered  in  the  Magdalena  Mountains,  New 
Mexico. 

Smelting  was  begun  at  Oreana,  Nevada. 

The  Bruckner  furnaces  were  introduced  into  Colorado,  and  proved 
successful  in  operating  on  the  gold  and  silver  sulphurets. 

The  Duncan  mine,  Canada  (formerly  the  Thuniah),  was  located 
in  May,  1867. 

The  Telegraph  Expedition  discovered  gold  on  the  upper  Yukon. 

The  Maryland  mine,  Maryland,  was  located. 

H.  H.  Eames  reported  the  discovery  of  gold  and  silver  in  Minne- 
sota, and  Vermillion  Lake  was  the  scene  of  considerable  excitement. 


130  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  Hidden  Treasure  mine,  Nevada,  was  located  on  September  14. 
Probably  the  first  discovery  of  gold  in  Wyoming  occurred  when 
the  placers  of  the  Sweetwater  River  were  located. 

1868. 

The  Emma  silver  mine  of  Little  Cottonwood  Canon,  Utah,  was 
located  in  August,  the  first  shipment  of  ore  was  made  in  July,  1870. 
It  was  closed  in  1872,  the  available  stock  of  ore  having  been  ex- 
hausted, but  was  reopened  in  1883. 

The  Sierra  Nevada  bonanza  was  discovered  on  the  Comstock  lode. 

The  Dahlonega  method  of  hydraulicing  was  originated  and  em- 
ployed in  the  Southern  States. 

The  lixiviation  process  was  first  employed  at  La  Dura,  Sonora, 
Mexico. 

Fort  Yukon,  Alaska,  was  declared  to  be  in  United  States 
Territory. 

The  Silver  Islet  mine  was  located  on  the  northwest  shore  of  Lake 
Superior,  on  Thunder  Bay. 

The  Pelican  and  Dives  mines,  Colorado,  were  located. 

The  Oro  Fino  mine  in  Idaho  was  the  most  prosperous. 

Gold  was  discovered  in  Hardin  Cdunty,  Illinois. 

Glacial  drift  was  washed  for  gold  in  Ohio,  at  a  point  near  Browns- 
ville. 

Gold  was  not  known  to  exist  in  the  Black  Hill,  South  Dakota, 
until  this  year. 

The  Stockton  mine,  Utah,  was  discovered. 

The  Swauk  placers  of  Washington  were  discovered. 

1869. 

The  American  practice  of  lead  smelting  developed  chiefly  from 
the  methods  adopted  in  the  Eureka  district,  Nevada. 

The  Pacific  railway  was  completed  —  the  Union  Pacific  and 
Central  Pacific  tracks  joined  at  Promontory,  Utah,  on  May  10. 

The  Sutro  tunnel,  tapping  the  Comstock  lode,  was  begun  on 
October  19. 

Silver  deposits  were  discovered  at  Pioche,  Nevada. 

Copper-silver  ore  was  discovered  at  Butte,  Montana,  and  a  smelt- 
ing furnace  was  erected  at  the  Parrot  mine. 

The  Central  Pacific  railway  was  completed  to  Salt  Lake  City  in 
December,  1869,  which  served  to  stimulate  prospecting. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  131 

The  silver-lead  mines  of  Cerro  Gordo,  California,  were  developed. 

Dynamite  was  beginning  to  be  used  in  the  mines  of  the  west. 

The  first  mining  was  done  at  the  Silver  Islet  mine,  Ontario,  Canada, 
—  the  ore  was  blasted  from  the  outcrop. 

The  region  around  Rico,  Colorado,  was  explored,  and  the  Pioneer 
claim  was  located  in  July. 

The  Elkhorn  district,  Montana,  was  prospected  and  several  lodes 
were  located. 

The  Tintic  district,  Utah,  was  discovered,  the  first  location  being 
the  Sunbeam  on  December  13. 

The  lixiviation  process  was  employed  at  Trinidad,  Sonora,  Mexico, 
also  at  San  Marcial,  Sonora. 

Silver  mines  were  discovered  in  the  Seminole  Mountains,  Wyom- 
ing, by  prospectors  who  were  killed  by  Indians;  subsequently  gold- 
bearing  veins  were  located. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  Spaniards  worked  gold  mines  on  the  Chat- 
tahoochee  and  Chestatee  rivers  in  the  Southern  States. 

The  placers  of  Ram's  Horn,  Radersburg  and  Cow  Creek,  Montana, 
were  opened  and  worked  slightly  then  abandoned,  but  were  finally 
reopened  and  worked  to  considerable  depth  during  1869. 

The  Rudefeha  or  Haggerty-Ferris  mine,  near  Battle  Lake,  Wyom- 
ing, was  discovered  in  the  Grand  Encampment  district.  - 

1870. 

The  silver  mines  of  Eureka  and  Pioche,  Nevada,  became  large 
producers. 

The  first  important  developments  were  made  in  the  Big  and 
Little  Cottonwood  and  Bingham  Canons,  Stockton  and  Tintic 
districts,  Utah. 

The  Loon  Creek  placers,  Idaho,  attracted  miners  as  late  as  1879. 

A  gold  vein  was  discovered  in  Benton  County,  Minnesota,  but 
operations  ceased  in  a  few  years. 

The  placers  of  Cedar  Creek,  Missoula  County,  Montana,  were 
discovered,  but  hydraulicing  machinery  was  not  installed  until 
1895. 

Work  was  begun  at  the  Defiance  mine,  Utah. 

The  Black  Dragon  mine,  Utah,  was  discovered  on  January  3,  and 
the  Mammoth  on  February  26. 

The  Miller  mine  in  American  Fork  Canon,  Utah,  was  discovered, 
but  was  not  worked  extensively  until  1871. 


132  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  construction  of  the  narrow-gauge  railroad  system  was  begun 
in  Colorado  by  the  Denver  and  Rio  Grande  Railroad  Company. 

The  mines  of  Rosita,  Colorado,  were  discovered. 

The  Emma  mine  Little  Cottonwood  Canon,  Utah,  began  shipping 
ore. 

Important  discoveries  of  lead  and  zinc  ore  at  Joplin,  Missouri, 
were  made,  which  were  followed  by  the  rapid  development  of  the 
district. 

The  first  double-jointed  hydraulic  giant  was  introduced  into 
California  mines. 

The  first  sleam  stamp  was  invented  by  T.  R.  Wilson,  it  was  tried 
at  Silver  City,  Nevada. 

Gold  was  found  in  Wightman's  Gulch,  Colorado,  which  led  to  the 
development  of  the  Summitville  district,  and  the  location  of  the 
Little  Annie  in  September. 

1871. 

The  mines  of  Big  and  Little  Cottonwood  Canon,  Utah,  were 
large  producers. 

Silver-lead  ore  was  discovered  in  Parley's  Park  district,  now  Park 
City,  Utah. 

Chicago  became  an  important  smelting  and  refining  center. 

The  first  mill  was  erected  at  Homansville,  Utah. 

The  lixiviation  process  was  employed  at  Bronzas,  Sonora 
Mexico. 

The  dry  placers,  especially  along  the  Gila  River,  Arizona,  were 
worked.  |  . 

The  Little  Giant  vein  was  discovered  near  Silverton,  Colorado. 

Work  was  begun  in  the  Legal  Tender  mine,  Utah. 

The  Mercur  mines,  Utah,  were  discovered  in  Lewiston  Canon, 
7  miles  northwest  of  Camp  Floyd,  although  actual  development  did 
not  begin  until  1891. 

The  Crown  Point-Belcher  bonanza,  Comstock  lode  was  discov- 
ered. 

Considerable  placer  mining  was  done  in  Bingham  Canon. 

1872. 

The  silver  veins  at  Park  City,  Utah,  were  located  on  June  19. 
Silver  was  discovered  at  Georgetown,  New  Mexico. 
Refining  of  lead  began  at  the  Germania  works,  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  133 

Cast  iron  water-jackets  were  introduced  at  the  Winnamuck 
smelting- works,  Utah.  This  was  the  first  use  of  water  jackets  in 
the  smelting  practice  of  Nevada  and  Utah,  also  the  first  employed 
anywhere. 

Lead  ore  was  discovered  in  Cherokee  County,  Kansas. 

George  Holt  and  others  prospected  the  upper  Yukon  during 
1872-78. 

The  Mammoth  mine  was  the  chief  producer  in  the  Tintic  district, 
Utah. 

The  Ontario  mine,  Utah,  was  discovered. 

1873. 

The  United  States  by  act  of  Congress,  February  12,  discontinued 
the  coinage  of  silver  dollars.  This  act  in  effect  demonetized  silver. 
It  authorized  the  coinage  of  one-half  and  one-quarter  dollars  and 
dimes  below  standard  weight,  and  a  coin  called  the  "  trade 
dollar  "  for  Asiatic  commerce.  The  latter  coin  were  of  standard 
weight,  but  could  not  be  used  as  legal  tender  for  sums  above  $5 
for  any  one  payment. 

The  Big  Bonanza  was  discovered  in  the  Consolidated  California 
and  Virginia  mines  on  the  Comstock  lode. 

Silver-lead  mines  were  discovered  in  the  Wood  River  district, 
Idaho. 

Blankets  were  in  general  use  in  the  gold  mills  of  California. 

Silver  mining  on  Little  Iron  River  was  carried  on  until  1875,  col- 
lapsing in  1876. 

The  Stewart  River,  British  territory,  was  prospected,  and  gold 
was  found  on  White  River,  also  in  British  territory. 

The  Silver  King  mine,  Arizona,  was  discovered. 

The  district  between  Durango  and  Rico,  Colorado,  was  opened, 
but  owing  to  the  refractory  complex  telluride  ores  little  was 
accomplished. 

The  placers  of  Flint  Creek,  south  of  Drumlummon  Mountain, 
Montana,  were  discovered. 

The  silver-bearing  sandstone  of  Silver  Reef,  Utah,  Washington 
County,  were  located. 

The  Chloride  Point  mine  was  located  about  this  time,  and  was 
a  producer  until  1880. 

The  Peshastin  gold-bearing  veins  were  discovered,  and  in  1881 
those  of  the  Swauk  district,  Washington,  were  located. 


134  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

1874. 

The  "  Big  Bonanza  "  yielded  largely,  and  another  discovery  was 
made  in  the  Ophir  mine,  Comstock  lode. 

Argentiferous  lead-carbonate  ore  was  found  on  Iron  Hill,  Lead- 
ville,  Colorado,  the  Lime  and  Rock  claims  being  located. 

Silver-lead  ore  was  discovered  at  Darwin,  Inyo  County,  California. 

Dust  chambers  were  installed  at  several  western  lead  smelting- 
works,  and  other  adaptations  were  made  in  the  treatment  of  matte. 

The  price  of  mercury  more  than  doubled,  raising  from  60  cents  to 
$1 .30  per  pound,  which,  with  the  fall  in  price  of  silver,  and  trouble 
with  tailings,  seriously  crippled  the  milling  industry  of  the  Western 
States. 

Mr.  G.  Kuestel  introduced  the  lixiviation  process  at  Melrose, 
Calif  o/nia. 

Tjtfe  Newburyport  mines,  Massachusetts,  were  discovered  October 
10/and  were  worked.     The  ore  is  silver  and  lead. 
I/ The  Cassiar  district,  British  Columbia,  was  discovered. 

Following  the  discovery  of  the  placers  on  the  San  Miguel  River, 
Colorado,  the  Smuggler-Union  vein  was  located  and  developed. 

Gold  was  shown  by  a  half-breed  Indian  at  Fort  Larmie,  Wyoming, 
who  stated  that  he  had  found  it  in  the  Black  Hills,  South  Dakota. 

1876. 

The  Emma  mine  of  Little  Cottonwood  Canon,  Utah,  was  exhausted. 

The  Horn  Silver  mine  at  Frisco,  Utah,  was  discovered. 

There  was  great  activity  in  Hydraulic-mining  in  California. 

Smelting  ores  were  discovered  at  Leadville,  Colorado,  above  the 
placers  of  California  Gulch. 

The  Trout  and  Fisherman  mines  were  located  in  Colorado. 

The  Sheridan  claim,  Colorado,  was  located. 

Local  interest  centered  in  the  drift  gold  of  Missouri,  and  exami- 
nations were  made  by  C.  P.  Williams  of  the  Missouri  School  of 
Mines.  He  reported  it  too  low-grade  to  work. 

The  Elkhorn  mine,  Montana,  was  located  on  Holter  lode  on 
January  2. 

1876. 

The  first  shipment  of  ore  was  made  from  Leadville,  Colorado. 

Investigations  by  Anton  Eilers  and  others  determined  the  correct 
principles  in  preparing  charges  of  ore  for  smelting,  which  was  a 
development  of  great  economic  importance. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  135 

The  first  suit  was  brought  by  farmers  in  California  against  hydrau- 
lic-mining. 

The  Travona  mine  (silver  ore)  was  located  at  Butte,  Montana. 
The  Alice  mine,  in  Missoula  Gulch,  was  opened  during  1876-77. 

The  rush  of  miners  began  to  the  Black  Hills,  South  Dakota,  being 
augmented  by  the  discovery  of  Deadwood.  The  Black  Hills  were 
an  Indian  Reservation  till  this  time. 

The  Homestake  mine,  South  Dakota,  was  located  by  the  Manuel 
Brothers. 

The  Drumlummon  gold  ledge  was  discovered  at  Marysville, 
Montana. 

By  act  of  Congress  of  the  United  States  on  August  15,  a  silver 
commission  was  created,  which  reported  on  March  2,  1877. 

The  Amargoza  mine  of  San  Bernardino  County,  California,  was 
discovered  in  1852  by  emigrants,  but  its  location  was  lost.  It  was 
rediscovered  by  J.  B.  Osborne  in  1876. 

The  Specie  Payment  mine  was  discovered  at  the  head  of  Virginia 
Canon,  Colorado. 

1877. 

The  Bassick  mine,  Silver  Cliff,  Colorado,  was  discovered. 

The  Fuller  placers  in  Colorado  were  discovered. 

The  first  smelting  works  were  erected  at  Leadville,  Colorado. 

The  Omerga  mill  was  erected,  and  was  probably  the  most  success- 
ful on  the  Comstock  lode. 

A  Stetefeldt  furnace  was  installed  and  operated  on  argentiferous 
ores  at  the  Ontario  mill,  Utah. 

The  argentiferous  zinc  blende  ores  were  treated  by  the  lixiviation 
process  at  Galena,  Nevada,  having  been  previously  concentrated  by 
the  Krom  dry  system. 

1878. 

Lixiviation  was  employed  at  the  Advance  mill,  Monitor,  Cali- 
fornia. 

A  gold  nugget  was  found  on  the  Rappahannock  River,  Virginia. 

The  second  bonanza  was  discovered  in  the  Silver  Islet  mine, 
Ontario,  Canada. 

The  Lake  Valley  silver  mine,  New  Mexico,  was  discovered  in 
August,  and  was  worked  continuously  until  1893. 

Tombstone,  Arizona,  was  discovered  by  E.  L.  Shiefflin. 

John  Frazer  discovered  gold  on  the  beach  near  Ocean  Side  House, 
California,  and  another  rush  to  the  beach  began. 


136  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Blankets  were  used  in  saving  sulphurets  in  the  first  mill  built  by 
the  Homestake  Mining  Company,  South  Dakota. 

Open-pit  or  "  Glory  hole  "  mining  began  at  the  Homestake  mine, 
South  Dakota. 

Lead-carbonate  ore  was  discovered  in  the  eastern  part  of  Gunni- 
son  County,  Colorado. 

The  Hecla  Consolidated  Mining  Company  at  Glendale,  Montana, 
began  producing  ore.  The  silver-lead  deposits  of  Sierra  Mojada, 
Coahuila,  Mexico,  were  discovered. 

New  discoveries  with  resulting  excitement  at  Leadville,  Colorado. 

Congress  passed  an  act  on  February  28  ordaining  the  coinage  of 
from  2,000,000  to  4,000,000  silver  dollars  at  most,  on  Government 
account,  of  412  J  grains,  900  fine  and  of  full  legal  tender,  except 
when  otherwise  specified  by  contract. 

1879. 

Sulphurets  were  successfully  treated  by  the  chlorination  process 
in  the  Carolina  mines,  also  those  of  other  Southern  States. 

A  pocket  of  ore  was  discovered  in  the  Peshastin  district,  Washing- 
ton, from  which  $60,000  were  taken. 

A  Mears  chlorination  plant  was  installed  at  the  Phoenix  mine, 
North  Carolina. 

The  lixiviation  process  was  applied  at  the  Tarshish  mine,  Moniter, 
California,  by  O.  Hofman,  but  was  not  successful. 

The  opposition  of  the  Indians  to  white  men  crossing  the  Alaskan 
coast  range  to  the  interior  was  overcome  by  Captain  Beardslee,  and 
during  the  same  year  a  party  of  twenty-five  prospectors  made  prep- 
aration to  cross  over  and  were  later  assisted  by  the  Indians. 

The  first  discovery  at  Aspen,  in  the  Roaring  Fork  district,  Colo- 
rado, was  made  at  the  Galena  mine  on  July  5. 

The  Mercur  lode  was  located  on  April  30,  in  the  Camp  Floyd 
district,  Utah,  but  was  soon  abandoned.  It  was  again  located  in 
1883,  and  six  years  later  Captain  Joseph  Smith  erected  a  mill  at 
Marion  for  the  treatment  of  the  ores. 

Gold  was  discovered  at  the  Emmet  mine,  Wisconsin,  and  created 
quite  an  excitement,  which  was,  however,  short  lived. 

Specie  payment  was  resumed  by  the  United  States. 

The  first  important  discoveries  were  made  in  the  Wood  River 
district,  Idaho.  Ore  had  been  known  to  exist  in  this  district  since 
1873,  but  development  was  checked  by  Indian  trouble;  consequently 
active  mining  did  not  begin  until  1880. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  137 

Lead-carbonate  ore  was  discovered  at  Rico,  Colorado,  also  at  Red 
Cliff  and  Kokoma. 

1880. 

The  Presidio  mine,  Texas,  was  discovered,  and  opened  in  1884, 
and  has  worked  continuously  ever  since. 

The  Southern  Pacific  railway  was  completed  through  Arizona, 
and  the  Denver  &  Rio  Grande  reached  Leadville,  Colorado. 

The  Silver  Valley  mine  of  Davidson  County,  North  Carolina,  was 
discovered. 

A  strike  was  made  at  Leadville,-  Colorado. 

There  was  considerable  excitement  in  the  Gunnison  County  dis- 
trict, Colorado,  which  did  not,  however,  materialize  into  develop- 
ments of  great  importance. 

The  first  hydraulic  elevator  was  erected  at  Yreka  Creek,  Siskiyou 
County,  California. 

There  was  a  great  decrease  in  the  annual  gold  production  of 
California,  amounting  to  some  four  and  one-half  millions  of  dollars 
up  to  1891. 

A  Stetefeldt  furnace  was  employed  in  treating  the  auriferous  ores 
of  the  Panamint,  California,  at  the  Surprise  mill,  also  at  Austin, 
Nevada. 

A  Pardee  furnace  was  installed  at  the  Algonkian  mill,  Phillips- 
burg,  Montana.  The  Davis  and  Tyson  Metallurgical  works  were 
built  at  Salisbury,  North  Carolina.  This  was  a  chlorination  plant, 
but  differed  from  the  Theis  process  in  method  of  precipitation  of 
gold. 

The  lixiviation  process  was  successfully  installed  at  the  Silver 
King  mill,  Arizona. 

The  Hunt  and  Douglas  ferrous  cyanide  process  was  installed  at 
the  Conrad  Hill  mine,  North  Carolina. 

The  placers  of  Silver  Bow  basin,  Alaska,  were  discovered. 

There  was  considerable  activity  in  mining  and  development  of 
silver  veins  in  Arkansas. 

The  "  cement  deposits  "  of  the  Black  Hills  were  discovered  and 
located  near  Central  City,  South  Dakota. 

1881. 

Mining  began  at  Douglas  Island  and  principally  by  open-cuts, 
operations  beginning  by  working  of  placers. 

Matte  smelting   and  refining  in   reverbertory   furnaces   was   at- 


138  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

tempted  on  the  ores  of  the  Conrad  Hill  and  the  North  Star  mines, 
North  Carolina. 

A  Davis  chlorination  plant  was  installed  at  the  Reimer  mine, 
North  Carolina. 

The  gold  lode  of  the  Alaska-Treadwell  mines  of  Alaska  were  dis- 
covered. 

The  Omalak  mine,  on  Golofnin  Bay,  Alaska,  was  discovered. 
This  is  a  silver-lead  mine,  and  probably  the  northernmost  mine  in 
the  territory. 

The  Calico  district,  California,  was  discovered. 

The  Ropes  gold  veins,  Michigan,  were  discovered  and  operated,  but 
not  actively  until  1882. 

The  first  railroad  entered  the  Butte  district,  Montana,  from  which 
time  the  development  was  rapid. 

Gold  and  silver  mines  were  worked  on  Bald  and  Green  mountains 
near  Dead  wood,  South  Dakota. 

No  work  was  done  in  Virginia  gold  mines,  as  is  shown  by  the  fact 
that  there  were  no  mint  returns. 

Mining  operations  in  Washington  were  practically  confined  to 
Yokima,  Peshastin  district  and  Spokane  County,  also  on  Snake 
River,  Columbia  County. 

1882. 

Injunctions  by  State  and  Federal  courts  closed  the  hydraulic 
mines  in  the  valleys  of  the  navigable  rivers  of  California. 

The  Viola  mine  at  Nicholia,  Idaho,  was  discovered. 

Red  Cliff,  Colorado,  became  quite  a  large  producer. 

The  first  endless-chain  bucket  dredger  was  introduced  into  the 
United  States,  at  Grasshopper  Creek,  Montana. 

The  mines  of  the  South  end  of  the  Comstock  lode  were  flooded 
while  driving  a  connecting  passage  between  the  Yellow  Jacket  and 
Exchequer. 

The  Plattner  chlorination  process  was  installed  at  the  Tucker 
mine,  North  Carolina,  but  was  not  successful,  the  Mears  process 
being  adopted. 

Krom  rolls  and  the  lixiviation  process  were  both  successfully 
employed  at  the  Bertrand  mine,  Geddes,  Nevada. 

The  Designolle  process  was  applied  to  the  ores  of  Charlotte,  North 
Carolina,  during  1882-83. 

Silver-bearing  veins  were  found  in  Rabbit  and  Silver  mountain 
districts,  Canada. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  139 

The  Schiefflin  party  ascended  the  Yukon,  and  prospected  at  a  point 
some  eighty  miles  above  Nuklukayet,  Alaska. 

The  Yankee  Girl  mine  was  discovered  in  Colorado. 

Owing  to  a  change  in  management  the  Cortez  mine  of  Silver  Hill, 
Nevada,  began  active  development  which  resulted  in  the  discovery 
of  several  bonanzas. 

The  Silver  Point,  Silver  Crown,  Hillside,  Great  Western  and 
Northern  Light  were  the  principal  mines  operating  in  Washington 
County,  Utah.  In  Beaver  County  the  Horn  Silver,  Carbonate  and 
Cave  mines  were  worked. 

1883. 

Leadville,  Colorado,  attained  its  maximum  output. 

The  Monarch  district,  Colorado,  began  to  be  a  large  producer  of 
lead,  reaching  a  maximum  in  1885. 

The  Viola  mine  at  Nicholia,  Lemhi  County,  Idaho,  began  to  be 
productive. 

Krom  rolls  and  the  lixiviation  process  were  installed  at  the  Mount 
Cory  mine,  Nevada. 

The  Designolle  process  was  put  in  operation  at  the  New  Discovery 
mine,  North  Carolina,  and  at  the  Haile  mine  in  South  Carolina. 

River-bar  mining  was  in  progress  on  the  Lewes  River,  Alaska. 
The  number  of  prospectors  and  miners  rapidly  increased  from  this 
time  on  in  Alaska,  fully  200  crossing  the  passes. 

The  Embry  camp,  Washington,  was  discovered,  the  most  noted 
mine  being  the  Eagle. 

1884. 

Aspen,  Colorado,  became  an  important  producer  of  lead  ore. 

The  Neihart  district,  Montana,  began  to  attain  prominence. 

Extensive  bodies  of  lead-carbonate  ore  were  opened  at  Cook's 
Peak,  Grant  County,  New  Mexico. 

The  first  discoveries  were  made  in  the  Coeur  d'Alene  district, 
Idaho. 

By  this  time  the  lixiviation  process  was  quite  extensively  used  in 
Mexico. 

The  Tiger-Poorman  mines,  Idaho,  were  discovered. 

1886. 

Further  discoveries  were  made  in  the  Coeur  d'Alene  district,  Idaho, 
especially  of  silver-lead  ore,  the  Bunker  Hill  and  Sullivan  mine 
being  located  on  September  17. 


140  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  rush  of  miners  to  the  interior  of  Alaska  still  continued,  and 
considerable  work  was  done  on  the  Stuart  River. 

The  Morning  mines  were  located  in  Idaho. 

Gold  was  discovered  at  a  point  some  three  miles  west  of  the  Ropes 
mines,  Michigan,  which  was  followed  by  considerable  excitement. 
These  mines  yielded  nothing  but  specimens. 

The  building  of  the  Transcontinental  railway  revived  the  mining 
industry  of  Oregon. 

1886. 

The  Wardner  district  on  the  South  Fork  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene 
River,  Idaho,  was  discovered. 

The  mines  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene  district,  Idaho,  began  to  produce 
silver-lead  ores. 

E.  G.  Spilsbury  carried  on  experiments  on  matting  the  auriferous 
sulphides  of  the  Haile  mine,  South  Carolina,  but  without  success. 

The  placers  of  Forty-Mile  Creek,  Alaska,  were  discovered. 

The  Empire  State  mines,  Idaho,  were  located. 

Important  discoveries  were  made  in  the  Eagle  Creek  Mountains, 
near  Cornucopiaj  Oregon. 

The  Stato,  Line  district,  Utah,  was  located  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  state,  in  Iron  County.  The  ores  are  gold  and  silver- 
bearing. 

1887. 

There  was  a  contest  between  the  local  and  valley  smelters,  in 
Colorado,  in  the  market  for  Leadville  ore,  with  advantage  in 
favor  of  the  latter,  owing  to  railroad  discriminations. 

The  Hillside  mine  of  Yavapai  County,  Arizona,  was  discovered. 

1888. 

Gold  was  discovered  at  the  Harrison  farm,  Maryland,  by  Mr.  Kirk, 
and  during  the  following  year  a  number  of  other  properties  were 
developed,  owing  to  the  successful  operations  at  the  Harrison  prop- 
erty. These  mines  never  proved  of  any  great  importance. 

1889. 

California  held  the  first  rank  among  the  states  in  gold  production. 
From  1889  on  there  was  a  material  increase  in  silver  production 
from  Utah,  while  that  from  Nevada  steadily  declined. 
The  Holy  Moses  vein  was  discovered  on  West  Willow  Creek,  Colorado. 
The  Hercules  mine,  Idaho,  was  located. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  141 

1890. 

By  act  of  Congress,  July  14,  the  law  of  1878  was  repealed.  The 
act  also  provided  for  the  purchase  of  4,500,000  ounces  of  silver 
monthly,  against  which  certificates  are  issued,  redeemable  in  both 
gold  and  silver. 

The  establishment  and  rapid  development  of  the  silver-lead  smelt- 
ing industry  in  Mexico  greatly  reduced  the  supply  of  ore  available 
for  the  American  smelters. 

The  Northern  Pacific  and  Oregon  railroad  and  Navigation  Com- 
pany completed  their  line  into  the  Coeur  d'AlSne  district,  Idaho. 

1891. 

Gold  was  discovered  at  Cripple  Creek  and  silver  at  Creede,  Colorado. 

The  cyanide  process  was  first  successfully  applied  to  the  commercial 
treatment  of  ores  by  Captain  J.  R.  De  La  Mar  at  the  Mercur  mines, 
Utah. 

The  Last  Chance  and  Amethyst  claims  were  located  on  Bachelor 
Mountain,  Colorado,  on  Aug.  8. 

Creede  and  Cripple  Creek  were  about  of  equal  importance. 

The  first  recorded  location  was  made  in  Cripple  Creek  when  the 
Independence  and  Washington  claims  were  staked  on  July  4. 

1892. 

The  Annie,  now  the  Noonday,  mine,  Oregon,  was  located. 

The  principal  gold  sections  of  Oregon  were  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  state,  Baker  and  Union  counties  being  the  most  pros- 
perous. 

The  Monumental  mine,  Oregon,  was  the  only  one  having  a  mill. 

Mining  was  very  active  in  the  mines  of  South  Dakota,  especially 
in  low-grade  ores.  From  1892-95  the  mines  lost  ground,  but  during 
1896  the  gold  production  increased,  owing  to  the  application  of  the 
amalgamation  and  chlorination  processes. 

Texas  was  a  small  producer  of  gold  and  silver,  the  principal  dis- 
tricts being  the  Llano,  Mason  and  the  Trans-Pecos. 

Small-scale  hydraulicing  operations  were  underway  in  Kittitas 
County,  Washington. 

The  price  of  silver  reached  82  cents,  the  lowest  point  ever  recorded 
up  to  this  date. 

Large  bodies  of  silver-lead  ore  were  developed  at  Cook's  Peak, 
New  Mexico,  and  heavy  shipments  of  ore  were  made. 


142  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  Maid  of  Erin  mine,  Leadville,  Colorado,  shipped  its  last  lot 
of  lead-carbonate  ore  in  December,  having  exhausted  its  great 
deposit,  and  practically  marking  the  end  of  the  production  of  that 
class  of  ore  at  Leadville. 

There  was  a  strike  of  the  miners  in  the  Coeur  d'Alene  district, 
Idaho,  owing  to  a  reduction  of  wages. 

The  Howard  skimmer  for  handling  zinc  crust  was  invented,  which 
was  one  of  the  most  important  of  the  mechanical  improvements  in 
the  Parkes  process  of  desilveration.  It  was  first  put  into  practical 
use  at  the  works  of  the  Pueblo  Smelting  and  Refining  Company  at 
Pueblo,  Colorado.  The  Howard  process  was  invented  some  time  later. 

The  cyanide  process  was  introduced  at  Bodie,  Cripple  Creek, 
Colorado. 

Experiments  were  made  by  Mr.  Richard  Eames  on  the  cyaniding 
of  the  ores  of  Gold  Hill,  North  Carolina.  A  ten-ton  plant  was  built 
during  1893  at  the  Moratock  mine,  North  Carolina,  but  owing  to 
leanness  of  ores  was  abandoned. 

The  mining  industry  of  Arizona  suffered  from  the  great  deprecia- 
tion of  silver  as  well  as  all  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  country. 

There  was  a  decided  falling  off  in  gold  production  in  North  Carolina. 

The  silver  production  of  Nevada  also  suffered  from  the  deprecia- 
tion of  silver. 

The  Indian  Queen  and  Poorman  mines,  Nevada,  began  work, 
litigation  having  been  settled  that  had  tied  them  up  for  several  years. 


1893. 

The  discovery  of  the  Dehli  mine,  Minnesota,  caused  considerable 
excitement. 

The  first  discoveries  were  made  in  the  Rainy  Lake  region,  and 
subsequent  work  has  been  encouraging. 

The  De  La  Mar  mine,  Lincoln  County,  Nevada,  was  discovered, 
and  subsequently  had  a  marked  influence  on  the  gold  production  of 
the  state,  leading  in  1895. 

The  Champion  mine,  Oregon,  installed  a  mill  for  treating  its  ores. 

The  report  of  the  Herschell  committee,  closing  the  Indian  mints 
to  the  private  coinage  of  rupees,  was  published  June  26,  causing  a 
decline  in  the  price  of  silver  from  81  to  62  cents  per  ounce,  and  con- 
tributing to  the  industrial  panic  which  occurred  this  year.  It  led 
among  other  things  to  the  suspension  of  operations  in  many  silver- 
lead  producing  districts  of  the  United  States. 


DISCOVERY   OF   GOLD  AND   SILVER.  143 

All  of  the  mines  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene  district  were  temporarily 
closed  on  account  of  low  prices  for  silver  and  lead. 

All  of  the  smelters  at  Leadville,  Colorado,  suspended  operations 
in  the  autumn,  only  two  of  them  subsequently  resuming. 

An  electrical  power  plant  for  the  pperation  of  mining  machinery 
was  installed  at  Bodie,  California. 

The  Caminetti  Act  passed  by  Congress  regulated  the  hydraulic 
mining  industry  in  California. 

A  chlorination  plant  was  erected  at  Gillet,  near  Cripple  Creek, 
Colorado. 

Rich  placers  were  discovered  on  Cummins  Creek,  Alaska;  the 
Birch  Creek  placers  were  also  located. 

With  the  collapse  of  the  silver  market  Cripple  Creek  became  of 
more  importance  than  Creede,  Colorado. 

1894. 

There  was  a  second  strike  of  the  miners  in  the  Coeur  d'Alene 
district. 

An  association  of  the  principal  smelters  of  Colorado  was  formed 
to  limit  prices  to  be  paid  for  ores.  The  combination  went  to  pieces 
early  in  1895,  and  sharp  competition  was  again  inaugurated. 

The  Blue  Bell  drainage  tunnel  was  began  in  the  Cripple  Creek 
district,  Colorado. 

The  United  States  lost  first  place  in  the  production  of  gold,  its 
product  being  exceeded  by  $290,670  by  Australia. 

The  Mount  Pisgah  excitement  at  Cripple  Creek  occurred  in  April. 

There  was  a  marked  increase  in  the  output  of  gold  from  Arizona, 
which  was  followed  by  a  decline  in  the  following  year  owing  to  the 
closing  of  the  Harqua  Hala  mine. 

The  principal  mines  of  New  Mexico  were  the  Grande,  Bella  and 
Apache. 

1895. 

Lead-zinc  ores  were  successfully  smelted  at  the  Silver  Valley 
mine,  North  Carolina,  by  Mr.  Ninniger  of  Newark,  New  Jersey. 

A  patent  electrolytic  chlorination  process  was  installed  at  the 
Clopton  mine,  Georgia,  but  achieved  but  little  success. 

A  cyanide  mill  was  built  at  Florence,  Colorado,  by  the  Metallic 
Extraction  Company. 

Unsuccessful  attempts  were  made  to  employ  the  cyanide  process 
at  the  Sawyer  mine,  North  Carolina. 


144  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Colorado  and  Montana  produced  a  steadily  increasing  output  of 
silver  up  to  this  year,  following  which  there  was  a  decided  decline. 

The  Pearce  mine,  Arizona,  was  discovered. 

Gold  mining  was  the  most  important  single  industry  in  California. 

The  Randsburg  district,  California,  was  discovered. 

For  the  first  time  in  one-quarter  of  a  century  the  gold  product  of 
Colorado  exceeded  that  of  the  silver. 

A  suction  dredge  was  successfully  operated  on  the  Snake  River, 
Idaho. 

Gold  was  reported  as  found  in  the  shale  of  western  Kansas,  on 
the  Smoky  Hill  River,  in  Gove,  Trego  and  Ellis  counties. 

A  large  dredging  plant  was  installed  on  Grasshopper  Creek,  near 
Bannack,  Montana. 

Gold  was  discovered  in  glacial  drift  at  Milford,  Nebraska,  during 
1895-97. 

No  gold  was  produced  in  Texas,  but  there  was  a  gain  in  the  silver 
product  especially  from  the  Presidio  mine  at  Shafter. 

The  Republic  mine,  Washington,  was  located  on  March  5,  while 
fifteen  days  later  the  Mountain  Lion  claim  was  discovered. 

There  was  a  decrease  in  the  production  of  gold  from  Washington. 

1896. 

The  Fraction,  Flat  Iron  and  Last  Chance  claims,  Washington, 
were  located  on  September  7. 

The  first  patent  was  secured  on  the  Huntington-Heberlein  process, 
important  and  revolutionary  improvements  in  the  metallurgy  of 
lead. 

There  was  a  strike  of  miners  at  Leadville,  Colorado,  which  practi- 
cally stopped  all  production  during  the  last  six  months  of  the  year. 

The  Standard  drainage  tunnel  at  Cripple  Creek,  Colorado,  was 
begun. 

The  Klondike  district,  British  Territory,  was  discovered,  and  a 
mad  rush  commenced  in  August. 

There  was  an  increase  in  the  gold  and  silver  production  in  Oregon, 
due  to  the  Baker  City  mines,  which  were  also  the  chief  producers 
during  1897. 

The  Lone  Pine  and  Last  Chance  were  among  the  first  recorded 
locations  in  the  Mercur  district,  Washington,  being  located  on 
February  28  and  29,  while  the  Pearl  claim  was  discovered  on  Novem- 
ber 5,  the  Surprise,  July  18. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  145 

1897. 

There  was  a  revival  of  placer  mining. 

A  modified  caving  method  was  employed  in  the  Mercur  mines, 
Utah. 

Colorado  attained  first  place,  as  a  gold  producer,  among  the  states. 

Gold  was  found  on  Gravina  Island,  Alaska,  the  Gold  Standard 
property  on  Cleveland  Peninsula  being  located  in  1898. 

The  low-grade  gold  deposits  of  Ravillagigido  Island,  Alaska,  were 
discovered. 

The  Eldora  telluride  district  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Boulder 
County,  Colorado,  was  opened. 

The  Boise  Basin,  Idaho,  produced  most  of  the  gold  in  the  state. 

The  silver  production  of  Butte,  Montana,  came  largely  from  the 
copper-silver  ores.  Four  dredges  were  operating  at  Grasshopper 
Creek  and  Alder. 

The  Daly  West  and  Ontario  were  the  most  important  mines  in 
the  Park  City  district,  Utah;  the  latter  was  closed  in  1897.  There 
was  a  decrease  in  the  gold  production,  owing  to  the  fall  in  value  of 
silver  and  increased  railroad  and  smelter  rates. 

The  northern  one-half  of  the  Colville  Indian  Reservation,  Wash- 
ington, was  opened  to  mineral  entries  in  February. 

1898. 

The  Empire  State-Idaho  Mining  and  Development  Company  was 
organized,  which  was  the  beginning  of  consolidations  of  the  Coeur 
d'Alene  interests. 

The  Theis  process  was  operated  successfully  at  the  Isenhour  mine, 
North  Carolina,  also  at  the  Haile  mine,  South  Carolina,  and  the 
Franklin  and  Royal  mines,  Georgia. 

Gold  was  discovered  on  Anvil  Creek,  near  Nome,  Alaska,  by  Lap- 
landers. 

Dawson  was  built  on  the  banks  of  the  Yukon. 

Several  old  mines  were  reopened  in  North  and  South  Carolina. 

Gold  was  claimed  to  have  been  found  in  the  high  terraces  of  the 
Platte  River,  Nebraska,  during  1898-99,  and  Lincoln  was  the  center 
of  dry  concentration  apparatus  manufacture. 

Gold  was  found  in  sandstone  at  Bellville,  Ohio. 

The  gold  production  of  Oregon  again  fell  off. 

Hydraulicing  was  carried  on  in  the  Argonaut  mine,  Utah,  at  the 
mouth  of  Carr  Fork. 


146  GOLD  AND  SILVEH. 

The  Camp  Floyd  district,  Utah,  was  the  chief  producer,  and  the 
gold  production  steadily  increased  till  1902,  although  no  new  camps 
were  opened.  The  Annie  Laurie  mine,  Pinto  County,  was  a  good 
producer  of  gold  and  silver. 

The  largest  producers  in  Washington  were  in  Stevens  County. 

1899. 

The  American  Smelting  and  Refining  Company  was  organized, 
which  acquired  a  large  number  of  the  silver-lead  smelting  and  re- 
fining works  of  the  United  States,  several  of  which  were  promptly 
dismantled. 

The  third  strike  of  the  miners  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene  district  oc- 
curred this  year;  the  Bunker  Hill  and  Sullivan  mill  was  dynamited 
on  April  29;  and  martial  law  was  proclaimed.  The  mines  were 
finally  opened  on  a  non-union  basis. 

There  was  a  strike  of  the  smelter  workmen  in  Colorado  early  in 
June,  which  hindered  operations  for  many  weeks. 

Four  cyanide  plants  were  operating  at  Cripple  Creek,  Colorado. 

The  hydraulic  jet-lift  for  draining  the  deep-levels  of  the  Corn- 
stock  lode  was  installed  at  the  C.  &  C.  shaft. 

The  tundra  in  the  neighborhood  of  Nome,  Alaska,  was  prospected 
by  drill  and  shafts  during  1899-02. 

This  was  the  record  year  in  gold  production  for  Colorado,  Cripple 
Creek  leading. 

Steam  operated  gold  dredges  were  working  on  Baboon  Creek  in 
the  Florence  district,  also  on  Snake  River,  Idaho. 

The  De  Lamar  district  continued  to  lead  in  the  production  of  gold 
in  Nevada. 

An  important  strike  was  made  at  the  Chainman  mine,  White  Pine 
County,  Nevada. 

The  Cochite  district,  New  Mexico,  began  development  work. 

The  Republic  district,  Washington,  was  very  actively  developed, 
but  the  Republic  mine  being  closed  kept  the  output  low. 

1900. 

Electrical  installations  were  made  at  the  C.  &  C.  shaft  on  the 
Comstock  lode. 

Relics  of  gravel-mining  were  found  at  Gold  Run,  Alaska. 

The  high  bench-gravels  on  Anvil  Creek,  Alaska,  were  discovered 
during  1900-02. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  147 

Teller  County  stood  first  in  gold  production  in  Colorado. 

There  was  a  revival  of  mining  in  Georgia. 

The  Ramshorn  and  Bayhorse,  Custer  County,  Idaho,  were  the 
deepest  and  best  developed  copper-silver  mines  in  the  state. 

The  Tonopah  district,  Nevada,  was  discovered  by  James  Butler. 

Electrical  power  was  introduced  into  the  Tonopah  district,  and 
the  development  of  the  Tonopah  Lake  district  was  stimulated  by  a 
system  of  small  leases. 

There  was  great  activity  in  the  construction  of  cyanide  mills  in 
South  Dakota,  although  the  mining  of  gold  was  confined  largely  to 
the  Black  Hills. 

Gold  was  discovered  in  Box  Elder  County,  Park  Valley,  Utah, 
during  1900-01. 

1901. 

The  smelting  interests  of  the  Guggenheim's  Sons  were  absorbed 
by  the  American  Smelting  and  Refining  Company,  the  former 
becoming,  however,  the  dominating  factor  in  the  amalgamated 
company.  The  American  S.  &  R.  Company  assumed  control  of 
the  lead  market,  fixing  the  price  both  for  the  producer  and  con- 
sumer, and  regulating  the  output  by  agreement  with  the  large  pro- 
ducers, and  by  adjustment  of  its  smelting  charges  in  connection 
with  small  producers. 

There  were  eleven  cyanide  plants  operating  in  South  Dakota. 

The  mining  interests  of  Tombstone,  Arizona,  were  consolidated, 
following  which  the  district  again  became  an  important  mining  center. 

Gold  was  found  on  Thunder  Mountain,  Idaho. 

The  Oregon  King  mine,  Oregon,  was  opened. 

1902. 

There  was  considerable  activity  in  mill  construction  in  Nevada, 
especially  at  the  De  La  Mar  mine. 

The  Sierra  de  Mogollon  properties,  in  New  Mexico,  were  de- 
veloped. 

Dredging  was  successfully  carried  on  in  the  Moreno  Placers,  Col- 
fax  County;  also  at  Grant,  Sierra,  Santa  Fe",  Taos,  Lincoln  and 
Socorro,  New  Mexico. 

Practically  all  of  t/he  Republic  mines,  Washington,  were  operating. 

There  was  considerable  excitement  in  the  Wichita  Mountains, 
Oklahoma,  during  1902-03. 


148  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Gold  was  found  in  glacial  drift  at  St.  Croix  Falls,  Wisconsin. 

The  output  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene  district  was  limited  by  arrange- 
ment between  the  leading  producers  and  the  Am.  S.  &  R.  Company. 
Further  steps  were  taken  by  the  smelting  combine  to  centralize  the 
smelting  operations,  the  Philadelphia  plant,  at  Pueblo,  Colorado, 
being  closed,  and  the  famous  smelter  and  refinery  at  Argentine, 
Kansas,  was  abandoned  and  dismantled. 

A  cyanide  plant  was  installed  at  the  Smuggler-Union  mine. 

Colorado  produced  more  than  one-third  of  the  gold  and  one- 
fourth  of  the  silver  product  of  the  United  States.  Alaska  followed 
with  one-ninth  of  the  total  gold  output,  while  she  contributed  more 
than  one-half  the  placer  gold  of  the  United  States.  Montana  held 
second  place  as  a  producer  of  silver,  having  produced  nearly  one- 
fourth  of  the  silver  in  the  states.  Utah  stood  third  in  rank  as  a 
silver  producer. 

Australia  held  first  place  in  the  gold  production  of  the  world;  the 
United  States  came  second,  Russia  fourth,  and  Canada  fifth. 

Mexico  led  in  the  production  of  silver,  the  United  States  being  a 
close  second. 

There  was  a  serious  depression  in  the  mining  industry  of  Colorado, 
owing  to  the  decline  in  silver  and  exhaustion  of  a  number  of  large 
gold  mines. 

The  Parks  and  Columbia  mines  of  Georgia  were  the  largest  pro- 
.ducers. 

J.  T.  Lovewell  reported  finding  from  $2  to  $10  in  gold  and  silver 
per  ton  in  the  ores  of  Western  Kansas;  officials  of  the  United  States 
Geological  Survey  examined  the  district,  but  found  only  traces  of 
gold  and  very  small  amounts  of  silver. 

The  gold  deposits  of  Columbia  Mountain,  Tonopah,  Nevada, 
were  discovered. 

1903. 

The  Federal  Mining  and  Smelting  Company  effected  a  consolida- 
tion of  many  of  the  large  mines  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene  district. 

The  Western  Mining  Company  was  organized  as  a  subsidiary 
company  of  the  Guggenheim  Exploration  Company,  and  acquired 
several  of  the  large  lead-producing  mines  at  Leadville,  Colorado. 

In  July  there  was  a  strike  of  the  smelter-men  at  the  Grant  works 
of  the  American  Smelting  and  Refining  Company,  and  as  a  result  the 
plant  was  closed  and  abandoned. 

The  first  shipment  of  gold  was  made  from  the  Combination  mine, 
Nevada,  which  was  discovered  the  same  year. 


DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  149 

There  was  considerable  active  development  in  the  Bradshaw 
Mountain  district,  Arizona. 

The  passage  of  the  eight-hour  law  was  an  important  event  in 
mining  circles,  Arizona. 

The  Cripple  Creek  drainage  adit  was  started  and  completed,  con- 
nection being  made  with  the  El  Paso  mine  on  September  6. 

The  Old  Gold  mine  on  Beacon  Hill,  Colorado,  was  discovered. 

The  extension  of  the  Montana  railroad  from  Harlowton  to  Lewis- 
town  was  completed  and  stimulated  the  gold  mining  industry  of 
Fergus  County,  Montana. 

There  was  a  falling  off  in  the  gold  production  of  the  Mercur  camp, 

Utah. 

i 

1904. 

Probably  the  first  successful  application  of  the  cyanide  process  to 
low-grade  Southern  gold  ores  was  made  at  the  Colossus  Gold  Mining 
and  Milling  Company's  plant. 

Australia  still  led  in  the  production  of  gold;  South  Africa  came 
second  and  the  United  States  third. 

Owing  to  the  lowering  of  the  water-level  in  the  Cripple  Creek 
mines,  Colorado,  new  discoveries  were  made. 

The  Harlson  County  placers  of  Georgia  were  worked. 

Silver  was  still  the  most  important  product  in  Idaho. 

Telluride  ores  were  discovered  at  the  Iron  Spring  mine  on  Rapid 
River,  Idaho. 

The  Whitlace  mine,  Montana,  was  reopened  after  lying  idle  for 
27  years. 

Interest  centered  chiefly  in  the  Cornucopia  camp,  sixty  miles 
south  of  Baker  City,  Oregon. 

There  was  a  marked  increase  in  the  gold  and  silver  production 
chiefly  from  the  Bingham  district,  Utah.  Increased  railroad  facil- 
ities stimulated  the  districts  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state.  Con- 
nection was  made  with  the  Pacific  coast. 

Both  the  gold  and  silver  product  of  Washington  had  increased; 
the  Sherman  district  began  to  attract  attention. 

1905. 

Most  of  the  gold  produced  in  Utah  came  from  the  smelting  of 
copper  ores. 

The  Huntington-Heberlein  process  was  adopted  by  the  Am. 
S.  &  R.  Co. 


150  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Many  old  mining  camps,  including  Cerro  Gordo,  California,  and 
Eureka,  Nevada,  began  to  attract  attention  again.  The  Eureka 
and  Richmond  companies  were  consolidated. 

The  Selby  works  at  San  Francisco  was  purchased  by  the  Am. 
S.  &  Securities  Company,  a  subsidiary  company  of  the  Am.  S.  &  R.  Co. 

The  United  States  Smelting  and  Refining  Company  was  organized 
which  took  over  several  independent  works,  with  plans  to  enter  into 
competition  with  the  Am.  S.  &  R.  Co. 

During  this  year  nine  states  and  territories  produced  99.5  per 
cent  of  the  gold  ouput  of  the  United  States,  the  more  important 
being:  Colorado,  California,  Alaska,  South  Dakota.  Montana  led 
in  silver  production,  being  followed  closely  by  Colorado  and  Utah. 
Idaho  was  beginning  to  be  an  important  factor  in  the  production  of 
silver  which  came  chiefly  from  silver-lead  ores. 

The  United  States  led  in  the  production  of  silver,  Mexico  being 
second. 

The  principal  source  of  gold  in  Arizona  was  from  the  copper  ores. 

There  was  a  pronounced  increase  in  the  gold  output  of  California. 

The  gold  production  of  Idaho  decreased  somewhat. 

Four-fifths  of  the  silver  came  from  the  Butte  copper  mines,  Mon- 
tana. Fergus  County  led  as  a  gold  producer,  Kendall  being  the 
chief  center. 

The  only  placers  worked  in  Montana  were  those  on  Grasshopper 
and  Rattlesnake  creeks. 

The  Tonopah  district  was  the  most  important  in  southern  Nevada, 
the  Tonopah  mine  being  first  and  the  Montana  second  in  import- 
ance. 

Gold  dredging  had  become  a  fixed  and  profitable  industry  in 
California. 

1906. 

An  electrolytic  lead  refining  plant  was  erected  by  the  U.  S.  S.  &  R. 
Co.,  near  Chicago,  which  was  the  first  work  of  this  kind  in  the  United 
States.  The  Guggenheims  had  practically  secured  control  of  the 
National  Lead  Company,  thus  bringing  the  larger  part  of  the  lead- 
consuming  industry  of  the  United  States  into  direct  affiliation  with 
the  Am.  S.  &  R.  Co. 

Steam  shovels  were  employed  in  the  Boston  Consolidated  Mining 
Company's  mines,  at  Bingham,  Utah. 

The  Idaho  mine,  Clay  County,  Alabama,  was  opened,  and  dredg- 
ing was  done  on  the  Chestatee  River.  ;-* 


CHAPTER   III. 
OCCURRENCE  AND  ASSOCIATION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

No  attempt  at  an  exhaustive  discussion  of  the  theory  of  ore- 
deposits  is  undertaken  in  this  connection;  however,  it  would 
seem  to  be  both  necessary  and  desirable  that  so  much  of  the  generally 
accepted  theories  should  be  given  as  to  render  the  following  informa- 
tion more  intelligible  to  the  reader.  Extracts  from  various  papers 
on  the  theory  of  vein  structure  and  deposition  of  minerals  are 
quoted  freely,  references  being  given  in  order  that  the  reader  may 
be  able  to  refer  to  the  full  text  should  he  so  desire. 

Theory  of  Ore  Formation  and  Occurrence  of  Gold  in  Gravel.  —  In 
J.  F.  Kemp's  paper 1  on  the  Formation  of  Veins  is  an  excellent  dis- 
cussion and  summary  of  the  principles  involved,  from  which  the 
following  extracts  are  taken. 

"  All  problems  of  ore  deposition  resolve  themselves  into  three 
main  parts.  The  first  is  the  geological  structure  of  the  immediate 
country.  The  second  includes  the  solvent  or  introductory  medium 
and  its  prime  mover.  The  third  relates  to  the  chemical  reactions 
involved. 

"  Under  the  first  we  raise  the  question,  Why  has  the  particular 
spot  been  selected  by  the  depositing  agents  ?  Granted,  as  is  usually 
the  case,  that  some  fluid  has  been  the  vehicle  of  introduction,  this 
phase  of  the  problem  becomes  one  of  explaining  cavities  and  water- 
ways." The  usual  receptacles  for  mineralized  solutions  and  the  min- 
erals subsequently  deposited  from  them  are  porous  rock  and  openings 
produced  in  rock  masses  by  folding  and  faulting  and  often  by  the 
natural  process  of  cooling  of  molten  or  heated  bodies  of  mineral 
matter. 

"  Inasmuch  as  the  greater  number  of  ore  bodies  have  been  obviously 
precipitated  in  cavities  and  by  the  medium  of  some  solvent,  all 
careful  observers  have  at  once  pitched  upon  water  as  the  necessary 
vehicle.  However  widely  one  writer  may  differ  from  another  in  the 
emphasis  laid  on  the  condition  of  the  water,  whether  hot  or  cold, 
whether  derived  from  the  vapors  held  by  the  igneous  and  molten 

1  The  Formation  of  Veins,  J.  F.  Kemp,  Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  10,  p.  89. 

151 


152  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

rocks  deep  within  the  earth  or  whether  fallen  from  the  clouds  as 
rain;  whether  in  the  form  of  the  ocean  standing  above  the  crevices 
or  as  lakes  in  the  same  relation;  water  in  some  form  has  appealed 
to  all  as  the  chief  agent.  .  .  .  Try  as  one  may,  cast  about  among  all 
conceivable  agents  and  processes  to  the  extreme  of  knowledge,  we, 
come  inevitably  back  to  this  conclusion  for  the  greater  number  of 
ore  deposits/' 

A  paper  by  Franz  Posepny,  the  distinguished  Austrian  mining 
geologist,  brought  out  two  points,  namely;  the  deposition  of  ores 
and  gangues  from  solution  in  water  and  a  clearer  and  more  definite 
notion  of  the  underground  waters.  Practical  mining  men  had  for 
many  years  recognized  the  existence  of  zones  of  water  in  relation  to 
the  sulphide  ores  below  and  the  oxidized  above.  "  It  remained  for 
Posepny  to  sharply  differentiate  the  deep-seated  water  or  those 
below  the  permanent  water  level,  from  the  overlying  ones,  which 
by  contrast  he  called  the  '  Vadose.'  The  deep-seated  waters  are 
relatively  still  and  very  slow  in  their  movements  if  they  move  at  all; 
whereas  the  vadose  are  constantly  migrating  as  they  trickle  down- 
ward after  rain-storms  until  they  meet  the  ground-water,  or  until 
they  are  tapped  off  in  springs  and  vents  at  some  Lower  point,  having 
perhaps  gone  deeper  than  the  vent  by  a  syphonic  movement  around 
an  impervious  barrier.  With  increasing  depth  within  the  earth  the 
deep  waters  meet  zones  of  slowly  increasing  temperature,  and  hence 
conditions  of  unstable  equilibrium.  .  .  . 

"  By  a  mathematical  treatment  of  the  increasing  load  supported 
by  deeper  and  deeper  layers  of  the  earth's  crust,  and  by  a  consider- 
ation of  the  resistance  of  the  materials  involved,  Van  Hise  was  able 
to  establish  the  impossibility  of  cavities  at  an  extreme  depth  greater 
than  about  30,000  feet,  or  say,  10,000  meters,  for  the  most  resistant 
rocks,  such  as  granite.  For  softer  rocks,  such  as  shales,  it  might  be 
less  than  a  tenth  of  this.  .  .  .  From  these  considerations  it  follows 
that  as  regards  movement  and  cavities,  there  were  three  zones  in  the 
earth's  crust,  an  outer  or  upper  one  of  small  load,  where  fractures 
would  be  possible  and  the  natural  result  of  movements;  a  lower 
one  of  flowage,  where  fractures  and  cavities  would  be  impossible, 
and  an  intermediate  one  wherein  from  the  varying  resistance  of  the 
different  rocks  present,  there  would  be  both  fracture  and  flowage. 

"  These  conceptions  are  fundamental  and  far-reaching.  At  once, 
so  far  as  the  consideration  of  the  circulation  of  underground  waters 
is  concerned,  and  therefore  of  ore  deposition,  they  limit  the  discus- 
sion to  the  depth  of  possible  fractures,  and  in  the  extreme  therefore 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  153 

and  amid  the  most  resistant  rocks,  the  '  ewige  Teufe  '  of  the  old  Ger- 
man miners  is  10,000  meters." 

Van  Hise  also  contends  that  the  chemical  changes  taking  place 
in  the  zone  of  vadose  circulation  might  effect  a  healing  or  closing  up 
of  the  fractures  by  precipitation,  thus  producing  what  may  be  called 
the  zone  of  cementation.  Further,  he  favors  the  idea  that  the 
more  universal,  moderate  and  long-continued  agencies  would  be  the 
most  logical  factors  in  affecting  results  than  the  more  localized  and 
temporary  processes. 

Kemp  further  contends  that:  "First,  the  point  was  made  that 
all  very  deep  mines  penetrate  through  a  water-bearing  zone  which 
may  be  quite  shallow,  and  rarely  goes  as  low  as  2,000  feet  unless  in 
regions  of  expiring  volcanic  activity.  Veins,  however,  extend  much 
deeper;  hence  some  other  source  than  the  meteoric  must  be  found 
for  the  water  which  has  in  large  part  deposited  the  vein  fillings. 
This  point  about  the  comparatively  shallow  penetration  of  the 
meteoric  water  has  been  fully  substantiated  by  extended  data  sub- 
sequently collected  by  T.  A.  Rickard,  and  it  may  be  considered 
quite  firmly  established."  He  further,  "  made  the  point  that  the 
increase  of  temperature  with  depth  was  so  slight  as  to  be  of  small 
ejective  moment,  and  that  at  10,000  feet  it  would  practically  dis- 
appear, when  quantitatively  expressed.  While  it  is  evident  that 
some  instability  of  equilibrium  would  be  produced,  yet,  if  we  leave 
out  of  consideration  localized,  intruded  masses  of  highly  heated 
igneous  rock,  it  limits  the  efficient  motive  power  of  the  meteoric 
ground-waters  to  the  head  produced  by  higher  points  of  entryt 
transmitted  with  constant  loss  from  friction  through  the  under 
ground  passages." 

"  The  result  of  the  above  two  main  contentions  is  that  waters 
deep-seated  enough  to  yield  known  veins  must  come  from  some 
other  source  than  the  meteoric.  The  source  which  meets  the  above 
objections  is  in  the  deep-seated  igneous  rocks,  which  volcanic 
outbreaks  show  to  be  richly  charged  with  steam,  which  are  almost 
always  visibly  associated  with  veins,  and  which  are  vast  and  local- 
ized stores  of  heat  and  energy." 

However,  we  must  exclude  from  this  class  those  ore-bodies  usually 
basic  and  often  composed  of  igneous  segregations.  "  But  for  veins  and 
kindred  ore  bodies  in  whose  production  underground  and  circulating 
water  has  so  largely  shared,  the  general  disposition  is  to  connect 
them  in  most  cases  with  expiring  igneous  phenomena  operating 
alike  with  emissions  from  the  cooling  magmas,  and  with  meteoric 


154  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

waters.  Since  veins,  moreover,  are  themselves  comparatively  rare 
phenomena,  it  is  the  more  probable  that  they  have  been  caused  by 
some  briefly  operating,  but  exceptionally  efficient  agencies,  rather 
than  by  universal  and  continuously  operating  ones." 

It  is  probable  that  the  circulating  waters,  especially  of  the  zone  of 
vadose  circulation,  derive  their  mineral  content  from  the  sparsely 
disseminated  elements  *  of  the  rock  mass  through  which  they  pass, 
and  probably  most  actively  during  their  downward  movement. 
"  Since,  except  in  the  case  of  iron  and  manganese,  the  greater  num- 
ber of  metals  are  originally  found  as  sulphides,  they  are  oxidized 
with  the  attendant  production  of  sulphuric  acid,  and  thus  go  readily 
into  solution.  Several,  however,  such  as  zinc  and  copper,  are  ap- 
parently redeposited  at  or  not  far  below  the  line  of  the  permanent 
water  level,  giving  rise  to  enriched  ore  bodies  at  these  points."  The 
effect  of  vadose  waters  is  probably  more  largely  exerted  in  produc- 
ing changes  in  existing  ore-bodies,  producing  the  rearrangement  and 
secondary  enrichment  of  veins  than  in  forming  them  in  the  first 
place. 

" A  third  and  concluding  phase  of  the  general  process  deals  with 
the  chemical  reactions  which  are  involved  in  the  solution  and  pre- 
cipitation of  the  ores  and  gangue.  For  the  deep-seated  reactions  and 
those  which  take  place  under  the  influence  of  highly  heated  eruptive 
rocks,  with  the  exalted  temperatures,  and  the  great  pressures  in- 
volved, we  may  not  be  always  able  to  write  exact  reactions  or  sug- 
gest accurate  expressions.  But  for  those  which  take  place  under 
conditions  familiar  and  normal  at  the  surface  we  may  formulate 
equations  which  are  doubtless  very  near  the  truth." 

If,  as  is  generally  believed,  the  elements  are  universally  dissemi- 
nated throughout  the  rocks  of  the  earth,  then  considering  the  inti- 
mate relationship  between  sea  and  land  with  the  constant  exchange 
of  products  from  one  to  the  other,  it  is  but  reasonable  to  expect  to 
find  gold,  silver,  and  in  fact  all  elements  in  the  waters  of  the  ocean 
but  in  small  amounts.  The  presence  of  gold  in  sea  water  has  been 
proven  by  Sonstadt,  who  after  careful  experiments  on  water  taken 
from  Ramsey  Bay,  Isle  of  Man,  stated  that  the  water  contained  a 
little  under  a  grain  of  gold  per  ton.  From  which  it  has  been  esti- 
mated that  allowing  £8,500,000,000  sterling  as  the  whole  gold  pro- 
duction of  the  world,  and  assuming  that  the  weight  of  the  sea  water 
is  560,000,000,000,000,000  tons  according  to  Professor  Wurtz,  it 
would  contain  5,000,000,  times  as  much  gold  as  has  been  mined; 
1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  84,  p.  1067. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  155 

the  conclusion  being  that  the  sea  itself  contained  an  ample  supply 
to  have  yielded  that  which  the  rocks  contain.1 

According  to  Kemp  in  his  Ore  Deposits  of  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  the  metallic  contents  of  the  ore  forming  minerals  must 
have  been  derived  either  from  the  ocean  or  igneous  rocks  :2  from  the 
former  through  the  agency  of  living  organisms  the  metals  were  de- 
posited in  sedimentary  deposits,  from  which  temporary  lodgment 
they  were  extracted  by  circulating  waters,  and  finally  concentrated 
into  the  present  metalliferous  deposits.  In  the  case  of  igneous 
rocks  their  degradation  and  transportation  are  largely  responsible 
for  sedimentary  strata,  so  that  if  they  were  the  origin  of  the  metals 
the  sedimentary  rocks  would  ultimately  become  their  resting  place, 
while  further  changes  under  favorable  conditions  would  effect  their 
transformation  into  metalliferous  aggregations.3 

In  discussing  the  possible  origin  of  the  gold  deposits  of  the  South- 
ern States,  George  F.  Becker  says:  "  The  indications  of  the  occur- 
rence do  not  seem  favorable  to  the  hypothesis  of  such  an  origin 
(the  assumption  that  the  gneissic  rocks  are  the  source  of  the  gold), 
for  there  is  no  such  prevalence  of  solfataric  decomposition  of  the 
wall  rocks  below  water  line  as  would  possibly  accompany  a  gather- 
ing together  into  the  veins  of  small  quantities  of  gold  from  great 
masses  of  rock."4 

As  to  how  mineralized  solutions  are  formed  and  why  their  mineral 
contents  are  redeposited  forming  the  various  combinations  found  in 
in  veins  and  other  deposits,  a  few  extracts  from  Mr.  Lindgren's 
report  on  The  Gold-quartz  veins  of  Nevada  City  and  Grass  Valley 
districts,  California5  will  help  to  explain. 

"  According  to  Fuchs,6  amorphous  freshly  prepared  silica  is  solu- 
ble in  water  to  the  extent  of  130  grams  per  ton.  The  natural 
siliceous  waters  show,  however,  a  far  greater  solubility;  the  Iceland 
geysers  contain  up  to  606  grams  per  ton;  Steamboat  Springs, 
Nevada,  306,  and  the  Yellowstone  Park  geysers  up  to  580.  The 
silica  in  the  latter  is  not  precipitated  by  cooling,  even  to  freezing 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  69,  p.  120  and  Chemical  News,  4th  October,  1872. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  March  17,  1904,  p.  440,  Paper  by  W.  H.  Weed  on 
Original  Native  Gold  in  Igneous  Rocks ;  The  Role  of  the  Igneous  Rocks  in  the 
Formation  of  Veins.  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  31,  pp.  189  to  223. 

3  Ore  Deposits  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  J.  F.  Kemp,  p.  32. 

4  U.  S.  G.  S.  16th  Ann.  Rept.  Pt.  3,  p.  288. 

5  U.  S.  G.  S.  17th  Ann.  Rept.  Pt.  2,  pp.  176-181,  1896,  and  Ibid,  19th  Ann. 
Rept.  Pt.  3,  pp.  716-718. 

6  Doelter,  Chemische  Mineralogie,  Leipzig,  1890,  p.  189. 


156  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

point,  when  not  exceeding  400  grams  per  ton,  and,  according  to 
F.  A.  Gooch,1  it  is  probable  that  the  compound  is  not  contained  as 
alkaline  silicates,  but  as  free  hydrated  silica.  Saturating  the  waters 
with  H2S  (hydrogen  sulphide)  or  CO2  (carbon  dioxide)  did  not  pro- 
duce precipitation. 

"  Deolter  found  that  pyrite,  galena,  antimonite,  sphalerite,  chal- 
copyrite  (in  part)  arsenopyrite,  and  bournonite  are  to  some  extent 
soluble  in  pure  water  when  heated  for  almost  four  weeks  in  glass 
tubes  to  a  temperature  of  80°  C.  About  one-eighth  or  one-tenth  of 
the  remaining  undissolved,  finely  powdered  mineral  was  in  addition 
usually  found  to  be  recrystallized.  Pyrite  was  soluble  at  the  rate 
of  1,000  grams  per  ton  of  solution,  or  0.10  per  cent.  The  solution  of 
galena  contained  270  grams  of  PbS  (lead  sulphide)  per  ton.2 

11  According  to  the  same  authority  galena  and  pyrite  are  also  to 
some  extent  attacked  by  water  containing  carbon  dioxide. 

"  Becker3  found  that  pyrite  is  soluble  in  cold  solutions  of  sodium 
sulphide.  Ten  cubic  centimeters  of  solution  containing  1.0955 
grams  of  sodium  sulphide  dissolved  0.6  grams  of  pyrite,  the  solution 
thus  containing  about  60  grams  of  pyrite  per  ton,  or  0.006  per  cent. 
Pyrite  is  also  soluble  in  hot  sodic  sulphydrate,  but  not  in  cold,  and 
is  relatively  easily  soluble  in  cold  and  hot  solutions  of  sodium  car- 
bonate partly  saturated  with  hydrogen  sulphide. 

"  Similar  results  were  obtained  with  the  sulphides  of  mercury, 
copper,  zinc,  and,  of  course,  arsenic  and  antimony.  The  sulphides 
of  lead  and  silver  could  not  be  brought  in  solution,  the  former  not 
even  when  heated  to  100°  C,  in  closed  tube. 

"  Doelter's4  later  experiments  show  that  pyrite,  galena,  zinc- 
blende,  arsenopyrite,  chalcopyrite,  and  bournonite  are  all  soluble 
in  sodic  sulphide  by  treating  the  finely  powdered  minerals  for 
twenty-four  days  of  twelve  hours  at  a  temperature  of  80°  C.  in 
glass  tubes.  Quantity  of  mineral  used,  about  1  gram;  quantity  of 
liquid,  about  40  to  50  c.c.  Of  the  pyrite,  10.6  per  cent  was  dissolved, 
corresponding  to  an  approximate  content  of  0.2  per  cent  of  pyrite 
in  the  solution.  Galena  is  even  more  soluble.  In  comparing  these 
large  amounts  with  Becker's  results  it  would  thus  seem  that  time 
is  a  very  important  factor  in  the  solution  of  these  minerals.  In 

1  Formation  of  travertine,  etc.,  W.  H.  Weed:  9th  Ann.  Kept.  U.  S.  G.  S.,  p. 
655,  1889. 

2  Tschermaks  Mineral  Mitteil.,  1889,  Vol.  2,  p.  319. 
8  Mon.  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Vol.  13,  p.  432,  1888. 

4  Tschermaks  Mineral.  Mitteil.,  1889,  Vol.  2,  p.  323. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  157 

regard  to  the  solubility  of  tellurium  compounds,  which  evidently 
have  a  close  relationship  with  the  gold,  there  are  no  data  available. 

"  It  is  a  widely  accepted  view  that  in  general  the  decrease  of  pres- 
sure and  temperature  forms  an  important  factor  in  the  formation 
of  mineral  deposits  by  ascending  hot  springs.  In  view  of  this  it 
may  be  profitable  to  inquire  how,  as  far  as  we  know,  the  solutions  of 
different  substances  are  influenced  by  the  increase  of  pressure  and 
temperature. 

"  It  is  proper  to  draw  attention  at  the  outset  to  the  fact  that  the 
question  is  extremely  complicated,  for  the  presence  of  other  sub- 
stances, as  a  rule,  affects  the  solubility  of  any  given  salt;  so  that 
the  rules  obtained  from  simple  solutions  of  certain  compounds  may 
not  be  applicable  at  all  for  solutions  of  the  same  in  mineral  waters. 

"  Pressure  certainly  affects  the  solubility  of  many  substances, 
but  the  result  may  be  either  an  increase  or  decrease.  The  investi- 
gation of  Braun1  shows  that  the  rate  of  increase  (positive  or  nega- 
tive) is  a  function  of  the  pressure,  temperature,  heat  of  solution, 
and  change  of  volume  taking  place  in  the  solution.  If  contraction 
takes  place,  which  is  the  less  common  case,  there  is  in  general  a  de- 
crease of  solubility. 

"  Regarding  silica,  there  are  apparently  no  data  available;  depo- 
sition taking  place  from  highly  saturated  solutions  may  be  due  to 
loss  either  of  heat  or  of  pressure.  .  .  . 

"  The  influence  of  temperature  has  been  more  extensively  studied. 
It  may  be  said  that  up  to  about  100°  C.  there  is  in  general  an  in- 
crease in  solubility,  but  recent  experiments  seem  to  prove  that  for 
many  substances  there  is,  in  fact,  after  a  certain  point  has  been 
passed,  a  distinct  decrease.  .  .  .  Assuming  a  mineral  water  emerging 
at  the  surface  with  a  temperature  near  the  boiling  point,  and  a  grad- 
ually rising  pressure  and  temperature  down  to  a  depth  of  several 
thousand  feet,  it  becomes  clear  that  we  are  not  in  the  least  justified 
in  assuming  a  gradual  and  indefinitely  extended  increased  solu- 
bility in  depth,  or,  reversed,  that  conditions  for  deposition  will 
gradually  become  more  favorable  as  upper  levels  are  reached.  It 
is  in  fact  more  probable  that  for  temperatures  rising  high  above 
100°  C.  and  under  increasing  pressures,  there  will  be  a  decrease  in  the 
dissolving  power  of  waters,  at  least  as  far  as  the  principal  constit- 
uents, of  the  water  are  concerned.  In  all  probability  the  quartz 
veins  here  described  were  deposited  from  solutions  at  great  depth 
1  Ostwald,  Allgemeine  Chemie,  p.  1046. 


158  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

below  the  surface,  under  strong  pressure,  and  at  temperatures  rang- 
ing perhaps  from  100°  C.  up  to  250°  C.  It  is  true,  and  the  fact 
agrees  with  results  previously  stated,  that  at  the  mouth  of  the  crev- 
ice, deposits  of  many  substances  are  formed  by  suddenly  diminish- 
ing temperature,  but  it  does  not  at  all  follow  that  a  diminution  from 
200°  C.  to  100°  C.  will  produce  a  result  similar  to  that  of  cooling  from 
100°  to  0°.  Besides,  the  precipitation  at  the  surface  is  very 
largely  caused  by  the  oxidizing  influence  of  the  air,  escape  of  carbon 
dioxide,  evaporation,  reduction  by  organic  matter,  and  algous 
growth.  .  .  ." 

"  In  regard  to  the  influence  of  heat  and  pressure  upon  the  solu- 
bility of  gold  and  sulphides,  there  are  but  few  definite  data  avail- 
able, and,  in  fact,  the  problem  is  much  more  difficult  than  that 
offered  by  the  ordinary  easily  soluble  salts.  The  experiments  of 
Becker  and  Doelter  indicate  that  heat,  and  perhaps  also  pressure, 
increases  the  solubility,  but  how  far  this  increase  extends  is  almost 
entirely  unknown.  It  is  not  unreasonable  to  suppose  that,  as  with 
other  salts,  this  increase  is  not  indefinite,  but  reaches  a  maximum 
and  then  again  declines." 

"  Opal  or  cryptocrystalline  silica  may  be  deposited  at  considerable 
depths,  as  its  occurrence  in  several  deep  mines  of  Grass  Valley  indi- 
cates." 

"  The  reaction  by  which  the  oxides  of  iron  or  other  iron  salts  are 
converted  to  pyrite  by  the  action  of  hydric  sulphide  or  sodic  sul- 
phide is  evidently  of  great  importance.  This  reaction  was  shown 
by  Dr.  G.  F.  Becker  to  have  taken  place  to  great  extent  in  the  altered 
country  rocks  of  the  Comstock  lode,  the  pyrite  being  principally, 
apparently,  derived  from  the  ferrous  silicates;  it  was  experimentally 
verified  by  Doelter1  in  case  of  oxides  and  carbonates  of  iron.  It  is 
clear  that  the  ferro  magnesian  silicates  and  the  magnetite  in  the 
wall  rocks  have  furnished  the  greater  part  if  not  all  of  the  iron  for 
the  pyrite  in  the  altered  rocks,  while  it  is  equally  certain  that  compara- 
tively little  iron  has  been  carried  from  the  country  rock  in  the  vein.2  " 

Many  tests  on  pyrite  with  nitric  'acid  have  shown  the  presence  of 
gold,  which  usually  occurs  in  the  form  of  scales  and  grains  and  even 
laminated;  this  it  is  claimed  could  not  be  the  case  were  the  gold 
chemically  combined  with  the  sulphur.3  It  is  well  known  that 
pyrite  may  be  produced  by  the  action  of  a  reducing  agent  on  sul- 

1  Chemische  Mineralogie,  p.  148. 

8  U.  S.  G.  S.  19th  Ann.  Kept.  Pt.  3,  pp.  116-718,  1897-98. 

8  Am.  Jour.  Min.,  Vol.  7,  p.  26. 

" 


OCCURRENCE   OF   GOLD   AND  SILVER.  159 

phate  of  iron;  all  that  would  be  necessary  then  to  bring  about  the 
common  occurrence  of  gold  in  pyrite  would  be  to  have  a  solution  of 
sulphate  of  iron  and  gold,  which  when  acted  upon  by  the  reducer 
would  form  pyrite  with  gold  included  l  —  both  crystallizing  at  the 
same  time,  one  forming  a  mineral,  the  other  a  metal.  — , 

The  theory  has  been  advanced  by  eminent  authorities  that  under 
natural  conditions  of  heat  and  pressure,  gold  and  silica  will  unite 
forming  silicate  of  gold,  which  would  be  slightly  soluble  in  hot 
water.  Therefore  conditions  favoring  the  solution  and  deposition  of 
silica  might  also  produce  silicate  of  gold  in  siliceous  auriferous 
rocks.  Subsequent  solution  by  heated  waters  would  permit  it  to 
be  transferred  from  its  source  in  the  country-rock  to  cavities,  fis- 
sures or  porous  formations,  where  together  with  one  or  more  other 
minerals  it  would  be  deposited  as  a  filling.  In  the  course  of  time 
the  separation  of  gold  would  be  affected,  thus  leaving  it  in  its  free 
metallic  form.2 

"  In  whatever  direction  we  look  for  the  cause  of  the  original  pre- 
cipitation and  re-solution  for  after-deposit  in  mineral  veins,  we  must 
never  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  the  first  agent  must  have  been  potent 
to  precipitate  both  gold  and  silver,  and  the  second  to  redissolve  the 
united  precipitates,  as  no  gold  has  yet  been  found  in  nature  un- 
alloyed with  silver.  That  sulphur  compounds  have  played  an  im- 
portant part  in  the  reactions  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  scarcely 
ever  has  pyrites  taken  from  the  Silurian  slates  of  Sandhurst,  Mary- 
borough, and  other  localites,  failed  to  yield  gold."3 

Interesting  experiments  with  solutions  of  gold,  usually  chloride  of 
gold,  from  which  the  gold  was  precipitated  by  means  of  organic 
matter,  have  proven  instructive  —  the  gold  was  found  to  collect  or 
be  deposited  upon  metallic  nuclei,  and  that  besides  the  gold  metallic 
sulphides  as  pyrite  and  galena  were  especially  attractive.  This 
action  is  analogous  to  the  electro-plating  process,  the  accretion 
being  of  practically  uniform  thickness  all  over  the  nucleus.  Further, 
gold  crystals  have  been  found  to  contain  or  be  nuclei  of  various 
metallic  substances  such  as  brown  iron  ore  and  pyrite,  which  would 
seem  to  corroborate  the  contention  that  gold  can  be  deposited  with 
or  upon  metallic  sulphides.4 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press.,  Vol.  85,  p.  48. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  58,  p.  534,  and  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extrac- 
tion, A.  G.  Lock,  p.  766. 

3  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  A.  G.  Lock,  p.  757. 

4  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  A.  G.  Lock,  p.  759. 


160  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

"  From  these  experiments,  it  would  appear  that  organic  matter 
is  the  necessary  chemical  agent  to  decompose  a  solution  of  the 
chloride  of  gold,  in  order  to  precipitate  the  gold  as  a  coherent 
coating  around  a  nucleus  presented  to  it;  and  that  so  far  as  we 
have  yet  tried,  iron-,  copper-,  and  arsenical  pyrites,  galena,  antimony, 
molybdenite,  blende,  wolfram,  and  metallic  gold,  constitute  especially 
favorable  nuclei  to  demonstrate  this  chemical  reaction."  l 

The  association  would  appear  to  be  more  of  adhesion  than  of  an 
alloy,  in  either  case  maintaining  that  relation  only  so  long  as  con- 
ditions were  favorable,  thus  changing  from  the  metallic  state  to  a 
silicate  and  possibly  a  sulphide  or  vice-versa.  However,  the  sul- 
phide of  gold  (if  it  exists)  is  so  unstable  that  it  is  not  strange  that  it 
has  not  as  yet  been  detected  in  nature,  although  it  may  be  an 
important  factor  in  the  transition  between  different  well-known 
mineral  combinations. 

According  to  Ren  wick,  "  Gold  is,  no  doubt,  in  chemical  combi- 
nation with  sulphur,  as  it  is  impossible,  by  mechanical  means,  to 
separate  the  gold  from  the  sulphurets  or  sulphides  —  which  is  used 
as  an  argument  for  the  occurrence  of  more  gold  in  decomposed 
than  undecomposed  veins,  the  gold  having  been  concentrated  from 
the  decomposed  sulphides."2 

I  Many  theories  have  been  advanced  to  account  for  the  occurrence 
of  gold  grains  and  nuggets  in  gravels,  the  most  obvious  one  being 
the  disintegration  of  quartz-veins,  which  most  authorities  agree 
upon  as  the  most  probable  source  of  the  bulk  of  gold  so  found. 
However,  there  are  a  few  facts  which  have  led  to  considerable  specu- 
lation and  debate,  and  are  still  variously  considered  by  different 
authorities.  The  fact  that  larger  pieces  of  gold  are  often  found  in 
gravel  deposits  than  are  usual  in  veins,  and  further  that  it  is  usually 
purer  has  been  a  fruitful  source  of  difference  of  opinion. 

Although  we  may  consider  that  the  same  agencies  are  acting  in 
the  superficial  gravel  deposits  as  in  the  deep-seated  openings  formed 
by  fissuring,  yet  the  extreme  conditions  existing  in  the  latter  are 
wanting  in  the  former  case  therefore  the  results  obtained  for  a  given 
length  of  time  would  be  proportionately  less  important.  Neverthe- 
less the  solvent  and  precipitating  actions  might  readily  be  aug- 
mented by  the  presence  of  elements  and  compounds,  or  increased 
amounts  of  the  same,  in  superficial  deposits  not  known  to  exist  in 
the  veins.  "  That  the  waters  percolating  our  drifts  have,  in  many 

1  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  A.G.  Lock,  p.  760. 

2  American  Jour,  of  Min.,  Vol.  1,  p.  313. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  161 

instances,  a  strong  solvent  action  on  some  metals  and  metallic 
oxides,  we  have  constant  evidence  in  seeing  the  blue  slates  of  the 
hill  slopes,  where  covered  with  drift  in  the  valleys,  converted  into 
white  pipe-clay.  Was  this  solvent  carbonic  acid,  or  have  we  at 
times  a  stronger  acid  in  operation  capable  of  acting  on  silver,  and  so 
affording  a  reason  for  the  fact  that  the  alluvial  gold  of  a  district 
usually  assays  higher  than  the  reef-gold  of  the  same  district?  "  l 

It  is  known  that  weak  solutions  of  gold  chloride  will  dissolve 
pyrite,  but  not  so  fast  as  to  hinder  the  deposition  of  metallic  gold 
upon  the  crystal.  Galena  is  probably  the  most  readily  acted  upon 
of  the  sulphides  and  at  the  same  time  permits  a  rapid  deposition  of 
gold.  Subsequently  the  enclosing  film  of  gold  bursts  along  the 
edges  owing  to  the  formation  of  salts,  and  in  time  may  become  de- 
tached or  the  nucleus  may  be  entirely  dissolved  leaving  the  shell  of 
gold.  Further,  the  outside  of  this  gold  coating  usually  has  a  mam- 
millary  form  while  the  inside  is  rough  and  irregular.  Now,  as  placer 
gold  often  shows  a  crystalline  form  it  is  probable  that  some  of  it  at 
least  has  been  formed  in  this  manner.2 

However,  after  all  evidence  has  been  thrashed  out,  and  when  all 
known  facts  have  been  considered  it  seems  unnecessary  to  look 
further  than  the  natural  and  logical  results  obtainable  from  the 
disintegration  of  quartz-veins,  and  the  subsequent  purifying  action 
of  percolating  surface  waters  through  the  containing  gravels.  The 
following  well  known  and  often  observed  facts  are  corroborative  of 
the  above  conclusions:  First,  the  closer  to  the  source  of  the  gold 
(the  vein),  the  more  impure  is  the  gold,  therefore,  it  may  be  gen- 
erally stated  that  the  higher  the  altitude  the  lower  is  the  value  of 
the  gold;  second,  the  smaller  the  piece  of  gold,  the  purer;  third,  the 
interior  of  a  nugget  of  gold  is  more  impure  than  the  exterior;  and 
fourth,  the  worn  condition  and  rounded  form  of  nuggets  found  in 
gravels  and  drifts. 

Large  masses  of  gold  are  found  in  veins,  although  such  occur- 
rences are  not  as  common  as  in  gravels. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  possible  occurrence  of  large  masses  of 
gold  in  gravels  the  case  of  the  Boly  Fields  gold-vein,  Georgia,  may 
be  cited.  It  is  stated  that  "  thousands  of  dollars  worth  of  metal 
were  obtained  in  a  few  days  by  simply  blasting  it  out  of  the  rock, 
breaking  it  up  with  hammers  and  pounding  the  fragments  in  mor- 

1  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,.  A.  G.  Lock,  p.  558,  1882,  and  The 
Nature  of  Ore  Deposits,  R.  Beck  and  W.  H.  Weed,  1907,  pp.  651-656. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  17,  p.  306;  Ibid.,  Vol.  21,  p.  228. 


162 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


tars."1  It  is  evident  then  that  if  this  deposit  had  been  subjected  to 
excessive  weathering  and  erosion  it  would  have  become  decomposed 
and  removed,  ultimately  to  collect  in  some  suitable  place  as  a  placer 
deposit  of  great  value. 

The  product  of  the  Red  Point  drift  mine,  Placer  County,  up  to 
1895  was  $430,000  of  which  85  per  cent  would  pass  a  10  mesh  screen, 
but  not  a  40,  while  less  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  would  pass  a  40 
mesh  screen.  Nuggets  weighing  from  1  to  2  ounces  were  occasion- 
ally found.  At  Bald  Mountain  Channel,  Sierra  County,  10  per  cent 
of  the  product  exceeded  one  ounce  in  weight  and  fully  one-half 
weighed  more  than  one-tenth  of  an  ounce.2 

The  range  in  fineness  of  800  placer  and  200  quartz  mines  in  Cali- 
fornia was:  650  to  988  and  550  to  980  respectively,  while  the  aver- 
age for  the  same  was  899  and  820,  showing  a  difference  of  70  in 
favor  of  the  placers.  However,  there  are  wide  variations  and  only 
averages  of  a  large  number  of  cases  bring  out  the  difference.  In 
this  connection  the  following  table  is  interesting: 


Range  in  Fineness. 

Per  cent  of  Total  Number  of 

Mines. 

Per  cent  Placer. 

Per  cen*  Quartz. 

Less  than  700  .... 

1 
4 
50 

45 

8 
14 
65 
13 

700  to  800  .       ... 

800  to  900      

More  than  900  

Total  

100 

100 

The  average  fineness  of  the  total  product  of  the  Ruby  gravel  mine, 
California,  was  898;  3  per  cent  of  the  product,  weighing  above  10 
ounces,  was  860,  which  is  a  close  approach  to  that  cited  above  for 
quartz  mines;  while  the  largest  nugget,  weight  200  ounces,  had  a 
fineness  of  849.  The  fine  gold  averaged  close  to  910.  The  differ- 
ence between  coarse  and  fine  gold  was  about  5  per  cent.  The  thick- 
ness of  the  enveloping  layer  of  purer  gold  in  nuggets  is  probably 
independent  of  the  size,  but  constitutes  the  larger  part  of  a  small 
than  a  large  piece,  and  as  has  been  pointed  out:  "  The  degree  of 
purification  thus  appears  to  depend  upon  the  ratio  of  the  super- 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  803,  1895. 
3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  59,  p.  101. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  163 

ficial  area  to  the  volume,  being  largest  in  the  small  pieces  and  scales 
than  in  the  nuggets.  Further,  in  the  Ruby  mine  the  purity  of  the 
gold  from  the  center  of  the  mine  was  found  to  vary  largely  with  the 
presence  or  absence  of  water,  the  variation  being  from  933  to  935, 
or  as  much  as  one-half  of  1  per  cent.1 

Mr.  George  Hewitt  observed  that  in  the  Black  Hills,  South 
Dakota,  little  gold  occurred  in  the  vicinity  of  dikes  cutting  the 
Potsdam  formation,  and  what  did  occur  had  lost  its  rounded  and 
worn  appearance  and  showed  evidences  of  the  action  of  powerful 
solvents.  The  placer  gold  of  this  district  is  seldom  worth  less  than 
S18.50.2 

Along  the  upper  Burnt  River,  Oregon,  the  flour  gold  in  the  bench 
gravels  has  a  fineness  of  970,  while  the  coarser  gold  of  the  stream 
gravels  is  922.  At  Canyon  the  placer  gold  is  900  fine,  but  a  few 
miles  below  the  mouth  of  Canyon  Creek,  in  John  Day  River,  the 
gold  has  a  fineness  of  990.  At  Rye  Valley  the  upper  benches  yield 
gold  750  fine,  while  in  the  lower  benches  it  has  a  fineness  of  800.3 

At  California  Gulch,  Leadville,  Colorado,  the  gulch  gold  was 
worth  $17  to  $19,  while  that  from  the  veins  was  valued  at  $15.4 

In  the  Warren  district,  Idaho  the  bullion  from  the  quartz-veins 
ranges  from  300  to  550  fine,  the  placer  gold  from  the  small  creeks 
650,  that  from  the  larger  creeks  725,  while  that  from  the  Salmon 
River  runs  from  800  to  825  fine.5 

It  is  evident  then  that  there  is  a  progressive  refining  action  caused 
by  gradual  dissolution  of  silver,  lead,  copper,  etc.,  from  the  surface 
of  the  grains.6 

For  a  brief  and  interesting  summary  of  the  possible  influence 
chemical  action  might  have  upon  the  formation  of  gold  in  alluvial 
deposits,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  paper  on  the  Geology  of  the 
Yukon  Gold  District,  Alaska,  by  J.  E.  Spurr.7 

The  following  summary  may  be  given  regarding  the  occurrence  of 
gold  and  its  probable  origin.8 

"  First.  Gold  exists  in  the  oldest  known  rocks,  and  has  been 
thence  distributed  through  all  strata  derived  from  them. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  59,  p.  102. 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  17,  p.  573. 

U.  S.  G.  S.  22d  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  2,  p.  637,  1901. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  Monograph  No.  12,  p.  516. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  20th  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  242. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  16th  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  pp.  292  and  293,  1894-1895. 

7  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18th  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  pp.  377-379,  1896-97. 

8  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  A.  G.  Lock,  p.  803. 


164  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

"  Second.  In  the  metamorphosis  of  these  derived  rocks  it  has 
been  concentrated  into  segregated  quartz  veins  by  some  process  not 
yet  understood. 

"  Third.  It  is  a  constitutent  of  fissure-veins  of  all  geological  ages, 
where  it  has  been  deposited  from  hot  chemical  solutions,  which  have 
leached  deeply-buried  rocks  of  various  kinds,  gathering  from  them 
gold  with  other  metallic  minerals. 

"  Fourth.  By  the  erosion  of  strata  containing  auriferous  veins, 
segregated  or  fissure,  gold  has  been  accumulated  by  mechanical 
agents  in  placer  deposits,  economically  the  most  important  of  all 
the  sources  of  gold." 

General  Discussion.  —  Gold  is  not  confined  to  veins  of  definite 
limits  and  well  defined  outlines,  but  is  often  found  in  massive  rocks 
and  zones  of  impregnation  where  there  is  no  pronounced  vein  for- 
nlation.  However,  when  auriferous  deposits  in  massive  rocks  are 
thoroughly  explored  they  are  usually  found  to  have  fairly  well 
defined  limits  though  extremely  irregular,  and  in  certain  cases  de- 
pending largely  upon  the  question  of  economic  working.  Further, 
massive  rocks  when  gold-bearing  usually  have  suffered  alteration 
by  mechanical  movement,  although  the  resulting  fracturing  may  be 
incipient  in  character  and  not  noticeable  except  under  the  micro- 
scope. On  either  side  of  the  line  of  faulting  or  movement  the  in- 
tensity of  the  fracturing  force  diminishes  until  even  the  incipient 
fracturing  ceases  which  varies  largely  with  both  kind  and  character 
of  formations  present.  Therefore  the  zone  of  fracture  will  be  within 
definite  limits,  which  may,  however,  be  so  wide  as  to  eliminate  all 
resemblance  to  that  of  a  vein.  A  few  cases  will  serve  to  illustrate 
this  point:  At  Hedges,  San  Diego  County,  California,  the  deposits 
are  really  impregnated  zones  of  hornblende  schist,  very  siliceous, 
being  blue,  green  and  gray  in  color,  the  auriferous  portion  usually 
being  colored.  The  zones  are  quite  irregular  and  were  probably 
influenced  by  the  power  of  penetration  of  the  mineralized  currents, 
which  brought  in  gold  and  silica.  In  the  Black  Hawk  Mountains, 
San  Bernardino  County,  California,  a  heavy  stratum  has  been 
extensively  broken  up  by  step-faults  and  thrusts  now  existing  as 
terraces  on  the  mountain  side.  So  severe  has  been  the  fracturing 
action  that  in  many  places  the  rock-mass  is  in  granular  form.  The 
whole  mass  is  stained  with  hematite,  which  lines  the  faces  of  the 
fractures  and  in  which  gold  occurs  in  varying  quantities.  Often 
the  rock  is  cemented  into  a  solid  mass  of  ore.  At  Gold  Mountain, 
San  Bernardino  County,  California,  there  are  gold-bearing  bedded 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  165 

quartzites,  the  quartzites  having  suffered  considerable  fracturing. 
Elsewhere  in  California  there  are  broad  zones  of  amphibolite 
schists,  often  with  little  quartz.  At  the  Blue  Gouge  Mine,  El  Dorado 
County,  California,  there  is  a  zone  of  slaty  rock  upwards  of  600  feet 
in  width,  which  is  occasionally  cut  by  small  quartz-veins.  The 
whole  zone  is  low-grade  ore.  The  Alaska  Treadwell  mine,  Alaska, 
is  an  altered  mass  of  eruptive  material  and  is  gold-bearing  through- 
out although  low-grade.  The  Cripple  Creek  deposits  of  andesite- 
breccia  and  granite  are  auriferous,  and  often  lack  most  of  the  char- 
acteristics of  veins.  The  presence  of  silica  is  noticeable  mainly  for 
the  reason  that  there  is  so  little  of  it.  The  Homestake  mines  of 
South  Dakota  often  attain  a  width  of  500  feet  or  more,  and  is  prac- 
tically all  gold-bearing  though  the  values  are  'largely  localized  in 
quartz.  It  consists  of  a  hydro-mica  schist  cut  by  many  veins  and 
lenses  of  quartz.  The  granites  of  California  are  often  gold-bearing, 
but  owe  their  values  to  neighboring  veins.  In  Calaveras  County, 
California,  gold  has  been  found  in  beds  of  volcanic  mud,  gravels  and  ) 
tufa.1  Z* 

Gold  may  be  found  in  any  formation  and  in  fact  in  practically  any  ' 
geological  age  —  it  has  been  found  in  limestone,  sandstone,  ande- 
site,  diorite,  rhyolite,  granite,  porphyry,  schists,  coal,  etc.  "*J 

The  following  interesting  summary  of  the  rocks  in  which  gold 
and  silver,  especially  the  latter,  occur  has  been  given:  "  Gold, 
silver,  copper,  lead,  etc.,  are  found  in  all  rocks.  Silver  ores  occur  in 
all  kinds  of  rocks,  as  granites,  porphyry,  trap,  limestone,  sandstone 
and  shales.  The  famous  mine  of  Guanajuato,  the  most  productive 
of  Mexico,  and  which  yields  one-quarter  of  its  product  of  silver, 
intersects  shales  and  porphyry.  In  Zacatecas  they  occur  in  wacke, 
a  sedimentary  trap  rock;  while  in  Sombrete  they  are  found  in  lime- 
stone, in  which  there  are  extensive  deposits  of  antimonial  sulphuret 
of  silver,  one  of  which  yielded  in  the  short  space  of  six  months 
518,000  pounds  troy  of  silver,  over  $6,000,000.  The  veins  of  the 
Real  del  Monte  district  pass  through  decomposed  porphyry.  The 
mines  of  Chili,  lying  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Cordilleras,  are  con- 
nected with  stratified  deposits  of  a  shaly  sandstone  of  conglomer- 
ate character.  The  mines  of  Buenos  Ayres  occur  in  a  mountain  of 
argillaceous  shale.  In  Norway  the  silver  ores  of  Kongsberg  are 
found  in  gneiss  and  slate,  in  a  gangue  of  calcspar.  The  deposits  in 
the  Hartz  Mountains  are  usually  intersected  by  argillaceous  shale,  a 
clayey  slate,  and  the  gangue  is  carbonate  of  lime,  though  it  is  some- 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  80,  p.  148. 


166  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

times  quartz.  In  the  mountains  of  Siberia  the  veins  of  argenti- 
ferous galena  occur  in  crystalline  limestone.  Other  Russian  mines, 
those  of  Altai,  for  instance,  occur  in  a  coarse  clay-slate  in  the  vicinity 
of  porphyry,  and  contain  besides  silver  ores,  those  of  gold,  copper 
and  lead.1 " 

Gold  may  occur  in  such  quantities  or  in  such  a  state  in  the  rocks 
as  to  be  indistinguishable.  The  tellurium  minerals  of  Cripple 
Creek,  Colorado,  and  Ragged  Top  district,  Black  Hills,  cannot  be 
seen  nor  separated.  The  latter  ores  are  highly  siliceous  carrying 
no  perceptible  free-gold  nor  other  heavy  mineral  which  could  act  as 
a  vehicle  for  the  gold. 

Gold  is  known  to  exist  in  certain  ores  so  united  with  a  siliceous 
matrix  that  the  resulting  compound  is  apparently  no  heavier  and 
may  be  lighter  than  the  accompanying  gangue.2 

As  previously  pointed  out  the  surface  ores  are  rich  and  easily 
treated,  and  often  occur  in  a  more  or  less  bunchy  manner,  while 
at  some  depth,  depending  upon  prevailing  conditions,  the  values 
become  disseminated  and  more  uniformly  intermingled  with  the 
sulphides  of  the  baser  metals,  and  are  then  spoken  of  as  being  re- 
fractory or  rebellious.  With  this  general  relation  of  minerals  with 
depth  and  their  consequent  distribution  in  mind,  it  is  not  difficult 
to  see  the  application  to  the  economical  extraction  of  the  useful  and 
valuable  elements.  For  where  it  would  be  possible  to  work  a  narrow 
vein  with  profit  as  is  often  the  case  with  outcrops,  it  becomes  an 
entirely  different  proposition  when  the  vein  has  expanded  to  a 
width  of  40  or  60  feet,  and  in  certain  cases  to  150  feet.  Added  to 
this  the  change  in  character  of  the  ore  as  from  a  free-milling  to  a 
refractory  or  sulphide  ore  and  a  mine  which  has  been  able  to  be 
worked  with  profit  must  of  necessity  prove  worthless  when  the 
new  conditions  are  encountered  at  a  depth. 

In  certain  localities  tellurium  is  the  disturbing  ingredient,  while 
in  other  localities  a  selenium  alloy  may  prove  to  be  the  obnoxious 
element.  The  elements  combined  either  together  or  singly  with 
iron  pyrites  or  even  pyrite  by  itself  may  very  materially  augment 
the  difficulties  experienced  in  making  an  economical  extraction 
of  the  precious  metal.  "  Though  it  be  conceded  that  in  many  or 
all  cases,  auriferous  veins  become  unproductive  of  commercial 
profit  in  proportion  as  they  proceed  in  depth,  it  would  be  very 
unphilosophical  to  base  on  such  assumed  fact,  anything  respecting 

1  American  Journal  of  Min.  Vol.  2,  p.  213. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  29,  p.  228. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  167 

the  primary  influences  which  have  led  to  the  formation  of  auri- 
ferous veins."1  More  will  be  said  regarding  the  occurrence  of  min- 
eral in  depth  under  the  discussion  of  permanence  of  mining  with 
depth. 

Sulphides  occasionally  occur  alone  in  nature,  but  an  occurrence 
which  is  by  far  the  more  common  is  where  several  are  associated 
together.  Galena,  blende  and  copper  pyrites;  iron  and  arsenical 
pyrites,  etc.,  are  illustrations;  all  of  which  are  common  associates 
of  gold.  Iron  and  copper  pyrites  are  often  gold-bearing,  while 
galena  and  blende  are  almost  universally  silver-bearing.  The 
Chilean  proverb  is  literally  true  which  says:  "If  thou  findest  copper, 
thou  hast  gold." 

The  auriferous  deposits  of  the  Southern  States,  some  in  Colorado, 
according  to  Whitney,  and  in  many  other  localities  here  and  abroad 
lead  in  depth  to  copper;  while  the  early  silver  mines  of  Butte  turned 
to  copper  with  some  gold  in  depth.  The  placers  of  this  district  had 
as  a  source  of  their  gold  the  silver  and  copper  veins  discovered 
later. 

The  common  minerals  of  gold  and  silver  and  their  associated 
minerals  are  as  follows:  Native  silver  occurs  in  scales,  crystals, 
wires,  and  only  rarely  as  float  silver  or  nuggets.  It  is  commonly 
alloyed  with  copper  and  gold,  and  is  practically  universally  found 
in  silver  veins  especially  at  the  outcrops.  Silver  glance  or  argentite 
is  a  sulphide  of  silver,  and  contains  about  85  per  cent  of  silver.  It 
is  a  soft  mineral,  dull  in  appearance  and  is  readily  cut.  It  is  often 
found  in  high-grade  ores,  especially  of  the  western  states  and  terri- 
tories. Horn  silver  or  cerargyrite,  a  chloride,  contains  75  per  cent 
silver  when  pure.  It  is  soft,  heavy  and  of  several  shades  of  gray 
with  a  waxy  luster.  Owing  to  the  ease  with  which  it  is  cut  it  has 
received  the  name,  horn  silver.  Although  not  especially  rich  yet, 
because  it  can  be  easily  milled  even  though  low-grade,  it  is  con- 
sidered a  desirable  find.  It  occurred  at  Silver  Reef,  Utah,  with  a 
value  of  only  $5  to  $10  per  ton,  and  was  profitably  worked.  In  the 
West  it  occurs  largely  in  the  outcrops  of  silver  veins,  but  has  been 
found  at  depths  of  300  to  500  feet,  when  it  usually  changes  into 
other  silver  minerals.  The  mineral  embolite  is  very  similar  to  cer- 
argyrite except  it  is  green.  Pyrolusite  or  ruby  silver  is  a  compound 
of  arsenic,  sulphur  and  silver  and  carries  over  60  per  cent  of  silver. 
It  occurred  in  the  famous  Granite  Mountain  mine,  Montana;  in  the 
Comstock  lode;  and  in  high-grade  silver  ores  of  various  parts  of  the 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  13,  p.  60. 


168  GOLD   AND  SILVER. 

West.  Brittle  silver  or  stephanite  is  black,  being  a  compound  of 
antimony,  silver  and  sulphur.  In  its  occurrence,  value  and  charac- 
teristics it  resembles  dark  ruby  silver. 

Practically  all  gold  ores,  especially  the  brittle  tellurides,  carry 
more  or  less  silver,  which  is,  however,  usually  considered  as  a  bi- 
product. 

The  various  minerals  of  the  base  metals  such  as  lead,  copper, 
iron,  zinc,  and  antimony  are  often  silver-bearing.  However,  these 
minerals  may  carry  gold  and  silver  in  one  locality  while  in  a  district 
not  far  distant  with  conditions  similar  or  but  little  different  one  or 
the  other  or  both  may  be  wanting.  Many  of  the  minerals  of  lead 
are  argentiferous,  the  most  important  ones  being  the  sulphide,  car- 
bonate and  sulphate. 

Gra*y  copper,  tetrahedrite,  is  usually  a  silver  carrying  mineral  in 
silver  regions,  often  running  as  high  as  2000  ounces  per  ton,  and  is 
considered  one  of  the  most  valuable  of  the  silver-bearing  minerals. 
It  is  quite  common  in  the  West.  Yellow  copper  or  chalcopyrite  is 
seldom  found  without  traces  of  silver,  which  can  also  be  said  of 
blende.  Pyrite  also  carries  silver  in  silver  districts,  while  the  other 
iron  minerals  seldom  carry  large  amounts,  noticeably  marcasite  also 
a  sulphide. 

Silver  is  almost  universally  distributed  among  all  forms  and  kinds 
of  ore-deposits,  being  even  more  universal  in  its  occurrence  than 
gold. 

The  bulk  of  the  gold  mined  is  in  the  free  state,  usually  found  in  a 
gangue  of  quartz,  calcite,  siderite,  fluorite  and  barite;  the  last 
mentioned  being  a  rare  occurrence,  and  the  amount  of  gold  present 
very  small.  Gold  is  found  in  barite  at  "Big  Bend  Mountain,  Butte 
County,  California,  in  the  Pinkstown  ledge.1 

Gold  also  occurs  naturally  in  combination  with  the  rare  metals  as 
tellurium  and  selenium,  the  former  with  silver  forming  sylvanite, 
and  petzite.  Sylvanite  is  the  most  characteristic,  and  was  named 
after  the  place  in  which  it  was  discovered,  the  gold  field  of  Transyl- 
vania. It  is  a  double  telluride  carrying  both  gold  and  silver,  and 
having  an  average  composition  of  28  per  cent  gold,  16  per  cent 
silver,  and  56  per  cent  tellurium.  It  is  called  "  graphic  tellurium  " 
from  its  system  of  crystallization  and  is  a  brilliant  silvery-white 
mineral.  Pure  telluride  of  gold,  calaverite,  contains  no  silver,  and 
has  a  composition  of  44.5  per  cent  gold  and  55.5  per  cent  tellurium. 
It  was  first  found  in  the  Stanislaus  mine,  Calaveras  County,.  Cal- 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  70,  p.  344. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  169 

ifornia,  and  was  named  after  the  county;  calaverite  and  pyrite  bear 
a;  close  resemblance,  but  can  be  distinguished  between  by  trial  with 
a  knife,  the  calaverite  being  easily  cut.  Probably  the  best  specimens 
of  calaverite  found  in  the  Cripple  Creek  district  if  not  the  United 
States  come  from  the  Work  mine.1 

General  beliefs,  which  may  be  designated  as  superstitions,  are  often 
held  by  prospectors,  miners  and  many  other  persons,  and  have,  to 
a  much  larger  extent  than  is  supposed,  been  responsible  for  many 
failures  to  discover  ore-bodies  and  so  delayed  the  development  of 
districts.  In  the  case  of  prospectors  and  miners,  their  ideas  as  to 
the  occurrence  of  minerals  and  their  association  with  rocks  is  usually 
a  matter  of  personal  experience,  which  for  well-known  districts  is  one 
of  the  best  possible  guides,  but  when  an  attempt  is  made  to  apply 
such  information  to  other  districts  without  due  consideration  of 
changed  conditions  and  environments,  most  serious  and  illogical 
conclusions  are  almost  sure  to  result.  Again,  much  information 
regarding  how  to  locate  and  trace  mineral  veins  is  handed  down  from 
one  generation  to  another  of  practical  miners  and  so  constitutes  the 
traditions  of  various  districts  and  camps;  and  it  may  be  said  that 
taken  as  a  whole,  with  respect  to  mining  and  milling  practice,  it  is 
fairly  reliable,  but  there  are  exceptions  to  be  made,  and  to  illustrate, 
a  number  of  fallacious  sayings  and  typical  misconceptions  are  given 
herewith : 

1.  Local  prejudice  for  and  against  certain  formations  —  the  Butte 
miner  thinks  granite  an  excellent  foundation  in  general;  the  Cripple 
Creek  miner  prefers  phonolite  to  prospect  in;  the  discovery  at  Ragged 
Top,  Black  Hills,  has  raised  "  arrowhead  flint "  in  the  estimation  of 
many  practical  miners;   since  the  silver  mines  of  Calico,  California, 
were  discovered,  masses  of  pea-green  breccia  are  diligently  searched 
for  as  the  abiding  place  of  chloride;  the  California  miner  looks  with 
favor  on  black  slate  and  greenstone;  the  Leadville  miners  find  pleas- 
ure in  a  contact  of  limestone  and  porphyry;  the  miners  of  Homestake 
want  broad  zones  of  quartz  and  schists,  preferring  those  stained 
red  by  iron;  in  Silver  Reef,  Utah,  there  is  nothing  quite  as  favorable 
as  white  sandstone  and  drab  clay  shales,  which  there  carry  high- 
grade  silver  ores;   the  Comstock  lode  miner  expected  to  find  values 
in  bonanzas  only  and  for  a  formation  prefers  porphyry  (propylite), 
found  in  the  Comstock  country. 

2.  Prejudice  against  the  so-called  "  specimen  "  mines,  or  mines 
in  which  show  specimens  can  be  obtained. 

1  Inst.  Min.  and  Metallurgy,  Vol.  8,  p.  73. 


170  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

3.  Prejudice  in  favor  of  certain  strikes  which  involve  numerous 
and  elaborate  systems   of  zones  as  the  9-,  10-,  11-  and  12-o'clock 
zones. 

4.  Prejudice   against   veins   of   certain   dips,   especially  those  of 
slight  dips,  also  bedded  deposits. 

5.  Predilection  for  the  so-called  "  true  fissure  "  veins. 

6.  The  appearance  of  an  ore  as  indicative  of  its  value.1 

7.  The  idea  that  values  always  increase  with  depth,  which  being 
true  in  certain  cases  cannot  be  stated  as  a  definite  and  established 
rule  for  all  veins,  as  has  been  thoroughly  demonstrated  (?)  in  the 
mines  of  the  United  States.2 

8.  Preference  to  certain  slopes  of  hill  or  mountain  side,  as  in  some 
districts  the  northern  slope,  in  other  the  southern. 

9.  Choice  of  low  ground,  as  a  depression,  which  for  certain  locali- 
ties may  be  a  sensible  thing  to  do  while  in  others,  not.     Where  veins 
have  outcrops,  composed  of  softer  material  than  the  country-rock 
its  more  rapid  disintegration  may  result  in  a  sink  or  depression  which 
may  become  a  surface  or  underground  water-way. 

Erroneous  statements  regarding  the  occurrence  of  minerals  and 
their  associations  are  not,  however,  confined  to  unwritten  sayings, 
but  there  is  much  of  a  similar  character  that  has  been  written,  and 
as  has  been  aptly  said:  "  Some  put  forth  a  suggestion,  it  may  be  the 
sheerest  piece  of  guesswork;  but  it  finds  its  way  into  print,  floats 
with  the  current  literature  of  the  subject,  and  by  virtue  of  iteration 
becomes  accepted  as  fact  without  perhaps  ever  having  been  seri- 
ously scrutinized."3  Therefore  not  only  is  the  practical  miner,  but 
also  the  mining  geologist,  hampered  by  prejudices,  which  have  be- 
come established  and  thus  have  all  the  weight  of  precedents.  The 
notion  that  a  theory  can  be  first  formulated  and  then  substantiated 
by  facts  is  changing  the  natural  sequence  of  things,  and  is  obviously 
placing  the  cart  before  the  horse. 

In  the  following  pages  brief  but  more  or  less  detailed  descriptions 
of  the  ore-deposits  of  the  various  states  and  districts  are  given, 
although  no  attempt  has  been  made  to  give  an  exhaustive  account 
of  all  the  districts,  but  rather  to  discuss  the  more  important  and 
typical  mines.  However,  the  material  for  such  a  discussion  must  of 
necessity  be  derived  largely  from  the  literature  on  the  subject, 
which  in  many  cases  is  far  from  complete  and  accurate,  while  in 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  37,  p.  465,  and  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  78,  p.  265. 
9  Colliery  Engineer,  Vol.  11,  p.  246,  and  U.  S.  G.  S.,  4th- Ann.  Kept.,  p.  259. 
8  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  37,  p.  465. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  171 

other  cases  is  several  years  old.  Further,  unimportant  districts 
may  be  given  apparently  undue  prominence,  but  have  in  this  con- 
nection been  chosen  to  illustrate  some  peculiarity  of  structure  or 
occurrence  which  seemed  to  warrant  recording. 

In  this  discussion  the  states  and  territories  are  taken  up  in  alpha- 
betical order  while  the  mines  are  grouped  in  districts,  which  are  in  a 
general  way  arranged  in  order  of  prominence. 

Occurrence  in  Veins,  by  States  and  Territories. 

Alabama.  —  The  gold  fields  of  Alabama  have  been  divided  into 
two  belts,  the  north  and  south;  the  veins  of  Chilton,  Coosa,  Talla- 
poosa  and  Chambers  counties  are  embraced  in  the  southern  belt, 
while  Clay,  Cleburne,  Randolph  andTalladega  form  the  northern  belt.1 

There  are  four  classes  of  ore  in  the  schists  as  follows :  first, 
micaceous;  second,  graphitic;  third,  manganif erous ;  and  fourth, 
garnetiferous.  The  garnetif erous  ore  is  probably  of  the  most 
importance,  being  a  decomposed  gneissoid-schist  filled  with  large 
garnets.  In  color  it  is  a  deep  red.  The  decomposed  garnets  are  gold- 
bearing,  the  cracks  being  filled  with  red  ochre  which  is  rich  in  gold.2 

According  to  one  of  the  latest  geological  maps  of  Alabama,  the 
gold-bearing  rocks  are  distinguished  as  follows:  first,  the  semi- 
crystalline  Talladega  shales  of  Algonkian  age,  including  argilla- 
ceous and  hard,  greenish,  sandy  shales  (often  graphitic) ;  second,  the 
crystalline  schists  of  Archaean  age,  including  mica-schists,  which 
on  the  one  hand,  grade  through  gneisses  into  granite,  and  on  the 
other,  into  siliceous  schists;  garnetiferous  hornblende-schists,  prob- 
ably of  dioritic  origin,  also  occur.  The  prevailing  strike  and  dip 
are  northeast  and  southeast  respectively.3 

The  quartz-veins  are  parallel  with  the  schistosity  of  the  rocks 
coinciding  exactly  in  both  dip  and  strike.  The  vein-content  is  com- 
posed of  quartz  and  other  gangue  minerals  usually  accompanying  gold. 

Pockets  of  quartz  rich  in  gold  are  of  quite  common  occurrence,  in 
which  are  found  grains  of  crystallized  gold  ranging  in  size  from 
wheat  grains  to  cherry  stones.  Their  extreme  irregularity  both  in 
strike  and  dip  renders  their  exploitation  expensive. 

These  irregular  and  lenticular  "  stringers "  have  been  called 
"  linked  veins  "  by  Dr.  Becker. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  55,  p.  486,  Bulletins  Nos.  3  and  5  Geological  Sur- 
vey of  Alabama,  and  the  Mineral  Resources  of  Alabama,  1904,  p.  53. 

2  Federated  Inst.  Min.  Engrs.,  Vol.  14,  p.  96. 

3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  678. 


172 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


3 

CC 

B 

<*-! 

O 

03 


O 

•s 

fl 

O 

1 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  173 

The  ore-bodies  which  have  been  mostly  worked  are  found  in  the 
mica-schist  formations  or  formations  with  a  garnetiferous,  semi- 
crystalline  character.  They  are  low-grade  deposits,  but  of  such 
size  as  to  warrant  successful  exploitation  in  many  instances. 

The  two  mines  which  have  been  successfully  operated  on  the  nar- 
row high-grade  veins  are  the  Creighton  and  Walker.  The  ore  is  as  a 
rule  very  refractory,  being  usually  associated  with  graphitic  slate 
and  graphite,  through  which  the  gold  has  £>een  disseminated.  Other 
ore  is  intermixed  with  talcoid  micaceous  schist.1  In  both  cases  but 
a  very  small  part  of  the  gold  is  free-milling.  The  so-called  "  sapro- 
lites  "  of  this  district  consist  of  decomposed  schist  or  gneiss. 

At  the  surface  the  gold  is  practically  all  free-milling,  but  with 
depth  when  the  undecomposed  sulphides  are  encountered,  the  ratio 
of  free-gold  to  that  held  in  the  sulphides  is  about  one  to  three.2 

The  Arbacoochee  district,  Cleburne  County,  contains  the  more 
important  mines.  An  area  of  nearly  100  acres  is  known  to  be  aurif- 
erous in  the  Clear  Creek  Valley  consisting  principally  of  placer 
diggings,  but  later  quartz-veins  and  pockets  have  been  opened  up. 
The  deposits  being  very  irregular  and  pockety,  their  value  can  only 
be  determined  by  more  or  less  extensive  development  work. 

An  ore  known  as  "  goober  pea  "  is  found  in  the  Arbacoochee  dis- 
trict, which  is  characterized  by  a  peculiar  speckled  appearance 
being  really  a  conglomerate  of  quartz  and  slate  nodules  cemented 
together  with  talc  and  stained  with  iron.  This  ore  is  moderately 
soft,  and  is  not  difficult  to  amalgamate.  The  ore  of  the  Mossback 
mine  averages  $25  to  $30  per  ton,  and  is  free-milling.  It  occurs  in 
a  decomposed  vein-filling  of  sandstone  and  slate  cut  by  quartz 
stringers.3  The  mines  of  most  importance  in  this  county  are  the 
Lucky  Joe,  on  Turkey  Heaven  Mountain,  the  Annie  Howe,  Price, 
Red  Rover,  Eckles,  Lee,  Crown  Point,  Sutherland,  Middle  Brook, 
Bennie  Field,  Ballinger,  Gold  Eagle  and  Moss  Back. 

In  Randolph  County  is  only  one  mine  of  prominence,  the  Pine- 
tuckey,  which  stands  among  the  first  in  the  state,  and  really  belongs 
to  the  Arbacoochee  district  owing  to  its  proximity  to  it.  The  vein 
has  a  north  and  south  strike,  with  a  dip  of  20  degrees  east.  The 
average  thickness  is  from  eight  to  nine  inches.  The  quartz  is  highly 
vitreous  and  of  bluish  color.  It  is  said  that  about  one-half  of  the 
gold  is  free-milling,  the  remainder  being  in  sulphurets. 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  26,  p.  466. 

2  Fed.  Inst.  Min.  Engrs.,  Vol.  14,  p.  93. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  47,  p.  458. 


174  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  veins  lie  more  or  less  conformably  in  a  very  garnetiferous, 
hornblende-schist  as  a  country -rock.  At  a  depth  of  60  feet  the  vein 
has  been  cut  off  or  turned  to  one  side  by  a  mass  of  light-colored 
granite,  which  was  located  by  prospect  drilling. 

The  Idaho  district  of  Clay  County  has  two  mines  of  some  im- 
portance, namely,  the  Idaho  and  California.  The  Idaho  mine 
ore-body  is  composed  of  quartz  stringers  intersecting  decomposed 
hornblende  and  mica-schists,  with  well  denned  walls.  The  mine 
is  more  'in  the  nature  of  a  quarry  having  but  little  underground 
workings,  the  formation  being  taken  out  en  masse  for  fully  fifty 
feet. 

Alaska.  —  As  has  been  pointed  out,  the  auriferous  impregnation 
of  this  territory  must  have  been  strong  and  wide  spread  as  is  evi- 
denced by  the  universal  occurrence  of  gold  both  in  the  free  state  and 
in  pyrites,  often  high  in  value  —  further,  gold  values  in  the  tundra, 
creeks,  gulches  and  benches  attest  its  wide  distribution. 

Aside  from  the  alluvial  deposits,  gold  is  found  for  the  most  part  in 
small  quartz-veins  and  stringers  which  occur  in  metamorphic  rocks. 
Then  too  there  are  mineralized  zones  of  these  rocks,  where  the 
gangue  material  is  largely  wanting.  Iron  pyrite  is  not  only  the  most 
common  associate  of  gold  in  the  parent  rock,  but  occurs  in  the  largest 
quantity.  Gold  occurs  both  in  the  free  state  and  combined  with 
pyrites,  forming  sulphurets.  Quartz  and  calcite  are  the  common 
gangues,  while  biotite,  sericite  and  chlorite  are  less  common.  The 
minerals  and  metals  associated  with  the  gold  are  native  copper, 
copper  pyrites,  galena,  mispickel,  pyrrhotite,  siderite,  silver,  pyrar- 
gyrite  and  blende. 

There  are  three  broad  belts  in  Alaska  in  which  the  principal  gold- 
bearing  deposits  are  found.  The  most  important  one  parallels  the 
Pacific  coast  line  traversing  the  narrow  strip  of  territory  known  as 
the  "  Panhandle "  and  terminates  among  the  islands  of  south- 
western Alaska.  In  this  zone  are  practically  all  of  the  quartz  mines 
of  the  territory  and  some  small  placer  deposits.  Another  belt 
extends  northward  from  the  international  boundary,  near  the  Klon- 
dike, and  includes  a  large  part  of  the  country  lying  between  the 
Yukon  and  the  Tanana,  and  probably  turns  to  the  southwest,  enter- 
ing the  region  drained  by  the  Kantishna.  Only  placer  gold  is  pro- 
duced in  this  belt.  The  third  belt  is  of  the  least  importance,  owing, 
probably,  to  its  not  being  well  known.  It  includes  the  placer  dis- 
trict of  the  upper  Koyukuk.  However,  the  placers  of  the  Kobuk 
River  and  Seward  Peninsula  may  represent  the  southwesterly 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  175  ' 

extension  of  this  belt.     Only  placer  gold  has  been  obtained  with  the 
exception  of  a  single  quartz  mine  on  Seward  Peninsula.1 

Probably  the  most  important  belt  of  gold-bearing  quartz- veins 
yet  discovered  occurs  along  the  southeastern  coast.  It  has  been 
worked  at  Berner's  Bay,  Douglas  Island,  Juneau,  Silver  Bow  Basin 
and  Cook's  Inlet,  of  which  the  deposits  on  Douglas  Island  are  of 
prime  importance. 

The  veins  occur  in  Tertiary  rocks,  slates,  schists  and  granites  and 
carry  free-gold  and  auriferous  pyrite. 

Veins  in  igneous  rocks  have  been  found  on  the  Skwentna  and  the 
Kuskokwim,  as  well  as  in  the  Tordrillo  Mountains.  The  gold- 
deposits  here  are  associated  with  intrusions  of  Eocene  age.  Further, 
gold-silver  veins  of  considerable  importance  are  found  on  Unga 
Island.2 

Following  directly  upon  the  discovery  of  placer  mines  on  Douglas 
Island  the  Paris  claim,  which  site  was  subsequently  occupied  by  a 
large  surface  pit  or  "  Glory  hole,"  was  purchased  by  John  Tread- 
will.  On  tracing  the  ore-body  eastward  the  Mexican  mine  was 
located.  The  deposit  as  opened  up  was  the  upper  or  "  feather 
edge  "  of  an  intrusion  of  sodium  syenite  or  albite  diorite,  having  been 
decomposed  and  silicified  by  solfataric  or  hydrothermal  action, 
bringing  about  concentration  of  native  gold  and  auriferous  pyrites 
in  sufficient  quantities  to  make  its  extraction  profitable. 

The  larger  part  of  the  country-rock  is  a  carbonaceous  slate  of 
quite  uniform  texture,  the  origin  of  which  was  sedimentary.  Later 
came  the  intrusion  of  syenite  which  formed  an  extremely  irregular 
shaped  dike.  In  the  Alaska-Treadwell  mine  the  dike  is  420  feet 
wide,  at  the  Mexican  150  feet  and  at  the  Ready  Bullion  it  has  again 
increased  to  300  feet;  these  figures,  however,  include  large  horses, 
and  in  places  a  system  of  parallel  slate  divisions. 

Following  the  intrusion  of  syenite  came  another  of  gabbro  on  the] 
hanging-wall  side,  which  is  several  hundred  feet  wide,  and  is  con- 
sidered to  have  been  of  prime  importance  in  the  formation  of  the 
ore.     Following  this  in  turn  and  extending  over   a   considerable 
period  of  time,  there  occurred  the  mineralizing  processes   acting   r 
upon  the  syenite,  and  the  ultimate  deposition  of  the  ore. 

There  was  still  another  intrusion,  but  consisting  of  basalt,  with  a 
width  of  from  four  to  six  feet.     It  cut  through  slate,  syenite  and 
gabbro,  and  badly  shattered   the  country-rock,  the  resulting  open- 
ings being  later  filled  with  auriferous  material.     However,  the  basalt 
1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No.  284,  p.  5,  1905.      2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  812, 1903. 


176  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

does  not  contain  ore  as  no  subsequent  action  has  broken  or  fissured 
it  forming  receptacles  for  the  deposition  of  ores. 

The  ores  may  be  grouped  into  two  classes:  first,  stringers  of 
quartz  and  calcite  filling  fissures  in  the  syenite;  and  second,,  a 
breccia,  as  it  were,  of  syenite  fragments  and  associated  minerals 
which  accompanied  the  auriferous  solutions.1  According  to  Pro- 
fessor Adams  the  ore  is  a  mass  of  fractured  rock  filled  with  veinlets, 
and  he  says:  "  It  may,  therefore,  be  stated  that  the  ore  of  the 
Treadwell  mine  is  a  granite,  probably  belonging  to  the  class  of  the 
hornblende  granites,  much  crushed,  altered  and  impregnated  with 
secondary  quartz,  calcite,  and  pyrite;  that  the  '  kernels  '  are  por- 
tions of  the  rock  in  which  alteration  is  less  complete  than  in  the 
mass  of  the  granite,  and  that  at  least  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
gold  present  in  the  ore  is  contained  in  the  pyrite  as  free-gold."  2 

The  gangue  minerals  of  the  Alaska-Treadwell  mines  are  com- 
paratively rare  being  chiefly  quartz  and  calcite.  In  the  impreg- 
nated portions  the  carbonates  are  usually  found  in  larger  quantities 
than  the  quartz.  Of  the  metalliferous  minerals  pyrite  is  by  far  the 
most  common.  Chalcopyrite  occurs  more  frequently  in  the  Tread- 
well  than  in  the  Mexican  mine,  while  mispickel  occurs  in  the  Mexi- 
can, but  not  in  the  Treadwell  mine.  Galena,  blende  and  pyrrhotite 
are  not  common  but  are  fairly  uniformly  distributed.3 

Other  deposits  on  Douglas  Island  are  found  in  Silver  Bow  Basin, 
Sheep  Creek  Basin,  Sumdum  Bay,  Berner's  Bay,  Funters  Bay  and 
Nyak  Bay. 

The  county-rock  of  the  Silver  Bow  Basin  consists  of  micaceous 
schists  of  sedimentary  origin  —  the  strike  is  north,  60  degrees  west, 
and  dips  about  60  degrees  to  the  northeast.  The  rocks  are  cut  by 
several  nearly  vertical  dikes  of  about  six  feet  width.  Quartz  often 
occurs  in  large  quantities  besides  being  a  gangue  associated  with 
calcite.  The  metalliferous  minerals  are  siderite,  pyrite,  mispickel, 
galena  and  blende.  The  ore  sent  to  mills  is  worth  about  $4  to  $5 
per  ton. 

In  Sheep  Creek  Basin  the  Silver  Queen  mine  is  of  the  most  import- 
ance, and  has  been  developed  to  a  greater  extent  than  the  others. 
The  rocks  are  carbonaceous  and  micaceous  schists  which  are  cut  by 
dikes  of  gabbro  similar  to  the  Treadwell  deposits.  However,  the 
gabbro  is  here  a  decomposed  greenstone.  The  vein  has  a  maximum 

1  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  24,  p.  251. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18th  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  65,  1896-97. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18th  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  67. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  177 

width  of  five  feet  carrying  quartz,  pyrrhotite,  blende,  copper  pyrites, 
galena,  mispickel,  a  little  pyrite  and,  as  reported,  native  and  ruby 
silver.  The  galena  is  argentiferous,  and  with  that  of  the  Glacier  has 
produced  the  bulk  of  the  silver  of  the  district.  The  Silver  Queen  as 
well  as  the  Glacier  yields  both  gold  and  silver,  but  silver  exceeds  the 
gold  in  the  ores  of  the  latter.  Besides  the  minerals  given  above  the 
Glacier  shows  argentiferous  tetrahedrite  and  pyrargyrite.  Average 
tenor  of  ore  is  $40  per  ton.  Up  to  1895,  the  Silver  Queen  had  pro- 
duced $100,000  in  silver  and  $20,000  in  gold. 

The  Bald  Eagle  mine  of  Sumdum  Bay  is  a  stringer-lead  which 
follows  the  schistosity  with  great  regularity.  The  main  body  of 
ore,  a  lens,  is  about  five  feet  maximum  width.  The  ore  is  quartz, 
pyrite,  galena,  blende  and  mispickel,  and  is  usually  richest  on  the 
foot- wall.  Average  of  ore  is  $50  to  $60  per  ton. 

Of  Berner's  Bay  district  the  Comet  and  Bear  mines  are  most 
prominent.  The  country-rock  is  diorite  which  bears  veins  of  quartz, 
calcite,  sericite,  pyrite,  chalcopyrite  and  mispickel. 

The  Tellurium  and  War  Horse  mines  lead  in  the  Funters  Bay 
district.  In  the  former  are  six  parallel  veins  which  fill  cross  fissures 
in  the  schists.  The  vein-filling  is  quartz,  a  little  calcite,  consider- 
able pyrite  and  pyrrhotite  with  chlorite.  Gold  is  found  in  the  free 
state  in  both  the  chlorite  and  quartz.  The  pyrite  is  reported  to  be 
the  chief  bearer  of  gold,  containing  $150  per  ton,  while  the  pyrrho- 
tite carries  but  $10  to  $15. 

The  country-rock  at  the  Apollo  Consolidated  mine,  Island  of 
Unga,  is  andesite  and  dacite;  there  is  also  a  large  amount  of  propy- 
lite  or  chloritic  andesite.  The  ore  is  composed  of  free-gold,  pyrite, 
galena,  blende,  chalcopyrite  and  native  copper.  Average  yield  of 
ores  about  $8  per  ton,  four-fifths  of  which  is  saved  on  plates.  In 
1896,  the  production  was  over  $400,000  of  which  $40,000  was  silver.1 

In  the  Ketchikan  district  there  are  veins  and  mineralized  zones, 
both  of  which  bear  gold  in  the  free  state,  combined  with  pyrite  and 
to  a  limited  extent  with  tellurides.  The  silver  occurs  both  in 
galena  and  tetrahedrite.  The  copper  minerals  are  chalcopyrite, 
bornite,  malachite,  chalcocite  and  cuprite. 

The  Cleveland  Peninsula  and  Tongan  Narrows  have  deposits  of 
gold  and  silver  in  veins  of  mineralized  zones;  the  gold  being  both 
free  and  in  pyrite.  The  country-rock  is  greenstone-schists.  Thorne 
Arm  has  ore-bodies  in  true  fissures  usually  associated  with  dikes  of 
porphyry,  the  country-rock  being  greenstone-schists.  Gold  occurs 
1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18th  Ann.  Kept.,  Ft.  3,  pp.  70-78,  1896-97. 


178  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

both  free  and  with  pyrite.  As  a  usual  thing  the  ores  are  low-grade. 
At  George  Inlet  the  same  veins  bear  gold,  others  galena  and  blende. 
At  Seal  Bay  and  Ball  Head  the  ores  are  chiefly  chalcopyrite  bearing 
gold  and  silver.  Large  mineralized  zones  of  copper  ores  bearing 
gold  occur  at  Niblack  Anchorage.  Gold-bearing  quartz  veins 
occur  in  diorite  and  granite  at  the  North  Arm  of  Moira  Sound  on 
the  west  side,  while  on  the  northeast  portion  of  Arm  blende  and 
galena  are  found  in  crystalline  limestone.  At  Dolomi  are  true 
fissure-veins  in  white  crystalline  limestone  bearing  gold  and  silver. 
The  Twelve-mile  Arm  has  true-fissure  veins,  the  gold  being  in  part 
free-milling.  Irregular  masses  of  copper  sulphide  occur  in  green- 
stone at  Skowl  Arm,  Kasaan  Peninsula  and  Tolstoi  Bay.1 

The  country-rock  of  Gravina  Island  is  siliceous  and  chloritic 
schists  and  limestones.  In  the  schists  are  found  gold-quartz  veins 
carrying  a  little  pyrite.  The  gold  is  readily  amalgamated;  the  sul- 
phurets  consisting  of  pyrite  and  blende  are  caught  on  vanners. 
Average  value  of  ore  $4  to  $6  per  ton.  The  ores  in  the  limestone 
are  copper,  gold,  silver,  and  lead.  The  veins  range  from  20  to  60 
feet  wide. 

On  Annette  Island  silver  is  found  with  gold  in  tetrahedrite  in 
quartz-veins.  Silver  Values  run  from  600  to  2000  ounces  per  ton, 
and  although  the  gold  values  are  high  they  are  not  as  high  as  the 
silver.2 

In  the  Yukon  region  the  quartz-veins  are  numerous,  especially  in 
the  schistose  rocks  of  the  Forty-mile  and  Birch  Creek  districts; 
they  also  occur,  but  less  frequently,  in  the  granites.  Further,  the 
veins  seem  to  be  closely  connected  with  dikes  and  were  apparently 
formed  at  different  periods,  corresponding  with  the  igneous  injec- 
tions. The  result  is  that  the  older  veins,  dikes  and  country -rocks 
have  been  faulted  and  distorted  thus  making  the  veins  very  irregu- 
lar, narrow  and  difficult  to  follow.  The  latest  formed  veins  are 
unsheared  and  unfaulted,  and  are  therefore  wider  and  more  per- 
sistent than  the  former.  Practically  all  of  the  veins  carry  gold, 
and  are  probably  the  source  of  the  widespread  placer  gold  of  the 
district.3 

In  the  Nome  district  the  veins  are  usually  small  and  pockety. 
The  contents  of  the  veins  are  white  quartz,  carrying  gold  which  is 
almost  entirely  free  and  often  coarse.  There  are,  however,  lodes 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Professional  Paper  No.  1,  1902,  pp.  53-54. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  83,  p.  98. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18th  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  3,  pp.  290,  375  and  383. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  179 

carrying  gold  in  arsenical  pyrite  associated  with  blende  and  anti- 
mony. More  calcite  is  found  in  the  latter  veins,  which  are  often 
found  40  feet  wide.  Auriferous  copper  and  magnetite  with  some 
cinnabar  are  encountered.  The  average  value  of  the  ores  ranges 
from  $20  to  $40  per  ton.1 

According  to  Waldemar  Lindgren:  "  The  lodes  along  the  south- 
western coast  will  probably  hold  their  own  or  increase  for  many 
years,  as  the  most  important  ones  contain  great  low-grade  ore- 
bodies,  the  assay  value  of  the  ores  on  Douglas  Island  being  often 
less  than  $2.50  per  ton.  Many  veins  with  high-grade  ore  are  like- 
wise found  in  this  coast  belt  which  also  promise  well  for  the  future."  2 

Arizona.  —  The  southwestern  half  of  the  Territory  contains  the 
gold-bearing  deposits,  the  northern  part  being  a  plateau  region. 
The  southwestern  portion  of  the  Territory  consists  of  short  desert 
ranges  alternating  with  broad  sandy  valleys.  The  mountains  are 
largely  granites  and  schists  of  pre-Cambrian  age  upon  which  lie 
Paleozoic  limestones  and  quartzites,  the  whole  being  occasionally 
cut  by  dikes  of  Cretaceous  or  pre-Tertiary  porphyries.  Overflows  of 
rhyolite  are  in  places  broken  by  veins  of  propylitic  character.3 

The  gold  veins  are  found  largely  in  crystalline  rocks,  either  mas- 
sive or  schistose,  the  ore  being  iron  pyrites  and  blende  which  is  com- 
paratively free  from  silver.  However  there  are  exceptions,  notably 
the  Harqua  Hala,  Mammoth  of  Goldfield  and  Mammoth  of  Final. 
In  several  mines  the  presence  of  free-gold  in  very  base  sulphides  has 
been  observed  to  increase  with  depth.4 

The  extensive  limestone  formation  extending  across  the  Terri- 
tory from  northwest  to  southeast  contains  or  has  associated  with  it 
many  ore-deposits.  The  basic  formations  to  the  limestone  are 
granites  and  gneisses.  Beds  of  conglomerate  and  quartzite,  for- 
merly sandstone,  occasionally  occur  associated  with  the  limestone. 
Intersecting  the  stratified  rocks  are  many  dikes  and  masses  of 
trachyte,  diorite,  porphyritic  rock,  and  quartz-porphyry.  In  this 
area  are  deposits  of  gold,  silver  and  copper. 

Gold  is  found  in  at  least  four  districts:  first,  in  Cochise  County, 
near  Tombstone  —  the  Pearce,  now  the  Commonwealth  mine,  is 
the  most  prominent;  second,  the  district  about  Tucson — the  mines 
are,  however,  some  thirty  miles  north  and  south  of  that  place; 

1  Inst.  Min.  and  Metallurgy,  Vol.  9,  p.  181. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  813  and  814,  1903. 
8  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  814,  1903. 

4  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  58,  p.  366. 


180  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

third,  the  Weaver  Mountain  district  —  the  principal  mines  are  the 
Congress,  Octave  and  Vulture  which  with  others  reach  from  Weaver 
Mountain  to  Vulture  Mountain;  and  fourth,  the  Harqua  Hala  dis- 
trict. Gold  is  found  elsewhere,  but  has  been  developed  but  little 
anywhere  except  possibly  the  Silver  King  mine.1 

Free-milling  ores  having  been  exhausted  from  the  upper  levels 
have  transformed  several  districts  from  milling  to  shipping  or  smelt- 
ing districts. 

r1^  In  the  Final  Mountains  are  found  granites  and  schists  which  are 
'  gold,  silver,  copper  and  iron-bearing.  The  ores  are  quite  rich  in 
gold,  while  further  north  in  the  feldspathic  granites,  gneiss  and  tal- 
cose  schists,  they  carry  silver  with  considerably  less  gold.  The 
veins  in  the  latter  locality  carry  galena  in  nodules  and  segregations, 
pyrites  of  iron  and  copper,  wulfenite  and  the  carbonates  of  lead  and 
copper.  The  galena  is  argentiferous.  Gold  occurs  free,  and  in  a 
finely  divided  state,  being  readily  amalgamated.  Hornsilver  and 
occasionally  iodide  of  silver  is  found.2 

In  Yavapai  County  the  gold  district  of  the  Lonesome  valley  comes 
first  and  is  situated  on  the  west  foot  of  the  Black  Hills,  the  next 
following  being  the  Agua  Fria  Mountains,  then  the  district  about 
Richenbar  and  Squaw  Creek  Canon  or  the  lower  Agua  Fria,  and  the 
high  ridge  between  Richenbar  and  Black  Canon.  Gold,  silver  and 
copper  veins  occur  in  the  Agua  Fria  and  Copper  Mountains  and 
owing  to  their  occurrence  practically  no  distinction  can  be  made 
between  them.  The  Chaparral  district  produces  gold  and  copper, 
the  east  end  of  Big  Bug  yielding  gold,  while  the  west  end  produces 
lead;  the  Walker  has  a  mixture  of  several  metals,  although  gold  is 
most  valuable;  and  in  the  Slate  Creek  district  both  gold  and  silver 
veins  occur  in  close  proximity  yet  separate  and  distinct.3 

The  Silver  King  mine  is  situated  near  the  base  of  the  Final  Moun- 
tain range  in  Final  County,  and  on  the  southwest  side.  The  country- 
rock  is  altered  crystalline  porphyry,  the  silica  from  which  may  have 
been  the  source  of  the  vein-filling.  The  ore-body  consists  of  a  cen- 
tral mass  or  chimney  200  feet  in  diameter  of  quartz,  both  compact 
and  white;  brown  iron-spar  occurs  with  disseminated  pyrites,  and 
there  is  also  a  centrally  filled  compact  ore,  consisting  principally  of 
blende,  but  containing  besides,  galena  and  native  silver.  Gray 
copper  is  also  found  in  the  solid  white  quartz  of  the  upper  levels, 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  73,  p.  795. 
8  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  31,  p.  248. 
8  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  63,  p.  633. 


OCCURRENCE  OF   GOLD  AND  SILVER.  181 

which  is  often  bunched  and  quite  rich;  and  is  usually  silver-bearing. 
From  the  central  mass  radiate  many  interlacing  veinlets,  varying 
from  a  mere  crevice  to  one-quarter  of  an  inch  in  width  forming 
a  "stockwork,"  which  bears  a  great  variety  of  rich  silver  minerals. 
The  ore-body  occurs  in  a  dike  of  porphyry.  The  ore  milled  as 
high  as  $200  per  ton,  but  gradually  decreased  in  richness  with  depth. 
The  surface  ores  are  more  or  less  oxidized  and  decomposed,  being 
stained  green  or  blue  by  copper  minerals,  and  have  therefore  lost 
much  of  the  metallic  appearance  of  the  original  ore  as  shown  in 
depth.  Sulphides  rarely  occurred  above,  but  with  depth  the  mass 
of  the  ore  consists  of  the  sulphides  of  silver,  lead,  zinc  and  copper. 
Native  silver  also  occurs  in  the  quartz-veinlets,  and  at  the  surface, 
sheets,  filaments  and  nuggets  of  snow-white  silver  are  found. 

The  minerals  found  here  are:  native  silver,  stromeyrite,  argen- 
tite,  galena,  blende,  bornite,  chalcopyrite,  pyrite,  tetrahedrite  and 
near  the  surface  hornsilver,  malachite,  azurite,  native  copper,  cup- 
rite and  black  masses  of  argentite.  The  gangues  are  quartz,  calcite, 
siderite  and  barite.1 

The  Tombstone  district  is  situated  in  Cochise  County.  The 
country-rock  consists  of  limestone,  quartzite  and  shale  overlying 
granite.  Dikes  of  igneous  rock  traverse  the  sedimentary  forma- 
tions, the  ore-deposits  occurring  in  the  limestones,  shales  and  prob- 
ably to  a  less  extent  the  porphyry. 

The  Tombstone  mines  are  remarkable  in  extent  and  value  of  the 
deposits,  which  occur  in  pipes  and  sheets  penetrating  the  country- 
rock,  and  therefore  lying  entirely  without  the  vein,  connection  being 
made  by  cross-courses  and  channels.  Often  by  far  the  richest  por- 
tions of  the  deposits  are  the  outlying  masses,  especially  when  the 
pay  ore  in  the  vein  has  decreased  to  two  or  three  feet  in  width.  The 
ores  are  replacement  products  occurring  both  in  fissures  and  in  anticli- 
nals,  in  the  latter  especially,  and  similar  to  those  usually  found  in 
the  limestone.  Gold  and  silver  occurs  in  a  comparatively  free  state 
although  the  silver  is  chiefly  chloride  especially  near  the  surface. 
The  chloride  or  hornsilver  occurs  in  films  and  crusts,  and  in  minute 
crystals  upon  cleavage  surfaces.  The  gangue  is  principally  quartz 
carrying  carbonate  of  lead.  At  a  depth  of  about  600  feet,  or  the 
permanent  water-level,  the  sulphides  of  silver,  lead  and  zinc  are 
encountered,  thus  necessitating  a  change  in  method  of  treatment.2 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Journal.,  Vol.  35,  pp.  238,  254  and  270. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  49,  p.  361,  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  26,  and  Min. 
and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  90,  p.  189. 


182  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  average  value  of  the  ore  in  gold  and  silver  is  $70  per  ton,  the 
gold  having  increased  in  later  developments  to  20  or  25  per  cent  of 
the  total  value.  Gold  occurs  in  seams  and  cracks  in  thin  subcrystal- 
line  flakes  and  scales.1 

Alabandite  or  manganese  sulphide  occurs  in  the  Lucky  Cuss  mine 
associated  with  galena  and  pyrite,  and  carries  gold  but  in  small 
quantities.2 

The  Pearce  district  is  located  on  the  foothills  east  of  the  Dragoon 
Mountains.  The  core  of  the  mountains  is  metamorphic  rock  which 
is  flanked  by  copper-bearing  carboniferous  limestones  intersected 
by  dikes  of  porphyritic  material,  while  the  outlying  hills,  especially 
to  the  eastward,  probably  belong  to  the  trachyte  and  rhyolite  series. 
Rich  shoots  of  ore  of  16  to  60  feet  in  thickness  have  been  opened  to 
a  depth  of  300  feet  and  over. 

The  ore  carries  both  gold  and  silver,  is  quartzitic  and  occasionally 
ferruginized.  The  silver  occurs  as  chloride,  bromide,  sulphide  and 
iodide,  while  gold  is  principally  native  (in  broad  splotches  and  in 
leaf  form),  and  possibly  in  tellurides.  The  proportion  of  gold  to 
silver  in  the  upper  and  lower  levels  is  2.5  to  1  and  1  to  1  respectively. 
The  hanging-wall  side  of  the  vein  shows  the  highest  values,  along 
which  streaks,  veinlets  and  inclusions  yield  high  values.3 

The  Fortuna  mine  of  Yavapai  County  is  situated  in  the  Gila 
range.  The  vein  lies  between  the  strata  of  a  limestone  formation 
which  has  a  schistose  structure,  both  vein  and  limestone  dip  to  the 
southeast.  The  vein  is  filled  with  ore  composed  of  hard  white 
quartz  bearing  free-gold,  but  no  sulphides.  The  vein  is  about  12 
feet  wide  and  contains  a  shoot  of  ore  which  extends  downward 
somewhat  irregularly.  Vein-filling  other  than  the  gold-bearing 
quartz,  is  quartz  considerably  broken  up  by  the  decomposition  of 
pyritic  minerals.4 

The  Hillside  vein,  Yavapai  County,  occurs  in  gray  phyllite  which 
changes  to  mica-schist.  It  is  a  fissure-vein.  The  ores  first  worked 
at  the  surface  were  highly  oxidized,  varying  from  light  brown  to  a 
yellowish  color  and  yielding  high  values  in  gold  and  the  chloride  of 
silver  —  ore  is  said  to  have  been  produced  running  as  high  as  $1,000 
per  ton.  With  depth  the  sulphides  are  encountered  of  which  iron, 

1  Min   and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  91,  p.  190. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  29. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  63,  p.  571. 

4  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  84,  p.  34,  and  the  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  63, 
p.  664 


OCCURRENCE  OF   GOLD  AND  SILVER.  183 

copper,  lead,  and  zinc  are  common;  however,  arsenical  pyrite  pre- 
dominates. Pure  native  silver  occurs  intimately  intermingled  with 
quartz  crystals.  Gold  is  visible  in  the  quartz  and  varies  little  if 
any  throughout  the  vertical  extent  worked.1 

The  Crown  King  mine,  Yavapai  County,  is  on  a  vein  which  varies 
from  5  to  30  feet  in  width,  dipping  at  an  angle  of  26  degrees.  The 
ore  is  gold  and  silver  in  quartz  and  clay  gangue.2 

The  Silver  Bell  district  is  in  northern  Pima  County.  The  Im- 
perial, Poland-Lynx  Creek  and  Big  Bug  mines  are  of  most  promi- 
nence. The  principal  minerals  are  the  oxides  and  carbonates  of 
copper,  chalcocite,  chalcopyrite  and  bornite.  The  change  from 
oxides  to  sulphides  is  usually  quite  abrupt  and  without  the  occur- 
rence of  intervening  bodies  of  chalcopyrite  which  is  the  most  import- 
ant sulphide  ore.  The  surface  ores  are  oxides  and  carbonates, 
chiefly  cuprite,  azurite  and  malachite.  Silver  has  been  found  in 
quantities  only  in  the  surface  ores  although  it  occurs  with  gold  in 
the  iron,  copper,  lead  and  zinc  sulphides.3 

The  United  Verde  district  is  situated  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
Black  Hills.  The  United  Verde  ore-body  occurs  in  great  fault-fis- 
sures extending  north  and  south.  Masses  of  altered,  laminated  and 
mineralized  rock  composed  of  sandstones,  shales,  thin  bedded  lime- 
stones, schists  and  slates  as  well  as  porphyries  occur  along  the  line 
of  the  fissures.  Within  the  fissured  zone  is  a  body  of  low-grade  ore 
covering  a  surface  area  of  2000  feet  north  and  south  by  450  feet 
east  and  west.  This  ore  belt  extends  for  a  distance  of  12  to  18  miles 
and  is  considerably  cut  up  by  intrusions  of  volcanic  rock.  Small  ore- 
bodies  occur  at  intervals  along  the  belt. 

The  ores  have  probably  been  formed  by  replacement.  There  are 
two  separate  ore-shoots  in  the  United  Verde  mine  which  have  an 
average  length  along  the  zone  of  mineralization  of  some  300  feet, 
traversing  the  intervening  barren  zone  for  a  distance  of  450  feet. 
They  have  been  worked  to  the  700-foot  level.  The  ores  are  bornite, 
chalcopyrite,  cuprite,  melaconite,  and  copper  sulphate.  The  sur- 
face ores  have  been  removed  in  large  quantities  by  quarrying  methods 
along  the  outcrop,  where  oxidized  gold  and  silver-bearing  minerals 
are  found.4 

The  Congress  district  is  situated  about  55  miles  south  of  Prescott 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  50,  p.  162. 

2  Ibid.,  Vol.  78,  p.  832. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  77,  p.  639.     Ibid.,  Vol.  74,  p.  622. 

4  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  86,  p.  70. 


184  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

and  is  one  of  the  few  mining  districts  of  Arizona  engaged  exclusively 
in  gold  mining.  The  country-rock  of  the  district  is  a  coarse  biotite- 
granite,  and  forms  the  mass  of  the  mountains  to  the  west  of  the 
mines.  The  lodes  are  quartz-veins,  closely  associated  with  intru- 
sions of  igneous  rocks.  The  Congress  and  Niagra  lodes  have  been 
worked  to  the  greatest  extent.  The  Congress  lode  is  closely  asso- 
ciated with  a  strong  dike,  usually  on  the  foot-wall  side,  but  some- 
times on  the  hanging.  The  dike  is  not  mineralized  except  where 
cut  by  stringers.  Other  dikes,  as  in  the  Queen  lode,  are  heavily 
charged  with  sulphides,  and  form  ore-bodies  of  considerable  value. 

The  veins  carry  massive  white  quartz,  the  values  being  in  sul- 
phides, both  pyrite  and  marcasite.  The  value  of  the  concentrates 
runs  as  high  as  $300  per  ton.1 

The  Commonwealth  mine,  Cochise  County,  is  a  vein  in  rhyolite 
which  carries  gold  and  silver  in  a  quartzose  gangue.  About  one- 
third  of  the  value  is  in  gold,  the  remaining  two-thirds  in  silver. 
This  has  proven  to  be  one  of  the  most  important  producers  of  gold 
in  Arizona  during  recent  years. 

The  Mammoth  mine  of  Final  County  is  also  associated  with  a 
rhyolite  dike.  The  original  deposit  has  suffered  great  alteration, 
having  changed  from  a  smelting  to  a  milling  ore  by  oxidation.  This 
mine  is  also  a  large  producer.2 

The  last  ten  years  has  witnessed  great  advancement  in  the  mining 
industry  of  this  Territory.  However,  it  is  doubtful  whether  a  pro- 
portionate increase  in  production  will  be  made  during  the  following 
decade,  although  there  is  no  apparent  reason  why  the  present  out- 
put should  not  be  maintained  and  even  exceeded. 

California.  —  The  gold  deposits  of  the  state  are  closely  associated 
with  the  metamorphic  rocks  or  slates,  which  has  been  brought  out 
by  Whitney  in  his  various  works.  However,  gold  occurs  in  granites 
and  schists,  although  few  gold-quartz  veins  are  found  in  exclusively 
granitic  areas,  and  when  they  do  occur  are  usually  near  contacts  or 
fissured  areas  of  schists  and  other  formations.  Within  the  gold- 
bearing  regions  the  veins  are  distributed  irrespective  of  kind  of  for- 
mation, occurring  in  almost  any  of  the  metamorphic  rocks.  Gold  is 
found  in  quartz-porphyrite,  augite  or  hornblende-porphyrite,  dia- 
base, granite,  diorite,  granodiorite,  gabbro,  serpentine,  amphibolite 
and  in  sedimentary  rocks  as  slates  somewhat  altered,  sandstones 
and  limestones. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  77,  p.  999. 

8  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  814  and  815,  1903. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD   AND  SILVER  185 

The  normal  quartz-veins  are  fissure-veins,  i.e.,  they  are  fissures 
and  fractures  in  which  are  found  quartz  as  a  gangue  and  native  gold 
and  sulphides  as  the  metalliferous  part.  According  to  good  author- 
ity the  clean  quartz  of  the  veins  cannot  be  accounted  for  except  by 
the  filling  of  cavities,  the  replacement  of  the  ferro-magnesian  sili- 
cates and  other  minerals  being  practically  impossible  without  the 
occurrence  of  chloritic  stains  and  other  accompanying  signs.  The 
veins  of  clean  quartz  vary  from  a  few  inches  to  several  feet  in  width. 
Widths  of  from  10  to  15  feet  are  found  in  the  veins  of  Mariposa  and 
Tuolumne  counties,  but  they  are  rather  limited  in  horizontal  extent 
and  probably  do  not  extend  deeper  than  10,000  feet.  The  common 
form  of  gangue  is  massive  quartz  although  combed  structure  is  not 
infrequent,  while  barite  and  fluorite  are  conspicuously  absent. 
Other  gangue  materials,  such  as  white  mica  with  pearl  luster  and  a 
green  potassium  mica  stained  with  chromium,  are  found.  Native 
gold  in  microscopic  grains  or  coarse  enough  to  be  readily  seen  and 
occurring  in  scales  and  threads  is  quite  irregularly  distributed 
through  the  quartz.  Masses  of  gold  and  quartz  often  with  a  large 
per  cent  of  gold  and  weighing  as  high  as  50  pounds  are  found.  As 
a  rule  the  usual  run  of  ore  does  not  contain  gold  that  is  visible  to 
the  naked  eye.  Gold  and  silver  are  usually  alloyed,  and  occasionally 
occur  in  the  proportion  of  3.33  to  1.  From  1  to  5  and  6  per  cent  of 
the  vein-filling  may  be  metallic  sulphides,  with  which  are  found 
compounds  of  arsenic,  antimony  and  tellurium. 

The  character  of  the  country-rock  has  undoubtedly  had  more  or     ' 
less  influence  in   determining  the  character  and  condition  of  the 
mineral    associations.     Granodiorite   probably    contains    more   gold 
than  the  other  formations,  and  pyrrhotite  is  probably  confined  to 
occurrences  in  this  rock,  while  veins  in  augite-porphyrite  and  dia- 
base are  poor  in  sulphurets.     The  contents  of  veins  in  black  slates 
and  contacts  between  slate  and  greenstone   contain   a   variety  of 
minerals  besides  pyrite  and  the  arsenical  forms.     Copper  is  com-     \ 
mon  to  veins  in  gabbro. 

As  a  rule  the  richer  ores  occur  in  masses  more  or  less  irregular, 
but  taken  as  a  whole  the  outlines  may  be  fairly  regular.  These 
masses  are  commonly  called  shoots  or  chimneys,  with  dips,  ranging 
from  45  degrees  and  up.  The  shoots  may  be  flat  or  thickish;  those 
of  the  Idaho  mine,  Grass  Valley,  are  flat,  with  widths  ranging  from 
a  few  up  to  several  hundred  feet  and  lengths  of  2000  feet  or  more. 
The  so-called  "  pocket  mines  "  are  interesting  in  that  the  ore  does 
not  occur  in  masses  but  has  the  gold-content,  usually  coarse,  con- 


186  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

centrated  at  certain  points.  The  smaller  veins  often  carry  sur- 
prisingly large  values  in  gold  and  silver,  which  may  even  occur  in 
the  form  of  shoots  or  pockets  at  the  intersection  of  one  or  more 
veins.1 

The  ores  of  the  Tioga  district  and  Mono  Pass  occur  in  schists,  and 
are  largely  sulphides,  being  rather  difficult  to  reduce.  Besides  the 
gold  and  silver  are  found  cobaltite,  pyrrhotite  and  the  sulphides  of 
iron,  copper,  lead,  zinc  and  antimony.  Chalcopyrite,  pyrite,  pyrr- 
hotite and  blende  are  abundant  in  the  granite  veins  of  Soulsby- 
ville  district,  besides  the  occurrence  of  a  peculiar  galena-like  ma- 
terial giving  blow-pipe  reactions  for  lead  and  antimony  —  the  ore  is 
free-milling.  The  West  Point  district  yields  ores  of  iron  and  copper 
sulphides  and  pyrrhotite.  Gold  occurs  in  albite  at  the  Shaw  mine, 
El  Dorado  County.  Barite  is  one  of  the  gangue  minerals  of  Pine 
Hill,  being  associated  with  the  ore  in  a  zone  of  decomposed  and 
kaolinized  diabase.  Quartz  and  calcite  form  the  bond  for  an  al- 
tered diabase  at  the  Yellowstone  mine,  Bear  Valley,  Mariposa 
County.  Free-gold  occurs  in  a  decomposed  rhyolite  dike  in  auri- 
ferous slate  at  Onion  Valley,  Plumas  County.  This  particular 
occurrence  is  interesting  as  the  rhyolite  is  probably  of  Tertiary  age. 
Gold  is  associated  with  cinnabar  in  several  localities:  in  the  Blue 
Wing  vein  near  Coulterville  in  diabase;  in  the  Manzanita  mine, 
Colusa  County,  and  in  the  Coast  Range  in  metamorphic  strata.2 

The  following  are  the  minerals  associated  together  in  the  quartz- 
veins  of  the  state:  the  most  common  minerals  are  iron  and  copper 
pyrites,  galena,  blende,  pyrrhotite,  mispickel,  hessite,  altaite,  cala- 
verite,  sylvanite,  petzite,  melonite;  those  less  common  are  molyb- 
denite, marcasite,  and  tetrahedrite,  and  the  rare  minerals  are  com- 
pounds of  nickel  and  cobalt  and  antimonial  lead  sulphides.3 

The  occurrence  of  tellurides  is  as  follows:  sylvanite  has  been 
found  in  the  Melones  mine,  Carson  Hill;  at  the  Golden  Rule  mine, 
Mother  lode  near  Poverty  Hill,  Tuolumne  County,  and  in  the  Raw 
Hide  mine.  The  telluride  of  silver  was  found  according  to  Pro- 
fessor Silliman  at  the  Reist  mine,  Mother  lode,  Whiskey  Hill, 
Tuolumne  County,  and  foliated  tellurium  was  found  in  the  ores  in/ 
Angel's  Camp,  Calaveras  County.4 

The  precious  metals  are  widely  distributed  throughout  the  state 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  70,  pp.  181  and  213. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  69,  p.  36. 
8  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  70,  p.  213. 
4  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  16,  p.  9. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  187 

and  most  of  the  deposits  are  so  favorably  located  that  mining  can 
be  advantageously  carried  on.  The  principal  gold  field  is  fully  700 
miles  in  length,  extending  in  a  north  and  south  direction  from 
Siskiyou  to  San  Diego,  but  confined  to  the  western  slope,  and  is 
remarkable  for  its  regularity  and  continuity.  Lying  outside  this 
field  are  other  gold  and  silver-bearing  districts,  the  most  important 
being  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state  in  the  Colorado  River  basin. 
The  veins  occur  in  andesites  and  rhyolites,  the  ores  being  gold  and 
silver-bearing.  The  ore-deposits  of  Alpine,  Mono,  Inyo,  and  San 
Bernardino  counties  belong  to  this  belt,  but  possibly  not  to  the 
same  period  —  some  may  be  of  Cretaceous  age.1  As  late  as  1898 
the  mining  of  gold  was  successfully  carried  on  in  thirty-one  out  of  the 
fifty-seven  counties,  the  majority  being  situated  in  the  mountains, 
foothills  and  desert  regions  and  only  a  few  in  the  valley  counties 
or  the  Coast  Range.2 

The  Mother  lode  is  composed  of  a  series  of  black  slates,  generally 
designated  as  the  Mariposa  slate,  which  runs  in  a  north  and  south 
direction  through  the  country  of  the  western  slope  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada  being  exceedingly  persistent.  This  belt  of  slate  varies  in 
width  from  several  hundred  feet  to  over  a  mile,  and  is  readily  trace- 
able through  four  or  five  counties.  Occurring  in  this  mass  of  slate 
are  many  quartz-veins  which  are  often  parallel,  and  in  some  in- 
stances follow  the  contact  of  slate  and  diabase.  Closely  associated 
with  the  quartz  is  a  soft  black  gouge.  Bodies  of  high-grade  ores 
have  been  found  in  these  veins,  but  by  far  the  greater  part  is  low- 
grade,  varying  from  $4  to  $6  per  ton.3 

In  the  central  part  of  the  southern  portion  of  the  Mother  lode  is 
a  large  vein  of  dolomite,  which  is  most  prominent  in  the  vicinity  of 
Coulterville.  At  an  exposure  where  the  vein  crosses  a  creek  a  width 
of  fully  300  feet  is  shown;  the  body  of  the  vein  consists  of  a  great 
mass  of  ankerite  through  which  is  disseminated  the  green,  scaly 
mineral  known  as  mariposite.  Lenses  of  quartz  occur  mainly  along 
the  hanging-wall  and  center  of  the  vein,  but  are  also  irregularly 
distributed,  and  stand  out  boldly  from  the  ankerite.  Interposed 
between  the  quartz-lenses  are  large  zones  of  dolomite,  completely 
cut  up  by  interlacing  quartz-veins  of  varying  size  transforming 
the  whole  mass  into  a  mineralized  zone.  One  quartz-lens  is 
nearly  20  feet  wide,  300  feet  long  and  stands  at  a  height  of  25 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  817,  1903. 

8  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  p.  7. 

8  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  75,  p.  148. 


188  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

feet,  as  an  outcrop.  Several,  at  least  two,  gold-quartz  veins  inter- 
sect the  lode.  Gold  also  occurs  in  the  ankerite  and  mariposite 
when  cut  by  quartz-veins,  and  the  more  fissured  the  rock  is,  the 
higher  are  the  gold  values.  However,  without  quartz  present  the 
ankerite  is  barren  of  gold,  otherwise  the  whole  mass  is  low-grade 
ore.1 

The  gold-content  is  fairly  uniformly  distributed  along  the  length 
of  ore-shoots,  which  cannot  be  said,  however,  regarding  its  occur- 
rence across  the  ore-bodies.  Fine  gold  is  the  rule  although  some 
coarse  gold  is  found,  especially  in  southern  Calaveras  County  where 
considerable  quantities  have  been  mined. 

An  auriferous  conglomerate  of  the  Jurassic  age  occurs  in  the 
Sierra  Nevada,  its  exposure  lying  chiefly  between  the  North  and 
Middle  forks  of  the  American  River.  Presumably  the  gold-content 
was  delivered  from  pre-existing  quartz-veins,  which  with  the  quartz- 
filling  found  the  conglomerate  as  a  littoral  deposit  of  the  Jurassic 
sea.2 

Nevada  County. —  This  county  had  produced  $212,000,000  in 
gold,  or  nearly  one-sixth  total  production  of  the  state  up  to  1899, 
and  led  in  the  production  of  minerals  during  1898.  In  the  early 
days  it  was  a  great  placer-mining  district,  and  consequently  was 
seriously  affected  by  the  cessation  of  placer-mining  in  the  early 
eighties.  In  1899  it  had  within  its  borders  234  quartz  mines  be- 
sides many  placer  and  drift-mines.  The  first  quartz-mining  district 
was  organized  here,  and  the  first  mining  established  in  1850.  There 
seems  to  be  no  direct  connection  with  the  Mother  lode  to  the  south. 
Ground-sluicing  was  first  employed  here  in  1851-2  in  the  "  coyote  " 
claims  of  Nevada  City.  The  discovery  of  gold  quartz  on  Gold  Hill 
attracted  great  attention,  and  was  the  beginning  of  gold  mining  in 
the  state.  In  1855  there  were  seven  producing  quartz  mines. 

There  are  three  distinct  gold  belts  in  the  county,  namely:  Wash- 
ington, Grass  Valley  and  Meadow  Lake,  all  west  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada.  The  gold-bearing  formations  are  slates,  schists,  serpentine, 
gabbro  and  syenite,  which  are  cut  by  dikes  of  diorite  and  diabase, 
including  veins  of  gold-quartz.  The  Washington  belt  consists  of 
auriferous  black  slate,  mica,  talc  and  chloride-schists  with  quartz- 
ite  containing  dikes  of  diorite-diabase.  The  Meadow  Lake  belt  is 
composed  chiefly  of  syenite.  The  principal  mines  which  have  been 
worked  in  this  country  are:  the  Idaho,  Eureka,  Gold  Hill  and 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  78,  p.  589. 
a  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  59,  p.  389. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  189 

Massachusetts  Hill,  the  Maryland,  North  Star,  Empire,  W.  Y.  O.  D., 
Providence  and  Champion.1 

Butte  County.  —  The  entire  east  side  of  this  county  consists  of 
spurs  and  foothills  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  which  lie  be- 
tween the  North,  Middle  and  South  forks  of  the  Feather  River. 
These  rivers  debouch  into  the  Valley  of  the  Sacramento,  having  cut 
their  way  through  a  country  rich  in  quartz-veins.  Much  gold  has 
been  taken  from  the  placer  mines,  and  they  still  continue  to  be  worked. 

The  principal  quartz-mining  districts  are:  Forbestown,  Enterprise, 
Yankee  Hill,  Oroville,  etc.  The  Forbestown  district  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent.  The  ores  are  high-grade,  most  of  the  values 
existing  in  sulphurets.  The  ledges  are  large  consisting  of  hard, 
white  quartz  bearing  a  little  free-gold.  The  principal  mines  are: 
the  Denver,  Forbestown  district;  Murray,  Lydia,  Slater  and  Crystal 
Peak  of  the  Enterprise  district,  and  the  Spring  Valley  mine  of  the 
Oroville  district.2 

Placer  County.  —  This  county  extends  from  the  summit  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada  Mountains  to  within  12  miles  of  the  Sacramento 
River,  thus  having  a  difference  in  elevation  of  nearly  8,000  feet. 
It  lies  between  the  Yuba  and  Bear  rivers  on  the  north,  and  the 
Middle  fork  of  the  American  River  on  the  south.  Shallow  placers 
extend  from  the  lowest  to  the  highest  portion  and  owing  to  the  large 
area  and  prominence  of  the  placer  ground  the  name  was  aptly 
chosen. 

Ravine,  river  and  hydraulic-mining  followed  one  another  in 
rapid  succession  and  at  the  time  of  the  enforced  stoppage  of 
hydraulic-mining,  gravel-mining  was  both  extensively  and  profitably 
carried  on. 

Such  wide  distribution  of  placer  gold  could  scarcely  mean  any- 
thing else  than  the  close  proximity  of  many  and  rich  gold-bearing 
veins,  which  later  developments  amply  verified  —  the  whole  eastern 
slope  of  the  Sierras  is  traversed  by  veins  of  gold-quartz.  The  first 
quartz-mining  was  begun  at  or  near  Ophir,  and  was  done  by  Mexi- 
cans who  reduced  the  ore  by  mortars  and  arrastras.  The  first 
quartz  mill  was  erected  in  1851  at  Secret  Diggings.  The  deepest 
quartz  mine  in  1899  was  near  Towle.  Other  important  mines  are: 
the  Herman,  near  Westville;  the  Golden  West,  five  miles  south  of 
Blue  Canon;  and  Belle vue  at  Ophir.3 

1  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  p.  263. 
3  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  p.  279. 
3  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  p.  298. 


190  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

El  Dorado  County.  Placer-mining  in  1848  to  1856  was  carried  on 
extensively,  and  as  a  direct  result  led  to  the  discovery  of  numerous 
mineral  belts  and  districts,  the  one  of  most  importance  being  the 
Mother  lode.  The  Calaveras  formation,  consisting  of  the  older, 
coarser  and  more  crystalline  states,  quartzites  and  limestones,  occurs 
both  to  the  east  and  west  of  the  Mother  lode  formation  —  the  Mari- 
posa  slates.  Ore-bodies  occurring  in  the  fissures  of  this  belt  are  as 
valuable  as  those  of  the  Mother  lode. 

The  Nashville  quartz-vein  was  the  first  to  be  opened  in  1851. 
The  surface  ores  were  very  rich  but  with  depth  the  value  fell  to  $3 
and  $5  per  ton.  The  principal  mines  of  the  Mother  lode  are  the 
Springfield  and  Church,  Larkin,  Gentle  Annie,  Big  Sandy  and  Gray 
Eagle.  The  Grand  Victory,  six  miles  southeast  of  Placerville,  was 
an  important  mine.1 

Amador  County.  —  The  deepest  and  probably  most  profitable 
mines  of  the  state  are  found  in  this  county.  There  are  three  well- 
defined  mineral  belts,  namely,  the  western,  central  and  eastern.  In 
the  western  belt  the  ore  occurs  in  diorite  or  diabase,  altered  by 
shearing  and  compression  to  amphibolite-schist.  Gold  veins  occur 
here,  but  have  not  been  much  developed  as  yet.  The  central  belt 
includes  the  Mother  lode.  The  eastern  belt  lies  in  the  granite 
area — the  mines  are  not  extensively  developed.  The  most  im- 
portant mines  of  the  various  belts  are  as  follows :  Zeila,  Kennedy, 
Oneida,  South  Eureka,  Central  Eureka,  Amador  Consolidated, 
Wildman-Mahoney,  Keystone,  Bunker  Hill,  Mayflower,  Treasure, 
Plymouth,  etc.2 

Calaveras  County.  —  The  region  of  the  Mother  lode  lies  to  the 
east  of  Bear  Mountain  having  a  width  of  two  to  four  miles.  Mari- 
posa  slate  predominates  with  an  accompanying  belt  of  amphibolite- 
schist  on  the  east.  Dikes  of  serpentine  and  lenses  of  limestone  are 
of  frequent  occurrence.  Gold  is  found  in  quartz-veins  in  the  Mari- 
posa  slate  and  in  the  amphibolite-schists.  There  are  other  locali- 
ties without  this  region  where  gold  is  found,  which  are  known  as 
the  Comanche-Milton,  the  Campo  Seco-Copperopolis;  the  East 
Point  and  West  Point,  making  five  sections  with  the  Mother  lode. 
Although  the  Campo  Seco-Copperopolis  belt  is  strictly  a  copper 
producer,  yet  enough  gold  and  silver  are  obtained  to  pay  for  cost  of 
mining  and  treatment.  The  ores  are  the  sulphides  and  carbonates 
of  copper.  The  East  belt  is  made  up  of  Calaveras  slates  in  which 

1  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  p.  310,  etc.  '• 
a  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  p.  319. 

•  . 


OCCURRENCE   OF  GOLD   AND   SILVER.  191 

are  quartz-veins,  igneous  dikes  and  lenses  of  limestone.  In  the 
West  Point  area  the  country-rock  is  diorite-granite,  changing  to  the 
eastward  into  a  hornblende  rock.  The  mines  of  prominence  in  the 
Mother  lode  district  are  the  Given,  Utica,  Fellowcraft,  Troupe, 
Demorest,  Lightner,  Stickles,  Madison,  Gold  Cliff;  in  the  West 
Point  belt,  the  Paragon,  Keltz;  in  the  East  belt,  Sheep  Ranch, 
Taylor  and  Collyerville,  and  in  the  Campo  Seco-  Copperopolis  belt, 
the  Satellite,  Campo-Seco  and  Royal.1 

Tuolumne  County.  —  This  county  is  on  the  western  slope  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada  Mountains.  It  also  contains  the  Mother  lode  which 
enters  it  from  the  south  at  Moccasin  Creek  and  leaves  it  at  Robin- 
son's Ferry.  The  vein  dips  40  to  80  degrees,  and  conforms  with 
the  stratification  of  the  enclosing  rocks  —  the  black  Mariposa  slates 
are  also  present  here.  The  East  belt  includes  a  granite  area.  Some 
distance  east  of,  and  paralleling  the  Mother  lode,  is  the  Eureka  or 
main  fissure  belt.  The  country-rocks  of  the  East  belt  are  states, 
mica-schist,  quartzite  and  other  metamorphic  rocks  in  which  the 
veins  occur  and  frequently  also  in  grano-diorite.  The  ore  runs 
high  in  sulphurets;  galena  and  blende  are  often  good  indications  of 
value.  The  tellurides  of  gold  are  also  found  here.  The  veins  are 
very  irregular  in  both  horizontal  and  vertical  extent. 

This  county  is  especially  famous  for  the  number  and  richness  of 
Its  pocket  mines,  which  have  been  found  and  worked  to  the  best 
advantage  at  Bald  Mountain  and  near  the  Bonanza  mine. 

The  Tioga  district  is  situated  on  the  summit  of  the  Sierras,  the 
mines  being  in  slate.  The  ore  is  high-grade  of  which  from  5  to 
6  per  cent  is  in  sulphurets.  The  principal  mines-  of  this  district 
are  the  Great  Sienna,  Sheepherder  and  Crown  Point.2 

Mariposa  County.  —  The  Mother  lode  probably  terminates  in  this 
county.  The  principal  formations  are  clay-slates,  diabase,  diorite 
and  serpentine  which  accompany  the  main  lode,  all  of  which  are 
abruptly  cut  off  by  a  mass  of  granite.  The  width  of  the  Mother 
lode  is  close  to  300  feet  made  up  largely  of  dolomite  and  stained 
with  mariposite.  There  are  two  quartz-veins  within  the  lode,  the 
larger  being  10  to  20  feet  wide,  the  other  smaller.  The  Kite  vein 
of  the  East  lode  is  of  considerable  importance.  The  following  mines 
have  been  good  producers:  Princeton,  Mariposa,  Pine  Tree  and 
Josephine,  Oso  and  Mount  Ophir.3 

1  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  p.  330. 
*  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  p.  345. 
8  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  p.  360. 


192  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Plumas  and  Sierra  Counties.  —  After  the  exhaustion  of  the  placer 
mines  quartz-mining  was  begun,  and  a  number  of  rich  mines  have 
been  developed.  The  Plumas-Eureka  of  Gold  Mountain  is  one  of 
the  oldest  and  most  important  mines  of  Plumas  County;  the  most 
noted  mine  in  Sierra  County  is  the  Sierra  Buttes.1 

Fresno  and  Madera  Counties.  —  Within  these  counties  lies  a  por- 
tion of  the  great  gold  belt  of  the  Sierra  Nevada.  Two  arms  of  the 
auriferous  slate  belt  extend  southward  into  these  two  counties  in 
granite  and  other  formations,  and  contain  mineralized  veins.  There 
are  small,  low-grade  veins  in  the  Grub  Gulch  district  which  are 
profitable  to  mine  —  they  occur  principally  in  mica-schist.  There 
is,  however,  one  of  the  largest  gold-bearing  quartz-veins  in  the  state 
in  this  district  which  extends  southward  into  Fresno  County.  Upon 
the  vein  are  the  following  prominent  mines:  Mammoth,  Starlight- 
Riverside  and  Savanna.2 

Inyo  County.  —  At  one  time  this  county  led  in  the  production  of 
silver,  and  had  produced  up  to  1899  fully  two-thirds  of  the  silver 
product  of  the  state.  It  has  produced  lead  and  gold  as  well  as 
silver.3 

The  Randsburg  district,  Kern  County,  discovered  in  1895,  has 
materially  increased  the  gold  production  of  the  state.  The  country- 
rock  is  diorite  through  which  quartz-veins  run  in  every  direction, 
and  in  which  large  shoots  of  ore  often  occur.  The  district  has  proven 
to  be  a  "  deep  "  ore  region.  The  most  important  mine  is  the  Yellow 
Aster,  which  yields  ore  worth  $40  per  ton.  Other  prominent  mines 
are  the  Wedge,  Little  Butte  and  Kinyon.  The  Johannesburg  is 
another  district  north  of  the  Randsburg  which  is  being  developed 
rapidly.  The  Golden  Cross  group  of  mines  is  operating  on  low- 
grade  ores.  The  gold  being  found  in  country-rock  cut  by  granite 
dikes.  The  ore  averages  $2  to  $5  per  ton.4 

The  ore-deposits  of  eastern  California  can  be  divided  into  two 
general  classes;  gold  and  silver-lead.  The  silver-bearing  veins  may 
also  be  grouped  into  two  classes:  first,  the  argentiferous  galena 
chamber  deposits,  and  second,  the  silver-bearing  sulphides  such  as 
antimony,  arsenic  and  copper.  These  deposits  occur  in  quartz- 
veins.  The  gold  deposits  usually  contain  silver  also,  and  in  many 
cases  the  value  of  the  two  metals  is  equal,  while  the  silver  deposits 

i  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  p.  383. 

3  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  p.  391. 
8  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  p.  404. 

4  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  p.  399. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  193 

rarely  ever  contain  gold  in  any  appreciable  quantity.  Gold-bearing 
veins  are  common  in  the  southern  part  of  the  Argus  Mountains,  and 
occur  in  granite.  In  depth  the  gold  will  probably  be  found  in 
sulphides,  for  in  many  veins  chalcopyrite  and  galena  occur  and 
carry  considerable  silver. 

The  argentiferous  galena  is  usually  found  in  irregular  chamber- 
like  deposits  in  limestone,  but  occasionally  occurs  in  other  sedi- 
mentary rocks  and  granite.  In  the  granite  veins  calcite  and  iron 
oxides  form  a  large  part  of  the  gangue.1 

Colusa  County.  —  Gold  is  found  in  the  Sulphur  Creek  district  in 
dikes,  joints,  and  bedding-planes,  also  in  the  honey-combed  quartz 
seams  of  the  dikes.  Pyrite  and  pyrrhotite  are  abundant,  and  carry 
varying  amounts  of  gold.  However,  the  richest  rock  does  not 
carry  the  sulphides.  The  formations  are  quartz  and  slate  carrying 
the  gold  and  sulphurets.  Associated  with  this  formation  is  a  streak 
of  cinnabar  carrying  fully  80  per  cent  quicksilver.  The  ore  is  first 
retorted  for  quicksilver  then  milled  for  gold.2 

The  Calico  silver  mines  are  of  two  kinds:  first,  deposits  directly 
connected  with  fractures  and  faults;  and  second,  those  deposits  of 
irregular  form  and  pockety  in  character  usually  found  in  beds  of 
tufa,  and  are  nearly  always  more  or  less  superficial  in  character,  i.e., 
lie  close  to  the  surface.  The  deposits  occur  in  fissure-veins,  and 
although  irregular  often  follow  the  dip  of  the  strata.  The  more 
important  mines  are:  the  King  system,  Bismark  and  Humburg, 
the  Garfield  group,  Blackfoot  mines,  Waterloo,  Waterman,  etc. 

The  accumulations  of  gold  are  usually  at  or  near  the  surface,  the 
richest  portions  of  the  deposits  being  in  the  outcrops.  The  gangue 
is  barite  with  jasper,  while  the  ores  are  chloride  of  silver,  hydrosili- 
cates  and  carbonate  of  copper.3 

The  mining  district  of  Angels  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  noted 
of  the  state.  The  gold-quartz  veins  were  opened  shortly  after 
placer-mining  began  to  wane.  The  country-rock  is  schist  in  which 
the  large  quartz-veins  occur  which  have  yielded  numerous  rich 
pockets  of  gold,  especially  in  the  outcrops.  The  principal  mines 
are:  Sickel,  Angels,  Bovee,  Gold,  Cliff,  Utica  and  Lightner.4 

At  the  Rathgeb  mine,  near  San  Andreas,  there  was  found  a  most 
peculiar  occurrence  of  gold.  A  mass  of  red  clay  intermixed  with 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  73,  p.  480. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  34,  p.  280  and  the  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  42, 
p.  186. 

8  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  15,  p.  720. 

*  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  89,  p.  358. 


194  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

wire  gold  (more  gold  than  clay,  it  is  claimed)  was  found  at  a  point 
where  the  enclosing  vein  had  faulted.  The  vein  is  about  ten  feet 
wide,  and  has  suffered  a  displacement  of  about  ten  feet.  The  gold 
was  in  a  spongy  state,  while  filling  interstices  were  particles  of  quartz 
associated  with  which  was  pitch  blende,  or  uraninite,  in  needle- 
like  crystals;  around  and  through  this  mineral  mass  occurred  the 
clay,  although  uranium  ochre  often  surrounded  the  uraninite.  This 
occurrence  of  gold  and  uranium  is  somewhat  out  of  the  ordinary.1 

Although  it  is  probable  that  placer-mining  will  decrease  in  the 
future,  yet  the  operation  of  dredges  will  prevent  any  sudden  falling 
off.  The  old  mining  counties  in  which  deep-mining  has  been  car- 
ried on  for  years  will  continue  to  maintain  the  output,  and  new  dis- 
coveries together  with  improved  facilities  in  the  properties  already 
developed  may  result  in  a  very  material  increase  in  production. 

Canada,  the  Silver  Islet  Mine.  —  This  mine  is  noted  for  the  size 
and  richness  of  its  ore-bodies,  and  as  it  has  already  been  referred  to 
historically  the  mineral  occurrence  and  association  will  also  be  given. 

The  workable  portion  of  the  vein  on  which  this  mine  was  located 
occurred  on  an  island  about  70  by  80  feet  in  extent,  and  some  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  from  shore.  Unfortunately  for  its  development 
the  island  is  exposed  to  the  full  sweep  of  the  wind  and  storms  off 
Lake  Superior. 

The  country-rock  is  a  very  siliceous  black  slate,  which  dips  slightly 
to  the  east,  and  is  cut  by  several  dikes  of  diorite  trending  in  a  north- 
easterly direction.  The  phenomenon  of  ledges  of  diorite  standing 
above  the  surface  of  the  lake  is  due  to  its  being  harder  than  the 
enclosing  slates,  thus  often  forming  islands.  A  large  fissure-vein 
intersects  the  dikes  at  approximately  right  angles,  and  is  known  to 
reach  to  a  depth  of  1000  feet,  varying  in  width  from  4  to  30  feet. 
Further,  the  vein  stands  nearly  vertical  thereby  reducing  the  neces- 
sity of  supporting  timbers  to  a  minimum.  The  main  fissure  split  or 
bifurcated,  one  branch  running  eastward  and  the  other  westward, 
besides  which  there  are  numerous  stringers  and  leaders  which  are 
continually  returning  to  and  reuniting  with  the  vein.  The  diorite 
of  the  dikes  is  often  charged  with  graphite  giving  it  a  black,  coarsely 
granular  and  friable  character,  while  small  nodules  of  pure  plum- 
bago occur  next  to  the  walls.  The  walls  of  the  vein  in  the  diorite 
are  usually  smooth  and  fairly  well  defined. 

The  gangue  is  white  and  salmon  colored  crystalline  calcite  carry- 
ing carbonate  of  manganese  and  some  rhodochrosite,  while  spme- 
1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press.,  Vol.  67,  p.  180. 


OCCURRENCE   OF   GOLD  AND  SILVER.  195 

what  irregularly  distributed  throughout  the  calcite  are  patches  and 
scattering  crystals  of  quartz.  Vuggs  occur  in  which  are  found  crys- 
tals of  calcite,  quartz,  pyrite,  galena,  blende,  argentite  and  occa- 
sionally clay. 

The  silver  occurs  mostly  in  the  native  state  in  the  form  of  grains 
and  threads  or  in  the  massive  form  but  rarely  in  crystals  or  crystal- 
line. Massive  crystalline  silver  sulphide  was  found,  which  occasion- 
ally assumed  a  lenticular  shape.  Other  minerals  associated  with 
the  silver  are:  pyrite,  chalcopyrite,  galena,  blende,  niccolite,  smaltine, 
stephanite  and  pyrargyrite.  The  bulk  of  the  bonanza  ore  was 
arborescent  silver  considerably  mixed  with  macfarlanite,  a  rich 
silver  ore  carrying  78  per  cent  of  metallic  silver  together  with  arse- 
nic, cobalt  and  nickel.  In  physical  appearance  the  macfarlanite 
resembles  niccolite.  All  of  the  ores  were  associated  with  cobalt  and 
nickel  as  arsenides  or  black  oxide,  but  in  small  quantities. 

The  silver  was  distributed  in  streaks  and  patches,  varying  from 
1  to  24  inches  in  thickness  and  from  a  few  inches  to  20  and  30  feet 
in  length.  However,  the  occurrence  of  these  masses  was  very 
irregular  occasionally  being  arranged  continuously  for  50  to  60  feet 
or  stopping  abruptly.  Many  of  the  pockets  were  composed  of 
massive  silver  throughout,  in  which  small  quantities  of  rock  occurred, 
and  often  so  bound  together  by  the  pure  native  silver  as  to 
resist  breaking  apart  or  blasting. 

It  was  claimed  that  a  connection  was  noticeable  between  the 
graphite  impregnations  and  the  silver  bodies. 

The  first  bonanza  was  completely  exhausted  in  1874  after  about 
four  years  of  work.  The  second  bonanza  was  discovered  in  1878, 
its  approach  being  indicated  by  the  occurrence  of  graphitic  impreg- 
nations. The  ore-body  showed  a  width  of  five  feet  of  solid  ore 
consisting  of  animikite  and  huntilite.  In  shape  it  was  an  inverted 
cone  with  its  base  50  feet  wide  on  the  third  level  and  its  apex  on  the 
fifth  level.  A  winze  sunk  in  the  middle  of  the  bonanza  to  the 
fourth  level  for  a  distance  of  60  feet  is  said  to  have  been  wholly  in 
practically  solid  silver,  the  metal  standing  out  bodily  from  the 
four  walls.  The  deposit  occurred  near  the  junction  of  the  two 
veins  and  had  a  width  of  about  ten  feet.1 

The  Duncan  mine,  also  in  Thunder  Bay,  is  located  on  a  calcite 
vein  which  is  traceable  for  several  miles.  Its  mineralization  is 
very  irregular  —  native  silver  occurs  in  bunches  on  the  south  wall. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  23,  p.  54,  Ibid.,  Vol.  34,  pp.  321  and  322,  and  Ibid, 
Vol.  26,  p.  388. 


196  GOLD   AND  SILVER. 

Fully  8  per  cent  of  the  ore  is  very  rich,  the  native  silver  occurring 
mostly  as  threads  in  blende  and  calcite.  This  vein  is  15  to  22  feet 
wide,  carrying  quartz,  barite,  blende,  pyrite  and  chalcopyrite  — 
the  sulphurets  putting  in  an  appearance  in  depth.  The  pyrite  is 
somewhat  argentiferous.  Leaders  or  veinlets  of  calcite,  about 
one-half  inch  in  width,  penetrate  the  slate  walls  and  in  one  of  them 
at  least  nickel  ore  occurs,  which  forms  on  the  slate  walls.1  The 
vein  cuts  the  black  slate  of  the  copper  formation  which  belongs  to 
the  Lower  Silurian.2 

On  Pie  Island  are  other  veins  which  are  very  similar  to  those  of 
Silver  Islet,  the  ores  containing  native  silver  and  niccolite.3 

The  Carolina  Gold  Belt.  —  The  most  extensive  and  important 
area  in  the  Southern  States  is  the  great  zone  of  metamorphic  schists 
and  slates  extending  from  the  Virginia  line  in  a  southwesterly 
direction  through  central  North  Carolina  into  the  northern  part 
of  South  Carolina.  In  North  Carolina  it  includes  portions  of 
the  following  counties:  Granville,  Person,  Durham,  Orange,  Ala- 
mance,  Chatham,  Randolph,  Davidson,  Rowan,  Moore,  Montgom- 
ery, Stanley,  Cabarrus,  Anson  and  Union,  while  in  South  Carolina, 
Chesterfield  and  Lancaster  counties,  the  rock  formations  are:  first, 
metamorphic  argillaceous,  sericitic  and  chloritic  slates  and  schists; 
second,  devitrified  ancient  volcanics  (rhyolite,  quartz-porphyry, 
breccias,  etc.);  third,  igneous  plutonic  rocks  (granite,  diorite, 
diabase,  etc.);  fourth,  siliceous  niagnesian  limestone,  and  fifth, 
sedimentary  slates. 

The  ore-deposits  occur  in  two  principal  forms,  as  quartz  fissure- 
veins  and  impregnations  in  schists  and  slates.  The  veins  are  ap- 
parently interlaminated  with  the  schists  and  are  largely  irregular, 
yet  being  more  or  less  lenticular  in  form.  Conforming  with  the 
schistosity  of  the  enclosing  rock  in  a  general  way,  they  nevertheless 
intersect  the  schistose  planes  at  small  angles.  The  impregnations 
are  irregular  in  shape  and  consist  of  fine  gold  and  sulphurets  fairly 
uniformly  disseminated  throughout  the  rock  mass,  accompanying 
which  are  stringers  and  lenses  of  quartz.4 

The  minerals  found  in  the  veins  are:  calcite,  dolomite,  fluorite, 
quartz,  pyrrhotite,  pyrites,  chalcopyrite,  mispickel,  tetrahedrite, 
blende,  galena  and  altaite  (telluride  of  gold  with  small  percent- 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  20,  p.  28. 
3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  20,  p.  7. 

3  Ibid.,  Vol.  20,  p.  28. 

4  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  63,  p.  629,  and  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  667. 


OCCURRENCE  OF   GOLD  AND   SILVER.  197 

ages  of  gold  and  silver)  and  native  gold.  When  the  gold  occurs 
free  it  is  usually  bright  and  clean,  and  can  readily  be  saved  by 
milling;  however,  most  of  the  gold  occurs  as  a  fine  coating  along  the 
cleavage  planes  of  the  slate  and  associated  with  the  pyrite.1 
Tellurides  seem  to  be  a  good  index  for  gold.  The  galena  is  often 
argentiferous. 

Mining  has  been  carried  on  more  systematically  and  extensively 
in  North  Carolina  than  in  any  other  section  of  the  South.  Never- 
theless, comparatively  few  mines  are  being  worked  steadily.  The 
mines  are  found  in  three  belts,  namely:  the  Eastern  Carolina,  the 
Carolina  and  South  Mountain  belts.  The  principal  mines  of  the 
Eastern  Carolina  belt  are:  The  Thomas,  Kearney,  Taylor,  Mann, 
Davis,  Nick- Arlington,  Mann-Arrington  and  Portis.  The  Mann- 
Arrington  mine  has  quartz-lenses  of  varying  sizes  up  to  12  inches 
thick,  which  .cut  the  schists  in  which  they  are  enclosed.  The  country- 
rock  at  the  Portis  mine  is  diorite,  and  the  ore-bodies  occur  in  two 
intersecting  belts  of  quartz-veins,  with  a  total  width  of  nine  feet.2 

In  the  Carolina  belt  most  of  the  work  has  been  done,  and  is  for 
convenience  described  by  counties. 

Guilford  County.  — The  Fisher  Hill  and  Willis  Hill  mines  have 
two  systems  of  parallel  veins,  the  first  extending  north  and  south, 
the  second  northeast  and  southwest.  They  vary  in  thickness  from 
ten  inches  to  four  feet.  One  mile  to  the  north  is  the  Hodges  Hill 
mine,  in  which  the  ore  is  quartz  and  chalcopyrite  in  a  flat  vein 
6  inches  to  12  feet  wide.  The  Fentress  mine  has  ore  consisting 
of  chalcopyrite  in  quartz,  gold-bearing.  It  has  been  worked  for 
copper.  The  thickness  of  the  vein  varies  from  34  inches  to  13  feet. 
The  Gardner  Hill  mine  has  three  veins  (probably),  with  thickness 
of  main  vein  of  about  three  feet.  The  vein  carries  gold-quartz, 
pyrite,  and  chalcopyrite.  The  country-rock  is  granite,  'the  North 
State  mine  yields  similar  ores.3 

Randolph  County.  —  The  .rock  is  argillaceous  and  chloritic- 
schist  sheared  by  eruptives,  while  at  Hoover  Hill  is  a  massive  por- 
phyrite.  The  Hoover  Hill  mine  is  in  a  brecciated  basic  eruptive 
country -rock,  the  included  fragments  of  which  are  hornstone.  The 
rock  is  partly  schistose.  The  ore-bodies  are  pyritic,  and  filled  with 
quartz-veins  lying  in  belts  in  the  porphyrite.  Intersecting  the 
veins  are  pyroxenic  dikes.  The  ore  averages  $8  to  $10  per  ton. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  31,  p.  39. 
3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  693. 
8  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.;  Vol.  25,  p.  694. 


198  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

At  the  Jones  or  Keystone  mine  the  country-rock  is  a  brecciated 
porphyrite,  strongly  schistose.  The  ore-bodies  are  made  up  of 
separate  zones  of  schist  of  from  12  to  15  feet  in  width,  which  are 
impregnated  with  gold-bearing  pyrite.  The  width  of  the  ore-bear- 
ing ground  is  between  50  and  110  feet.  Ore  runs  according  to 
assay  values  from  $2  to  $7  per  ton.1 

Davidson  County.  —  The  Silver  Hill  or  Washington  mine  has  an 
ore  composed  of  slate  and  quartz  which  bears  pyrite,  galena,  blende 
and  chalcopyrite.  The  galena  is  highly  argentiferous.  The  country- 
rock  is  chloritic  schist  in  which  are  two  parallel  veins,  known  as  the 
East  and  the  West,  standing  some  28  feet  apart  at  the  surface,  and 
uniting  at  the  60-foot  level,  while  at  the  160-foot  level  they  are  32 
feet  apart. 

The  Silver  Valley  mine  has  a  country  similar  to  that  at  Silver 
Hill.  The  hanging-wall  is  siliceous  argillaceous  schist,  and  the 
foot-wall  a  hard  hornstone.  The  sulphurets  are  encountered  at  a 
depth  of  60  feet.  The  lode  is  from  5  to  12  feet  wide,  being  made  up 
of  bands  of  quartz,  slate  and  sulphides.2 

Montgomery  County.  —  The  Russell  mine  near  Eldorado  is  in  an 
argillaceous  slate,  both  soft  and  silicified,  country-rock.  Calcite 
occurs  plentifully,  especially  in  veinlets.  .The  slates  are  probably 
sedimentary  in  which  the  bedding-planes  and  cleavage  usually 
coincide.  The  ore-bodies  are  parallel  bands  in  the  slate  carrying 
pyrite  and  free-gold,  and  are  accompanied  by  quartz  stringers. 
The  Coggins  mine  also  near  Eldorado  is  similar  to  the  Russell.  In 
the  Steel  mine  are  ore-bodies  9  to  12  feet  thick,  composed  of  schists 
charged  with  galena,  blende,  chalcopyrite  and  pyrite  and  associated 
with  quartz  stringers.  The  country-formation  is  silicified  schist. 
The  ores  yield  gold  and  silver.  The  country-rock  at  the  Moratock 
mine  is  a  massive,  devitrified  quartz-porphyry  and  volcanic  breccia. 

Telluride  of  gold  is  said  to  occur  in  this  county.3 

Stanley  County.  —  The  Haithcock  and  Hearne  mines  are  on 
quartz-veins  from  two  to  six  feet  wide  in  a  country-formation  of 
clay-slate  associated  with  eruptives.  The  Parker  mine  has  slates 
which  have  been  intruded  by  flows  of  greenstone-porphyry  and 
more  basic  eruptives  —  it  has  suffered  partial  brecciation.  Inter- 
secting the  slates  are  a  large  number  of  quartz  stringers  and  a  few 
large  veins,  all  of  which  are  auriferous. 

Moore  County.  —  At   the  Bell  mine  the  country-rock  is  garnet- 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  696.  2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  697. 

8  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  699. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  199 

iferous  chloritic  schist,  in  which  is  the  ore-body,  consisting  of  a 
four-foot  belt  carrying  finely  disseminated  pyrite  and  intercala- 
tions of  siliceous  seams  of  one-eighth  to  four  inches  wide.  The  ore 
averages  about  $12  per  ton.  The  Burns  mine  is  in  sericitic  and 
chloritic  schist  partially  silicified.  Certain  belts  of  this  rock  are 
impregnated  with  pyrite  and  quartz  in  lenticular  stringers.  Value 
of  ore  in  free-gold  is  said  to  be  $2.50  to  $3  per  ton. 

Rowan  County.  —  There  are  three  groups  of  mines  in  this  county 
in  which  are  found  the  following  mines:  first  group,  Hartman, 
Yadkin,  Negus,  Harrison,  Hill,  Southern,  Bell,  Goodman,  Randle- 
man  and  Roseman;  second  group,  New  Discovery,  Bullion,  and 
Reimer;  and  third,  Gold  Hill,  Dutch  Creek,  Gold  Knob,  Holt- 
shauser,  Atlas  and  Bame. 

Gold  Hill  has  been  one  of  the  most  important  mining  centers  in 
the  state.  The  country-formations  are  chloritic  and  argillaceous 
schists,  while  the  ore  belts  are  impregnations  of  schist  and  quartz 
stringers.  The  Randolph  shaft  at  Gold  Hill  is  the  deepest  in  the 
South,  being  over  750  feet. 

Carrabus  County.  —  The  Reed  mine  is  famous  in  that  gold  was 
first  discovered  here.  The  chloritic  schists  are  associated  with 
greenstone,  which  are  cut  by  a  large  number  of  quartz-veins  varying 
from  four  inches  to  three  feet  in  thickness,  some  of  which  are  gold- 
bearing.  At  the  Phoenix  mine  the  gold-bearing  quartz-veins  occur 
in  schists  and  diabase.  The  Phoenix  is  the  main  vein  and  varies  in 
thickness  from  twelve  inches  to  three  feet. 

Union  County.  —  The  mines  are  situated  principally  in  the 
metamorphic  slates  of  the  western  portion  of  the  county.  The 
Bonnie  Bell  or  Washington  mine  consists  of  an  ore-body  of  pyritic 
and  quartz  impregnations  in  schists,  occurring  in  argillaceous 
schists  somewhat  silicified.  The  width  of  the  belt  is  14  feet.  The 
ore  averages  from  $4  to  $5  per  ton. 

The  Howie  mine  is  in  slates  which  are  ore-bearing  for  a  width  of 
some  400  feet,  and  in  which  zone  there  are  8  parallel  veins  of  from 
18  inches  to  16  feet  in  width.  Gold  occurs  mainly  as  films  on  cleav- 
age planes  in  the  slates.  It  is  claimed  that  the  last  ore  milled 
yielded  $13  to  $14  per  ton. 

Mecklenburg  County.  —  Gold  mining  has  been  carried  on  fully 
as  actively  here  as  in  any  county  of  the  state.  The  mines  that  have 
been  producers  are:  St.  Catherine,  Rudisil,  Clark,  Stephen  Wilson, 
Smith  and  Palmer,  Howell,  Parks,  Taylor  and  Trotter,  Brawley, 
Arlington,  Capps,  McGinn,  Alexander,  Dunn,  Ferris,  etc. 


200  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  Rudisil  mine  has  two  parallel  veins  close  together  and  sepa- 
rated by  slate  —  they  vary  in  thickness  from  two  to  six  feet.  The 
upper  part  of  the  mine  has  as  a  country-rock  a  silicified,  chloritic 
and  argillaceous  slate,  while  at  a  depth  of  200  feet  it  changes  to  a 
crystalline  rock.  The  ores  are  rich,  but  mainly  sulphides  bearing 
gold.  The  largest  body  or  shoot  had  a  length  of  100  feet,  and  was 
15  feet  wide.  The  Ferris  mine  has  a  country  composed  of  hydro- 
mica-schist.  The  vein  carries  white  quartz  bearing  free-gold  and 
pyrite.  Within  the  mine  occurs  a  granite  dike  which  intersects  it. 

Caston  County.  —  The  mines  of  this  section  are  the  Oliver  and 
Farrar,  the  Rhyne  and  Derr,  the  Duffie  and  Robinson,  the  Smith 
and  Sam  Beattie,  McLean,  Long  Creek  and  King's  Mountain. 

The  King's  Mountain  or  Catawba  mine  is  located  in  mica-schist, 
cut  by  lenses  of  siliceous  magnesian  limestone,  probably  sedimen- 
tary. The  ore-bodies  are  lenticular  shoots  of  limestone  carrying 
pyrite,  chalcopyrite  and  galena.  Tellurides  are  also  found  in  small 
quantities.  The  shoots  vary  in  length,  but  reach  as  much  as  100 
feet,  and  are  probably  20  feet  thick.  The  gold  is  difficult  to  mill. 

The  South  Mountain  belt  is  of  comparatively  little  importance 
although  considerable  work  has  been  done.  The  Miller,  Scott  Hill, 
Pax  Hill,  and  Baker  mines  are  located  near  a  wide  dike  of  olivine 
diabase.  However,  most  of  the  gold  obtained  from  the  county  has 
come  from  placers. 

The  gold  fields  of  South  Carolina  are  arranged  in  groups  with  the 
same  names  as  those  in  North  Carolina,  but  as  late  as  1895  the  Haile 
mine  was  practically  the  only  producer.1 

In  the  Carolina  belt,  Chesterfield  County,  the  Brewer  mine  is  the 
most  important.  The  country-rock  is  a  hard  acid  volcanic,  prob- 
ably quartz-porphyry,  which  has  been  partly  changed  into  silicified, 
sericitic  schists.  The  schists  are  cut  by  numerous  coarse-grained 
granite  dikes.  The  ore-bodies  are  pyritic  impregnations  of  the 
schists,  and  are  largely  lenticular  in  form.  Gold  appears  as  films 
and  coatings  in  cleavage  and  joint  planes.  Some  of  the  lenses 
are  richer  than  the  others,  but  there  does  not  seem  to  be  any  deter- 
mining characteristic.  The  average  run  of  the  mine  ore  is  close  to 
$3  per  ton.  The  depth  of  the  ore-bearing  ground  is  estimated  at 
800  feet.  Pyrite  is  the  principal  sulphide.  Enargite  is  also  found, 
but  not  widely  distributed.  Tin-stone  occasionally  directly  asso- 
ciated with  gold  is  found  in  hydraulicing.  No  vein-quartz  is  present. 

Lancaster  County.  —  At  the  Haile  mine  the  mining  and  treatment 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  pp.  705-715. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD   AND  SILVER.  201 

of  low-grade  sulphide  ores  is  shown  to  better  advantage  than  any- 
where else  in  the  South.  The  formation  is  siliceous  hydromusco- 
vite  and  argillaceous  schist,  which  is  impregnated  with  gold-bearing 
pyrite  and  free-gold,  with  which  are  quartz  stringers.  Such  impreg- 
nated masses  usually  lenticular  in  shape  form  the  ore-bodies.  Dikes 
up  to  150  feet  in  width  cut  the  country-rocks  and  at  the  points  of 
intersection  with  the  ore-bodies  seem  to  have  caused  an  enrich- 
ment. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  Silver  Hill  mine  (silver)  of  Davidson  County, 
North  Carolina,  was  probably  the  first  mine  of  that  metal  worked 
in  the  United  States  prior  to  the  discovery  of  the  Comstock  lode. 
The  ore  is  carbonate  of  lead,  and  other  products  of  the  alteration 
of  galena  occurring  in  the  upper  part  of  the  lode.1 

The  following  is  an  early  description  of  the  ore : 2 

"  The  ore  which  this  company  worked  has  yielded  from  200 
ounces  to  300  ounces  of  silver  to  the  ton  of  lead.  It  contains  on 
the  average,  8  per  cent  of  lead.  .  .  .  The  silver  has  been  worth 
$1.80  the  ounce,  because  it  was  alloyed  with  a  large  portion  of 
gold." 

Colorado.  —  According  to  Emmons,  "  the  geological  structure  of 
its  (Colorado's)  numerous  high  mountain  ranges,  showing  the  re- 
sults of  repeated  and  powerful  orographic  movements,  accompanied 
by  plentiful  outbursts  of  eruptive  rocks,  indicate  conditions  pecul- 
iarly favorable  to  the  concentration  of  metallic  minerals  into  ore- 
deposits.  It  is  in  the  older  crystalline  and  eruptive  rocks  that 
gold-bearing  ores  are  mainly  found."  3  Although  considerable  gold 
has  been  derived  from  placers,  by  far  the  greater  part  has  come 
from  vein-mining.  At  first  silver  predominated,  gold  being  a  by- 
product of  its  treatment,  but  ultimately  the  mining  of  gold-bearing 
ores  constituted  the  principal  feature  of  the  mineral  industry. 

Regarding  the  distribution  of  the  gold  and  silver  ores  Emmons 
says:  "The  mountain  masses  of  Colorado  are.  divided  into  two 
north  and  south  uplifts  —  the  Colorado  or  Front  Range  and  the 
Sawatch  uplift,  with  a  third  uplift,  the  San  Juan  group,  at  the  south. 
The  two  first-named  uplifts  consist  of  a  nucleus  of  ancient  crystal- 
line rocks  surrounded  by  a  fringe  of  upturned  Paleozoic  and  Mesozoic 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  pp.  804  and  805,  1895,  Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  2,  p. 
605,  June,  1854,  and  Mining  Magazine  and  Journal  of  Geology,  2nd  series,  Vol.  1, 
pp.  368,  428,  435,  April- July,  1860. 

2  Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  1,  pp.  360-370,  October,  1853. 

3  Mineral  Resources  of  the  U.  S.,  Calendar  year,  1892,  U.  S.  G.  S.,  pp.  63,  64, 
1893. 


202  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

sediments,  the  whole  cut  through  by  dikes  and  intrusive  sheets  of 
eruptive  rocks.  Here  the  silver-bearing  ores  are  mostly  found  in 
the  Paleozoic  limestone,  while  the  crystalline  rocks  afford  both 
gold  and  silver."  The  Mesozoic  sediments  are  covered  by  flows  of 
igneous  rocks  in  which  are  rich  veins  of  gold  and  silver. 

In  the  early  days  of  mining  at  Leadville  primary  deposits  of 
silver-bearing  ores  were  found  in  limestone  along  the  contacts  of 
intrusions  of  porphyry.  Low-grade  gold  deposits  were  developed 
later,  and  greatly  increased  the  gold  production.  These  deposits 
are  probably  Cretaceous  or  possibly  of  Jurassic  age.1 

The  development  of  veins  in  Tertiary  volcanic  rocks  or  the  propy- 
litic  deposits  is  not  exceeded  in  any  other  part  of  the  United  States. 
The  deposits  of  Gilpin,  Clear  Creek,  and  Boulder  counties  are  of  this 
class.  The  ores  are  both  gold-  and  silver-bearing,  although  the  gold 
value  exceeds  that  of  the  silver.  Boulder  County  is  a  producer  of 
telluride  ores  in  which  gold  predominates,  the  silver  value  being 
only  one-fourth  the  total.  Complex  smelting  ores  containing 
silver  are  produced  in  Clear  Creek  County.  Free-milling  ores  are 
produced  in  large  quantities  in  Gilpin  County. 

In  the  Cripple  Creek  district  zones,  cut  by  numerous  narrow  veins, 
often  extremely  rich,  intersect  Archaean  granite  and  also  occur  in 
andesite  and  phonolite.  The  ores  are  principally  gold  tellurides, 
and  are  not  free-milling,  being  treated  by  smelting,  chlorination  or 
cyaniding. 

The  San  Juan  region,  lying  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  state, 
includes  San  Juan,  San  Miguel  and  Our  ay  counties.  The  ores  are 
both  gold-  and  silver-bearing  or  in  certain  instances  silver  alone, 
while  much  less  frequently  gold  alone.  The  large  veins  as  a  rule 
have  cut  through  the  thick  beds  of  andesite  and  rhyolite,  the  upper 
portions  containing  the  deposits  worked. 

South  of  the  San  Juan  district  is  the  La  Plata  gold  district.  Ex- 
tensive erosion  has  brought  to  the  surface  large  bodies  of  igneous 
rocks  as  intrusive  diorites  and  monzonites,  which  are  probably  more 
recent  than  the  enclosing  surface  volcanics.  The  diorites  and 
monzonites  are  cut  by  veins  carrying  both  gold  and  silver  ores  of 
which  the  former  predominates.  The  age  of  the  deposits  is  late 
Tertiary  or  certainly  post-Miocene.2 

Of  the  comparatively  large  number  of  minerals  found  associated 
with  gold  in  Colorado  only  a  few  of  them  are  widely  distributed. 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Atlas  U.  S.,  Folio  48,  Ten-Mile  District. 
3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  818  to  822,  1903. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  203 

Iron  pyrites,  galena  and  blende  are  probably  the  most  common 
minerals  to  be  found.  Copper  pyrites,  although  occurring  in  con- 
siderable quantities  in  a  number  of  localities,  is  not  generally  found 
throughout  the  state.  It  is  found  at  Central  City,  Georgetown, 
Idaho  Springs,  La  Plata,  The  Needles,  Gunnison,  in  the  San  Juan 
district  and  in  the  Boulder  County  mines.  The  telluride  ores  are 
still  more  limited  in  occurrence,  being  found  in  but  four  camps: 
Boulder,  Cripple  Creek,  the  La  Plata  and  in  the  Golden  Fleece 
mine  at  Lake  City.  Further,  the  telluride  ores  are  seldom  found 
associated  with  other  and  more  common  minerals,  the  most  com- 
mon associate  being  pyrite.  There  are  two  mineral  belts  at  Boulder 
which  are  characterized  by  the  presence  of  one  class  and  the  absence 
of  the  other  class  of  minerals,  namely,  tellurides  and  pyrites.  Even 
though  these  two  belts  intersect,  yet  there  is  no  interchange  of 
minerals,  which  may  be  accounted  for  by  one  belt  being  of  later 
origin  than  the  other.  Moreover,  the  tellurides  especially  will  be 
found  confined  to  some  particular  formation  in  a  district  as  in  the 
La  Plata  Mountains,  where  the  tellurides  are  restricted  to  veins  in 
the  diorite  intrusions,  while  the  adjacent  sedimentary  rocks  contain 
large  quantities  of  pyrites.  The  same  peculiarity  in  occurrence  is 
observed  to  a  certain  extent  at  Cripple  Creek  and  Boulder,  where 
the  tellurides  are  confined  to  phonolitic  dikes  cutting  andesitic 
breccia  in  the  former  place,  and  occurring  in  veins  in  gneiss  cut  by 
eruptive  porphyries  in  the  latter. 

Galena  and  blende  are  partial  two  limestone  formations  as  at 
Aspen  and  Leadville,  but  'are  not  confined  to  that  formation,  occur- 
ring also  in  granite  and  eruptives.  Tellurides  have  not  as  yet  been 
found  in  sedimentary  rocks.1 

Cripple  Creek  District.  —  The  principal  deposits  of  this  district 
are  in  the  contacts  between  granite  and  phonolite,  and  andesitic 
breccia  and  phonolite  areas.  The  characteristic  rocks  of  the  dis- 
trict are  the  three  mentioned  above.  Massive  deposits  also  con- 
tribute considerably  to  the  production  of  the  district,  and  in  1892 
yielded  one-third  of  total  output,  the  deposits  of  Globe  Hill  being 
of  the  most  importance.2 

Gold  occurs  in  the  massive  deposits  associated  with  pyrite,  being 
widely  and  fairly  uniformly  disseminated,  the  values  ranging  from 
$2  to  $5  per  ton.  Silver  also  occurs  with  the  gold. 

The  tellurides  of  gold  are  associated  with  fluorspar  in  this  dis- 

1  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  18,  p.  225. 
3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol  59,  p,  151. 


204  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

trict.  According  to  T.  A.  Rickard,  the  gold  occurs  in  this  district 
both  in  the  native  state  and  as  a  telluride,  being  distributed  in  the 
interstices  of  the  rocks  and  as  linings  of  fractures,  or  as  impregna- 
tions in  the  form  of  minute  threads  in  the  rock-mass.  In  granite 
the  gold  or  tellurides  are  scattered  in  cavities  produced  by  solution; 
in  phonolite  the  values  lie  principally  along  fractures;  while  in 
andesite-breccia  the  distribution  is  quite  irregular  due  to  the  hetero- 
geneous character  of  the  rock  and  other  variable  physical  character- 
istics. Tellurides  constitute  the  distinguishing  characteristic  of  the 
ores  of  the  district,  and  consist  of  the  following  forms :  sylvanite, 
calaverite  and  petzite,  the  first  mentioned  being  the  most  character- 
istic, although  calaverite  is  of  the  most  importance,  while  the  tellu- 
rides of  gold,  silver  and  lead  are  present  in  varying  amounts.  The 
Work  mine  has  probably  produced  the  best  specimens  of  tellurides 
in  the  district.1 

The  general  trend  of  the  dikes  occurring  in  the  district  is  north 
and  south,  while  they  vary  in  width  from  2  to  20  feet. 

The  occurrence  of  the  ores  as  filling  for  narrow  fissures  and  crev- 
ices gives  them  the  approximate  composition  of  the  country-rock, 
thus  rendering  them  difficult  of  estimation.  The  tellurides  are  also 
associated  with  auriferous  and  highly  argentiferous  tetrahedrite 
with  some  molybdenite  and  stibnite,  but  the  combination  is  mechan- 
ical and  not  chemical.  Pyrite,  while  occurring  in  the  country-rock, 
and  to  some  extent  in  the  fissures,  is  in  such  small  quantities  as  to 
be  negligible  when  considering  the  composition  of  ores.  The  same 
can  also  be  said  regarding  the  occurrence  of  galena  and  blende. 
Native  gold  is  largely  absent  from  the  telluride  ores  except  where  it  has 
been  set  free  by  oxidation.  The  gangues  found  in  this  district  are 
quartz,  dolomite  and  fluorite,  while  calcite  is  an  interstitial  component 
of  the  breccia  especially  near  the  ore-bodies.  Rhodochrosite  and  ros- 
coelite  are  also  occasionally  found.  The  proportion  of  gold  to  silver 
is  about  10  to  I.2 

The  productive  area  in  the  Cripple  Creek  district  may  be  roughly 
enclosed  by  a  circle  with  a  diameter  of  3J  miles,  the  center  being 
located  about  midway  between  Raven  and  Bull  hills,  with  the  towns 
of  Cripple  Creek,  Cameron  and  Victor  situated  in  the  periphery. 
Cripple  Creek,  Squaw  Gulch,  Arequa  Gulch,  and  Wilson  Creek  are 
formed  by  three  southward  projecting  spurs,  which  are  designated 

i  Inst.  Min.  and  Met.,  Vol.  8,  p.  73. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  91,  p.  36,  and  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Professional  Paper  54, 
1906,  p.  4. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  205 

by  the  following  names:  Gold  Hill,  to  the  east  of  Cripple  Creek; 
Raven  Hill,  a  continuation  of  the  lower  spur  of  Guyot  and  Beacon 
hills;  and  Battle  Mountain,  a  projection  of  Squaw  Mountain.  These 
hills  lie  practically  within  the  Cripple  Creek  volcanic  area,  and  upon 
them  are  situated  the  important  mines  of  the  district.  The  follow- 
ing brief  description  regarding  the  distribution  of  the  mines  is  taken 
from  the  excellent  paper  of  the  Cripple  Creek  district  by  Waldemar 
Lindgren  and  F.  L.  Ransome.1 

"  The  productive  district,  as  previously  stated,  is  practically 
covered  by  the  area  of  a  circle  3J  miles  in  diameter.  The  center  of 
this  circle  would  be  located  half-way  between  Raven  Hill  and 
Bull  Hill,  and  the  towns  of  Cripple  Creek,  Victor,  and  Cameron 
would  be  situated  on  its  periphery.  A  very  few  mines  —  notably 
the  Galena  and  the  Fluorine  —  and  many  prospects  lie  outside  of 
this  area. 

"  The  culminating  points  of  the  district  are  found  in  a  ridge  of 
high  and  bare  hills  that  extends  in  a  northwest-southeast  direction 
and  divides  the  waters  flowing  into  Cripple  Creek  and  Wilson  Creek 
on  the  southwest  from  those  joining  Spring  Creek  and  Grassy  Creek 
on  the  north.  From  northwest  to  southeast  the  following  hills 
mark  this  divide:  Mineral  Hill,  Carbonate  Hill,  and  Tenderfoot 
Hill,  north  or  northeast  of  Cripple  Creek;  Globe  Hill,  Ironclad  Hill, 
and  Bull  Hill,  the  latter  being  near  the  center  of  the  district  and 
equidistant  from  Cripple  Creek  and  Victor.  The  ridge  is  continued 
by  Bull  Cliff  and  Big  Bull  Mountain,  the  latter,  really  outside  of  the 
productive  area,  being  the  highest  point  in  this  dividing  range  of 
hills.  Its  elevation  is  10,826  feet.  Three  long  spurs  project  to  the 
southwest  from  the  dividing  range  separating  the  deep  trenches  of 
Cripple  Creek,  Squaw  Gulch,  Arequa  Gulch,  and  Wilson  Creek;  the 
first,  called  Gold  Hill,  rises  directly  east  of  Cripple  Creek;  the  second 
is  Raven  Hill,  being  continued  to  the  southwest  by  the  lower  spur  of 
Guyot  and  Beacon  hills;  the  third  is  Battle  Mountain,  continued  by 
the  almost  equally  high  salient  of  Squaw  Mountain. 

"  The  important  mines  are  situated  in  this  region  of  sharply 
accentuated  topography.  As  has  been  several  times  emphasized, 
the  volcanic  area  practically  coincides  with  the  hills  and  ridges  just 
described,  and  is  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  granitic  rocks. 

"  Globe  and  Ironclad  hills  and  Gold  and  Raven  hills  consist 
chiefly  of  heavy  masses  of  breccia,  and  were  scenes  of  great  activity 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  90,  p.  36,  and  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Professional  Paper  No. 
54,  pp.  147-150. 


206  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

during  the  early  years  of  the  district.  Near  Poverty  Gulch,  just 
northeast  of  Cripple  Creek,  is  the  Abe  Lincoln,  not  a  large  mine, 
but  still  actively  worked  with  satisfactory  results.  Higher  up  are 
the  Gold  King,  with  dividend  records  of  $150,000,  and  the  C.  O.  D., 
with  a  reported  production  of  $600,000  and  dividends  of  $150,000. 
Both  were  idle  in  1904,  and  have  attained  their  eighth  or  ninth 
levels. 

"  On  the  summit  of  Globe  Hill  are  the  Stratton  properties  of 
Plymouth  Rock  and  Globe  mines,  in  which  extensive  low-grade 
mineralization  without  many  sharply  denned  veins  seems  to  be  the 
rule.  Adjoining  is  the  property  of  the  Homestake  Company,  in- 
cluding the  Ironclad  mine,  where  direct  cyaniding  of  oxidized  sur- 
face ores  is  now  carried  on  in  a  mill  erected  on  the  property. 

"  Gold  Hill  is  crowned  by  the  Anchoria-Leland  mine,  with  a  pro- 
duction of  over  $1,000,000,  and  dividends  of  $198,000.  The  shaft 
is  1,100  feet  deep.  The  adjoining  Moon-Anchor  has  paid  dividends 
of  $261,000  and  the  Half  Moon  (Matoa  Gold  Mining  Company)  has  a 
gross  production  of  $650,000  to  its  credit,  but  is  reported  to  have 
paid  only  a  small  amount  in  dividends.  None  of  these  mines  is 
being  worked  at  present,  except  on  a  small  scale  by  lessees. 

"  On  the  western  slope  is  the  Midget  mine,  actively  worked  at 
present,  with  a  depth  of  800  feet,  a  total  production  of  $662,000, 
and  dividends  of  $195,000.  The  Conundrum,  in  the  same  vicinity, 
is  likewise  worked  with  good  results  to  a  depth  of  600  feet.  The 
Midget,  like  the  mines  described  above,  follows  a  vein  in  breccia, 
while  the  Conundrum  is  mining  on  a  "  basalt  "  dike  in  granite,  close 
to  the  contact  of  the  breccia. 

"  In  the  deep  gulch  between  Gold  Hill  and  Raven  Hill  are  situ- 
ated the  Anaconda,  Doctor-Jackpot,  and  Mary  McKinney  mines, 
all  working  on  sheeted  zones  forming  lodes  in  the  breccia.  The 
Anaconda  produced  about  $1,000,000,  chiefly  from  upper  levels, 
and  is  now  being  worked  by  lessees.  The  Mary  McKinney  is  one  of 
the  most  successful  mines  worked  at  present  in  the  district.  Its 
depth  is  600  feet.  The  Doctor- Jackpot  has  $4,000,000  to  its  credit, 
and  likewise  a  handsome  dividend  record.  The  shaft  is  only  700 
feet  deep,  water  having  until  now  prohibited  deeper  sinking. 

"  The  breccia-granite  contact  is  found  on  Guyot  Hill  a  short  dis- 
tance south  of  the  Mary  McKinney.  The  extreme  spur  of  Raven 
Hill,  called  Beacon  Hill,  is  formed  of  an  intrusion  of  phonolite  in 
granite,  and  about  this  outlying  volcanic  center  cluster  a  group -of 
veins  of  great  production  and  promise.  On  the  eastern  side  of  the 


OCCURRENCE   OF  GOLD   AND  SILVER.  207 

hill  are  located  the  Prince  Albert,  Gold  Dollar,  and  others,  which 
are  worked  on  a  small  scale  by  lessees.  On  the  western  side  lie  the 
El  Paso,  C.  K.  &  N.,  and  Old  Gold  mines,  with  their  narrow,  but 
extremely  rich  fissure  veins  in  granite,  now  actively  and  success- 
fully worked. 

"  A  great  number  of  smaller  mines  have  been  worked  on  veins  cut- 
ting the  breccia  of  Raven  Hill.  The  famous  Elkton  mine  is  situated 
in  the  deep  hollow  between  Raven  Hill  and  Battle  Mountain.  It 
has  been  working  on  an  exceptionally  long  vein,  partly  contained 
in  breccia,  partly  in  granite,  and  generally  following  a  "  basalt  " 
dike.  The  production  approaches  $6,000,000,  and  the  depth  at- 
tained is  about  900  feet,  excessive  water  having  formed  a  serious 
obstacle  to  deeper  sinking.  Dividends  amount  to  $1,200,000.  The. 
Moose  mine,  situated  higher  up  on  the  slope  of  Raven  Hill,  had 
a  good  ore  shoot,  from  which  $500,000  was  obtained. 

"  Continuing  northwest,  we  soon  attain  the  summit  of  Bull  Hill, 
which  affords  a  magnificent  panorama,  not  only  of  the  whole  camp, 
but  of  a  large  part  of  the  state  of  Colorado.  Toward  the  east,  and 
5,000  feet  lower,  spread  the  great  plains  at  the  foot  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains;  westward  the  Sange  de  Cristo,  Collegiate  and  Mosquito 
ranges  —  a  snowy  and  jagged  line  of  ramparts  - —  define  the  distant 
horizon. 

"  A  multitude  of  small  mines  occupy  the  southwestern  slope  of 
Bull  Hill.  On  the  northwestern  side  an  area  of  brecciated  granite 
appears  among  the  volanic  rocks,  and  in  this  formation  is  situated 
the  Wild  Horse  mine.  This  lode,  which  has  been  worked  to  a  depth 
of  1,250  feet,  has  produced  over  $1,000,000,  but  is  now  operated 
only  by  lessees.  A  number  of  smaller  producers  may  be  found  on 
the  northern  slope,  toward  Cameron,  among  them  the  Damon, 
Jerry  Johnson,  W.  P.  H.,  and  Pinnacle. 

"  Those  who  have  followed  this  description  on  a  map  will  have 
noticed  that  the  mines  are  chiefly  situated  on  the  periphery  of  a 
circular  area,  the  central  part  of  which,  comprising  the  upper  part 
of  Squaw  Gulch,  has  thus  far  yielded  very  little.  Few  strong  veins 
have  been  met  with  in  this  part  of  the  breccia,  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  developments  in  depth  are  not  extensive. 

"  On  the  east  and  southeast  sides  of  Bull  Hill  begins  that  most 
important  belt  of  lodes  which  extends  southward  to  Victor,  and 
includes  the  richest  group  of  producers  in  the  camp.  A  character- 
istic feature  of  this  belt  is  the  intrusion  into  the  breccia  of  thick 
masses  of  latite-phonolite  and  syenitic  rocks. 


208  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

"  With  few  exceptions  the  veins  of  this  belt  strike  north-north- 
west. We  may  begin  the  description  with  the  system  of  linked  veins 
3,000  feet  long,  covered  by  the  Isabella  and  Victor  mines.  The 
last-named  mine,  on  the  southern  end  of  the  system,  is  situated 
just  below  the  western  slope  of  Bull  Cliff.  It  has  been  worked  to  a 
depth  of  over  1,000  feet,  has  produced  about  $2,200,000,  and  has 
paid  dividends  amounting  to  $1,150,000.  The  Isabella  has  attained 
a  depth  of  1,127  feet,  produced  $3,200,000,  and  paid  dividends  of 
$600,000.  Both  mines  lost  their  pay  shoot  in  depth,  but  are  still 
worked  by  lessees. 

"  The  small  but  rich  cross  veins  of  the  Empire  State,  Burns,  Phar- 
macist, and  Zenobia  connect  this  vein  system  with  that  of  the 
Stratton  mines  on  Bull  Hill.  South  of  the  Burns  begins  the  great 
Vindicator  vein  system  traced  southeastward  for  a  mile  through 
the  Findley,  Hull  City,  Vindicator,  Lillie,  and  Golden  Cycle  mines. 
The  Hull  City  and  the  Lillie  have  each  produced  over  $1,000,000, 
the  Vindicator  and  Golden  Cycle  over  $2,000,000  each,  all  with  cor- 
responding dividends  records.  The  Lillie  is  deepest,  having  at- 
tained 1,500  feet.  Next  in  depth  is  the  Vindicator,  1,200  feet.  All 
of  them,  except  the  Lillie,  are  still  actively  worked.  In  the  whole 
system  water  has  been,  and  still  is,  a  source  of  trouble.  The  deepest 
mine  evidently  drains  all  the  others  in  this  vicinity. 

"  The  Stratton  properties  on  Bull  Hill,  with  the  Logan,  Orpha 
May,  and  Pikes  Peak  veins,  on  which  maximum  depths  of  1,200  and 
1,500  feet  have  been  attained,  are  now  worked  only  to  a  slight  ex- 
tent, whereas  in  the  early  days  of  the  camp  they  were  highly  pro- 
ductive. 

"  This  system  is  continued  southward  in  the  Last  Dollar  mine, 
now  working  at  a  depth  of  1,270  feet.  The  production  exceeds- 
$1,000,000.  South  of  the  Last  Dollar  the  veins  enter  the  Modoe 
ground,  a  mine  worked  for  a  long  time  with  gratifying  success. 
The  Blue  Bird,  an  old-time  producer,  is  situated  a  short  distance 
west  of  the  Last  Dollar. 

"  South  of  the  Modoc  is  the  Battle  Mountain  vein  system,  cross- 
ing from  the  granite  into  the  breccia,  with  general  northerly  or  north- 
northwesterly  directions,  and  distinguished  by  heavy  production 
and  ore  bodies  of  imposing  size.  None  of  the  veins  is  of  great 
length,  and  the  whole  system  extends  scarcely  a  mile  along  the 
strike  of  the  veins.  The  veins  cannot  be  directly  connected  with 
others  already  described,  though,  in  its  general  trend,  the  system 
heads  toward  the  Dexter,  Blue  Bird,  and  Moose  veins. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD   AND  SILVER.  209 

"  Beginning  on  the  southwestern  side,  we  first  come  to  the  Gold 
Coin  mine,  the  veins  of  which  are  in  granite;  one  of  them  is  suc- 
cessfully worked  at  present  at  a  depth  of  1,200  feet.  The  total 
production  approaches  $6,000,000;  the  dividends  paid  exceed 
$1,000,000.  North  of  the  Gold  Coin  is  the  Ajax,  working  partly  in 
the  veins,  partly  in  large,  irregular  ore  bodies  in  the  granite.  The 
total  production  is  very  considerable.  The  depth  attained  is  1,200 
feet. 

"  Between  this  and  the  Portland  vein  system,  almost  within  the 
town  of  Victor,  are  the  Granite,  Dillon,  and  Dead  Pine  veins.  They 
are  worked  at  present  at  depths  of  800  to  1,000  feet. 

"  The  Portland  vein  system  begins  on  the  south  at  the  Strong 
mine,  now  worked  at  a  maximum  depth  of  900  feet,  on  a  vein  in 
granite  that  follows  a  "  basalt  "  dike,  which  is  in  places  accompa- 
nied by  a  phonolite  dike.  The  mine  is  an  unusually  regular  and 
profitable  producer,  the  total  dividends  since  1892  amounting  to 
$2,500,000. 

"  The  veins  of  Stratton's  Independence  run  about  parallel  to 
those  of  the  Strong,  a  few  hundred  feet  eastward.  They  extend 
from  the  granite  into  the  breccia,  following  for  some  distance  a 
phonolite  dike.  The  production  of  this  mine  amounts  to  over 
$11,000,000,  with  a  dividend  record  of  $4,000,000  since  1899.  At 
present  the  company  is  leasing  the  various  levels  to  tributers.  From 
the  two  properties  last  described  the  vein  systems  continue  into  the 
Portland  mine,  but  in  the  northern  part  of  that  great  property  are 
replaced  by  another  and  still  richer  aggregate  of  veins,  the  Captain 
system.  The  Portland  is,  beyond  question,  the  most  prominent 
mine  of  the  Cripple  Creek  district.  Its  total  production  from  1894 
to  the  end  of  1903  amounted  to  $18,000,000,  derived  from  466,000 
tons  of  ore  (both  in  round  figures),  from  which  $4,600,000  has  been 
paid  in  dividends,  the  remainder  going  to  acquirement  of  territory, 
extensive  milling  and  mining  plants,  and  operating  expenses. 

Leadville  District.  —  There  are  seven  distinct  formations  in  the 
district  which  may  be  outlined  as  follows:  first,  the  lower-most, 
consists  of  Archaean  granite  and  carries  no  ore;  second,  a  Cam- 
brian quartzite  which  contains  seams  and  stringers  of  ore,  but  in 
small  quantities;  third,  Silurian  limestone,  which  at  the  contact 
with  the  quartzite  below  bears  ore-bodies  of  fair  size;  fourth,  a  sheet 
of  "  parting  quartzite  "  overlying  the  ore-bodies  in  the  limestone; 
fifth,  a  blue  Carboniferous  limestone,  designated  as  the  "  Blue/' 
which  is  the  principal  ore-bearing  formation  of  the  district;  sixth, 


210 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


Section  at  Conorado  Shaft,  Leadville,  Colorado. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  211 

an  overflow  of  porphyry,  which  comes  in  contact  with  the  ore-bodies 
below;  and  seventh,  a  deposit  of  glacial  wash  also  containing  ore.1 

The  ore-bodies  occurring  in  the  blue-gray  dolomitic  limestone  of 
the  Lower  Carboniferous  and  lying  near  or  at  the  contact  with  the 
porphyry  above  constitutes  a  sort  of  contact  sheet,  the  upper  sur- 
face of  which  is  fairly  regular  and  well  defined,  the  lower  surface 
being  exceedingly  irregular.  The  thickness  of  the  deposit  in  this 
limestone  varies  from  a  few  feet  to  the  whole  depth  of  the  enclosing 
stratum,  the  transition  between  the  limestone  and  ore-body  being 
gradual.2 

The  ore-bodies  are  often  separated  from  one  another  by  rolls  of 
barren  rock  and  dikes  of  intervening  porphyry,  the  ore  being  found 
at  the  contact  plane  of  the  blue  limestone  and  porphyry,  in  the 
lower  limestone  horizons  and  in  the  dikes.  At  a  depth  of  600  feet, 
below  the  oxidation  zone  the  ores  are  largely  siliceous  in  character, 
being  stained  with  oxides  and  often  carrying  silver  and  lead.  Con- 
siderable of  the  gold  occurs  free,  especially  in  the  porphyry  as  at  the 
Antioch  mine,  but  the  greater  portion  of  it  is  in  highly  siliceous  ore 
carrying  silver  —  fully  80  per  cent  of  the  value  is  gold.3 

The  normal  condition  of  the  ore  is  sulphide,  consisting  of  sul- 
phides of  iron,  copper,  zinc,  and  silver,  with  some  native  gold  and 
silver.  However,  the  most  common  and  important  ore  is  argen- 
tiferous galena  with  cerussite,  carbonate  of  lead  with  cerargyrite. 
Gold  occurs  in  the  galena  in  the  filiform  state  and  in  the  ores  ordi- 
narily in  small  flakes  and  leaflets.  The  gangues  are  quartz,  hydrous 
silicates  of  alumina,  heavy  spar,  pyrite,  carbonate  of  iron  and  sulphate 
of  lime.4  The  district  is  usually  considered  as  a  silver  producer. 
The  silver-lead  ores  were  first  discovered  in  1879  on  Fryer,  Carbonate 
and  Iron  hills.  The  principal  mines  are  the  R.  E.  Lee,  Little  Pitts- 
burgh, Iron,  Crysolite,  New  Discovery,  Little  Chief,  A.  Y.  and  Minnie, 
Crown  Point,  Maid  of  Erin,  Adams,  Henrietta,  Morning  and  Evening 
Star,  Matchless  and  Catalpa.5 

A  body  of  porphyry  lying  between  the  Pilot  and  Mike  faults  on  the 
northwestern  slope  of  Printer  Boy  Hill  is  unlike  the  other  porphyry 
of  the  district.  It  is  of  considerable  importance  in  that  it  contains 
the  Printer  Boy  and  Five-Twenty  gold-bearing  lodes.  The  lodes, 

-  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  86,  p.  168. 
U.  S.  G.  S.,  Monograph  No.  12,  p.  375. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  59,  p.  77. 
U.  S.  G.  S.,  Monograph  No.  12,  p.  376. 
Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  11,  p.  430. 


212  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

especially  the  Printer  Boy,  were  discovered  before  the  carbonate  ore 
was  known  of,  and  yield  considerable  gold.  It  consists  of  a  deposit 
along  a  jointing  or  fracture  plane  in  the  porphyry  having  a  strike  of 
east  of  north.  The  gangue  is  decomposed  porphyry,  the  gold  and 
other  metallic  contents  being  mostly  invisible.  Formerly,  free-gold 
occurred  in  noticeable  quantities  with  chalcopyrite,  galena  and 
tennantite.1 

The  "  Down  Town  "  mines  first  produced  carbonate  of  lead  near 
the  surface,  which  changed,  however,  to  sulphides  in  depth.  When 
the  depression,  due  to  financial  conditions  following  the  depreciation 
of  silver,  was  felt  the  mines  adapted  themselves  to  the  new  conditions 
by  becoming  gold  producers.  It  was  found  that  at  a  certain  depth 
practically  coincident  with  the  silver  belt,  gold  and  auriferous  sul- 
phides occurred  in  a  zone  of  decomposed  porphyry,  which  was  first 
discovered  in  the  "  Little  Johnny  "  or  Ibex.2 

Mines  similar  to  those  at  Leadville  are  found  at:  Carbonate 
Camp  (Iron  Hill  and  Wilkinson  mines),  Dakota;  Aspen,  Colorado; 
Eureka  Hill,  Nevada;  Little  Cottonwood  and  the  Bingham  and  Dry 
Canon  mines,  Utah;  the  Sierra  Mojada,  Mexico;  North  Park  mines, 
Colorado,  etc.3 

San  Juan  County.  —  According  to  T.  B.  Comstock  4  there  are  six 
geographical  zones  into  which  the  mineral  districts  of  the  county  can 
be  divided,  namely: 

1.  The  Engineer  Mountain  area,  arsenical  zone,  with  a  width  at 
the  ten-mile  circle  5  of  4^  miles,  including  Mineral  Point  and  adjacent 
territory. 

2.  The  Handles'  Peak  area,  bismuth  zone,  10  miles  wide  at  the 
ten-mile  circle,  including  Capitol,  Sherman,  Animas  Forks,  Eureka, 
Middleton  and  Gladstone. 

3.  The  Continental  area,  galena-gray  copper  zone,  so-called,  1 1  miles 
in  width  at  the  ten-mile  circle,  including  the  towns  of  Howardsville 
and  Silverton. 

4.  The  Lost  Peak  area,  antimonial  zone,  9  miles  wide  at  the  ten- 
mile  circle,  with  Chattanooga  as  the  only  existing  town. 

5.  The  Glacier  Peak  area,  argentiferous  zone,  3  miles  wide  at  the 
ten-mile  circle,  including  the  towns  of  Ophir  and  Ames. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  Monograph  No.  12,  p.  513. 
Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  21,  p.  147. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  57,  p.  106. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  38.,  pp.  208  and  298. 

The  ten-mile  circle  has  as  a  center  Red  Peak,  such  a  circle  passes  through 
Ouray,  Rose's  Cabin,  Highland  Mary  and  Ames. 


OCCURRENCE  OF   GOLD  AND  SILVER.  213 

6.  The  Mount  Sneffels  area,  17  miles  wide  at  the  ten-mile  circle, 
including  San  Miguel,  Telluride,  Red  Mountain  Town,  Ironton  and 
Ouray. 

At  the  Congress  mine,  Engineers  Mountain  area,  enargite  pre- 
dominates, and  is  accompanied  by  galena.  Arsenic  occurs  with 
the  rich  silver  ores  of  Mineral  Point.  In  the  Inez  mine  arsenopy- 
rite  and  mispickel  are  common,  while  ruby  silver  is  found  in  limited 
amounts.  At  the  Red  Cloud  mine  blende  and  galena  occur  to- 
gether, while  in  the  arsenical  zone  blende  is  associated  with  both 
pyrite  and  galena.  Bornite  and  chalcopyrite  also  are  found  with 
galena.  Further,  tellurium  is  found  in  the  ores.1 

In  the  Handies'  Peak  area  a  vertical  fissure  carrying  free-gold 
extends  from  Red  Peak  crossing  the  divide  near  the  head  of  Dry 
Gulch,  passing  north  of  Gladstone,  across  the  head  of  the  north 
Fork  of  Eureka  Creek  along  the  divide  between  Eureka  Creek  and 
Picayune  Gulch,  and  across  the  Animas  River,  then  traversing  the 
ridge  between  the  American  Basin,  and  the  source  of  Cottonwood 
Creek  in  Hinsdale  County.  The  supposed  order  of  occurrence  is  as 
follows:  first,  gold-bearing  quartz,  merging  into;  second,  quartz  and 
pyrite;  third,  bornite  and  chalcopyrite  occurring  between  layers  of 
barren  quartz;  fourth,  galena  often  accompanied  by  blende;  and 
fifth,  bismuthinite  occurring  in  flakes  irregularly  scattered  through 
quartz.2 

The  Continental  Divide  area  lies  between  Maggie  Gulch  and 
Mineral  Creek.  The  most  important  veins  follow  the  ridges,  and 
constitute  the  tetrahedrite  belt,  although  galena  is  present  in  con- 
siderable quantities,  while  free-gold  is  not  so  plentiful  as  in  some  of 
the  other  veins.  Free-gold  accompanied  by  galena  and  pyrite  are 
found  some  eight  miles  from  Red  Peak.  Blende  bears  more  silver 
than  the  pyrite,  copper  and  lead,  although  this  condition  is  some- 
times reversed.3 

Lost  Peak  area  includes  the  veins  lying  between  south  2  degrees 
west  and  south  68  degrees  west  of  Red  Peak.  A  vertical  fissure 
traverses  the  ridge  of  Red  Mountain  at  the  head  of  the  United  States 
Basin.  Bournonite  is  characteristic  of  the  area,  although  arsenic 
is  also  characteristic  at  least  of  several  mines.  Antimonial  copper 
glance  also  occurs.4 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  38,  p.  229. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  38,  p.  245. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  38,  pp.  299  and  315. 

4  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  38,  p.  315. 


214  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  Glacier  Peak  area  includes  the  veins  lying  between  south  66 
degrees  west  and  south  87  degrees  west.  The  highest  ridges  are  cut 
by  vertical  veins  bearing  free-gold.  The  vein-filling  is  argentiferous 
ore  in  which  freibergite  is  one  of  the  most  characteristic  silver-bear- 
ing minerals,  usually  associated  with  galena.  No  silver,  free  or  com- 
bined, is  found  in  the  gold  veins.  Hornsilver  is  present,  but  not 
in  any  quantity.  Galena  occurs  in  two-  to  four-inch  streaks,  while 
blende  is  absent.  The  gangue  is  mainly  quartz  and  ocherous  material.1 

The  ore  of  this  country  belongs  to  the  variety  known  as  hiibner- 
ite,  the  concentrate  assaying  :  tungstic  acid,  75  per  cent  ;  man- 
ganese, 22  per  cent;  iron,  2  per  cent,  and  oxide  of  calcium,  1  per 
cent.  As  high  as  60  per  cent  of  tungstic  acid  occurs  in  some  of  the 
sorted  ores,  but  ordinarily  it  is  disseminated  through  the  quartz  in 
small  quantities.  As  the  minerals  occur  in  a  quartz  gangue  they 
are  easily  concentrated.  As  a  rule  the  ores  show  good  values  of 
gold  and  silver  in  depth.  The  mineral  scheelite  is  occasionally 
found  in  the  district.2 

The  Bear  Creek  district  is  located  in  a  country-formation  of  Cam- 
brian schists,  slates  and  quartzites,  overlying  which  in  part  is  the  San 
Juan  andesitic  tuffs  and  later  flows.  Veins  of  quartz,  commonly 
known  as  "  bull  quartz,"  being  barren,  occur  with  widths  of  three  to 
four  inches.  The  ore-bodies  are  found  in  fissure-veins  filled  with 
white  quartz  in  which  occur  masses  or  pockets  of  mineral.  Other 
gangue  minerals  are:  calcite,  barite  and  kaolinite.  The  metallic 
minerals  are  tetrahedrite,  pyrite,  chalcopyrite,  bornite,  galena, 
blende,  arsenopyrite,  limonite,  hematite,  azurite,  malachite  and 
telluride  of  gold,  probably  petzite.  The  values  lie  in  the  telluride 
and  gray  copper.  The  veins  vary  in  width  from  a  mere  fissure  to  two 
and  three  feet,  while  the  Gold  Bug  attains  a  width  of  six  feet.  Horses 
of  country-rock  occur  in  the  veins.  The  veins  are  often  barren  in 
precious  metal  values  for  considerable  distances,  but  it  often  happens 
that  high-grade  ores  may  come  in  suddenly  after  the  termination  of 
such  a  barren  portion.  Such  irregular  and  erratic  occurrence  of  pay- 
rock  discourages  development.3 

Ouray  County.  —  The  Camp  Bird  mine  in  the  Imogene  Basin  is  in 
a  vein  the  average  width  of  which  is  six  to  seven  feet.  The  country- 
rocks  are  andesites  and  rhyolites.4  The  veins  are  probably  fissures  or 

1  Eng.  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  38,  p.  328. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  67,  p.  499. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No.  285,  p.  25,  1905. 

4  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  504,  etc. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  215 

filled  fissure  zones,  which  reoccur  in  systems  with  intervals  of  vary- 
ing widths  intervening.  The  wide  belts  or  zones  of  crushed  rock 
have  probably  resulted  from  the  intersection  at  small  angles  of  the 
comparatively  narrow  fissured  zones,  thus  providing  a  repository 
for  the  minerals  which  now  constitute  the  larger  ore-deposits.  The 
width  of  the  veins  varies  but  little  with  passage  from  the  San  Juan 
series  into  the  intermediate  andesites,  or  vice  versa.  White  massive 
quartz  occurs  along  the  edges  of  the  main  vein,  which  is  interlami- 
nated  with  country-rock,  and  occasionally  sprinkled  with  pyrite, 
galena  in  crystals,  and  flakes  of  chalcopyrite,  while  within  the  vein 
the  quartz  gangue  richest  in  gold  has  a  dull  luster.  It  is  made  up 
of  closely  packed  crystals,  and  often  having  spherical  aggregates. 
The  vein-filling  consists  of  gold,  both  free  and  combined,  galena, 
silver,  chlorite,  rhodonite-magnetite,  pyrite,  chalcopyrite  and  quartz. 
Fully  90  per  cent  of  the  values  is  gold.  Tellurium  is  known  to  exist 
as  shown  by  tests.  Open  cavities  often  occur  in  which  are  found 
calcite,  siderite  and  the  oxides  of  iron  and  manganese,  besides  large 
quartz  crystals.  Silver  is  usually  associated  with  galena  and 
magnetite,  and  to  some  extent  with  pyrite.  An  alloy  of  gold 
and  silver  occurs  in  galena.  Gold  occurs  in  pure  white  quartz 
apparently  without  other  minerals.  It  is  finely  divided,  and  is 
usually  invisible.1 

It  is  evident  both  from  observation  within  this  and  neighboring 
mines  that  the  veins  vary  but  little  in  depth,  even  to  a  depth  of  2000 
feet  —  the  deposits  being  young,  and  therefore  have  not  suffered 
materially  from  erosion.  The  ore-bodies  occur  in  shoots,  but  with- 
out any  definite  pitch  in  the  plane  of  the  vein,  nor  regularity  in  out- 
line. They  have  been  worked  to  a  depth  of  800  feet.  The  values 
of  the  ore  are  in  gold,  silver,  lead  and  zinc  of  which  the  gold  has  a 
value  of  fully  96  per  cent.2 

In  the  American  Nettie  mine,  the  ore  occurs  in  Dakota  sandstone, 
both  in  cavities  and  as  an  impregnation.  In  the  cavities  it  is  a 
sintery  mixture  of  oxidized  material  with  ocherous  ironstone,  while 
in  the  impregnated  rock  it  occurs  as  sulphides  —  iron,  copper,  lead 
and  zinc  with  gray  copper.  Probably  the  best  ores  occur  at  the  con- 
tact with  the  overlying  shales,  where  the  ore  is  in  the  form  of  pockets, 
produced  by  fissuring,  and  accompanied  by  some  gypsum.  Aside 
from  the  above  are  also  found  peacock  copper,  native  copper,  tellu- 
ride  ores  (petzite  principally),  bismuth  and  copperas. 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  509-511. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  499  and  509. 


216  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Dikes  of  igneous  rock  cut  the  sandstone  country-rock,  in  which 
are  fragments  of  the  sandstone.1 

The  Virginius  mine  is  a  deposit  of  galena  and  gray  copper,  which 
is  evidently  a  replacement  of  a  part  of  the  contiguous  andesite  dike 
and  the  country-rock  adjoining.  The  ore  occurs  with  or  without  a 
quartz  gangue;  however,  the  fissure  ore  is  usually  free  from  quartz. 
Both  the  galena  and  gray  copper  are  argentiferous;  the  former, 
when  free  from  gray  copper,  assays  about  50  ounces  of  silver.  Prac- 
tically no  gold  is  found  in  the  surface  ores,  but  with  depth  has 
increased  to  a  value  of  two  ounces  per  ton. 

At  Red  Mountain,  low-grade  lead  ores  occur  at  the  surface  which 
in  depth  show  an  increasing  per  cent  of  copper  and  the  ultimate 
disappearance  of  lead.  The  deeper  ores  consist  of  rich  silver,  copper 
and  bismuth  combinations. 

The  occurrence  of  enargite  in  higher  ground  to  the  south  would 
seem  to  indicate  that  it  exists  in  the  upper  portions  of  the  veins. 

Dolores  County.  —  Newman  Hill  is  situated  on  the  east  fork  of 
the  Dolores  River.  The  ore-deposits  occur  in  a  series  of  nearly 
vertical  and  parallel  fissures  which  are  cut  by  other  fissures  at  prac- 
tically all  angles.  There  are  other  deposits  at  the  contacts  of  lime- 
stone and  shale.  The  former  are  of  the  most  importance,  being 
known  as  the  "  vertical  pay  veins,"  while  the  ore-bodies  of  the  "  cross 
veins  "  are  smaller  and  richer. 

The  veins  usually  split  up  on  passing  from  the  black  shale  under- 
lying the  contact-limestone  and  continue  with  widths  ranging  from 
one-sixteenth  to  one  inch.  The  horizontal  deposits  have  the  form 
of  pipes  varying  in  width  from  2  to  30  feet,  and  from  a  few  inches  to 
two  feet  in  thickness,  and  following  for  considerable  distance  along 
the  side  of  the  vein  to  which  they  are  connected.  Close  connec- 
tions apparently  exist  between  the  contact  pipes  and  the  under- 
lying veins,  for  they  increase  and  decrease  in  size  with  remarkable 
regularity.  Considerable  local  disturbance  is  shown  at  the  point  of 
intersection  of  the  vertical  and  cross  veins,  many  stringers  occurring. 
The  cross  veins  are  probably  the  more  recent. 

The  vein-filling  is  white  quartz  in  which  are  many  cavities.  The 
principal  minerals  are  pyrite,  chalcopyrite,  sphalerite,  galena,  tetra- 
hedrite  and  gold  and  silver.  At  the  contact  zone  the  ore-deposit 
becomes  nearly  a  solid  mass  of  metallic  minerals  carrying  both 
gold  and  silver.  The  minerals  seem  to  increase  quite  perceptibly 
as  the  surface  is  approached,  rhodochrosite  also  appearing.  The 
1  Eng.  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  76,  p.  7. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  217 

principal  veins  are:  the  Swansea,  Enterprise,  Hiawatha,  Jumbo  and 
Eureka.1 

The  silver  minerals  are:  argentite,  polybasite  and  stephanite,  all 
of  which  occur  with  galena  and  blende.  Pyrargyrite  and  proustite 
and  native  silver  are  also  found,  but  in  small  quantities. 

The  three  mining  centers  at  Rico  are  situated  on  three  mountains; 
namely,  the  Dolores,  Telescope  and  Expectation.  Among  the 
first  workings  on  Dolores  Mountain  were  the  Enterprise  and  the 
Rico-Aspen,  and  the  C.  H.  C.  on  Telescope  Mountain.  The  ore 
occurs  in  practically  vertical  fissures  and  contact-deposits,  probably 
fissures,  besides  which  there  are  numerous  other  veins.  There  are 
three  main  veins  traversing  Telescope  Mountain;  namely,  the 
Logan,  Leap  Year  and  Bourbon,  of  which  the  first  named  is  the  most 
important.  This  vein  carries  galena,  chalcopyrite,  with  values 
in  gold,  silver  and  lead.  The  ores  change  from  sulphides  to.  car- 
bonates in  passing  from  the  fissures  to  the  horizontal  contact-depos- 
its. Overflows  from  the  fissures  formed  the  contact-deposits  which 
lie  between  a  capping  of  iron  above  and  limestone  below.  The 
contact-deposits  occur  in  benches  or  terraces,  which  position  has 
been  assumed  by  portions  having  been  broken  off  the  main  formation, 
and  sliding  downward.  The  horizontal  portions  contain  ore,  while 
those  that  are  tilted  are  low-grade.  The  high-grade  ores  of  the 
contacts  on  Telescope  Mountain,  occurring  above  the  horizontal 
bedding-planes,  carry  silver  and  lead,  while  the  fissures  of  the  north- 
western slope  have  walls  somewhat  broken,  and  yield  low  values  in 
silver,  gold  and  lead.  The  Sambo  mine  on  the  north  portion  of 
Expectation  Mountain,  is  on  a  contact-vein  between  limestone  and 
sandstone  formations  above,  and  a  bed  of  limestone  ("  short  lime  ") 
below.  The  ore  is  galena  and  blende.2 

Boulder  County.  —  Among  the  mines  of  this  area  the  Golden  Age 
is  one  of  the  most  important,  of  which  there  are  six  claims:  the 
Golden  Age,  Sentinal,  Rambler,  Boston,  Terrible  and  Hurricane. 
The  ore  of  the  Golden  Age  lode  is  free-milling,  occurring  in  a  con- 
tact-vein; however,  with  depth,  sulphide  ores  are  encountered  in 
the  form  of  pyrite,  galena,  blende  and  chalcopyrite.  The  Sentinal 
is  also  a  contact-vein  in  which  are  found  free-gold  and  high-grade 
telluride  ores. 

The  Golden  Age  ore-body  occurs  largely  in  shoots  on  the  contact 
of  a  quartz-porphyry  dike  and  a  country-rock  of  granite  and 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  54,  p.  174. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  81,  p.  341. 


218  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

gneiss.  The  vein  bifurcates  at  a  depth  of  100  feet,  the  two  branches 
being  known  as  the  hanging-wall  and  foot-wall  streaks.  The  dike 
also  becomes  mineralized,  forming  a  low-grade  ore.  Of  the  two 
branches  the  foot-wall  bears  the  most  sulphides.  The  gangue  is  a 
hard,  vitreous,  white  quartz,  the  gold  occurring  near  the  surface  in 
the  free  state,  and  is  often  found  in  nuggets  of  several  ounces.  In 
fact  the  mine  is  famous  for  its  specimen  ore.  The  richest  portion  of 
the  vein  is  in  the  granite  and  schistose  rocks  and  poorest  in  the 
porphyry.  No  telluride  ores  are  found  in  this  vein. 

The  ores  of  this  county  may  be  grouped  into  two  classes;  free- 
milling  ores  at  the  surface,  changing  to  sulphides  in  depth,  and  the 
telluride  ores.  With  the  oxidized  ores  are  associated  native  copper 
and  green  carbonate.  The  telluride  ores  are:  calaverite,  sylvanite 
and  petzite.1 

Summit  County.  —  The  country-rock  of  the  ridge  consists  of 
clay,  slate  and  porphyry,  the  porphyry  occurring  as  dikes  and  sheet 
intrusions  overlaying  the  slate.  The  slate  is  cut  at  right  angles  by 
a  system  of  parallel  veins,  which  have  a  content  of  oxides  and  sul- 
phides of  iron  and  copper,  galena,  gold  and  silver,  with  a  gangue  of 
calcite  and  quartz.  Gold  is  found  with  all  the  minerals  mentioned 
except  quartz,  which  contains  no  gold  when  it  predominates  in  the 
veins.  The  calcite  bears  gold  in  the  form  of  threads  and  wires  and 
occasionally  as  crystals.  Thread  and  wire  gold  also  occur  in  the 
iron  and  copper  minerals  often  so  dense  as  to  resemble  a  bunch  of 
moss.  Nuggets  are  also  found  weighing  from  a  fraction  up  to  several 
ounces.  The  free-gold  is  found  near  the  surface,  but  decreases  with 
the  other  metallic  minerals  with  depth,  being  replaced  by  calcite 
and  barren  quartz.  These  veins  have  been  the  source  of  the  placer 
gold  in  the  Georgia,  Humbug  and  American  gulches.2 

Clear  Creek  County.  —  The  country  consists  largely  of  dark  gneiss, 
composed  of  quartz,  feldspar  and  black  mica.  This  gneiss  is  well 
stratified,  but  considerably  disturbed  and  often  metamorphosed. 
Intersecting  this  formation  are  veins  of  porphyry,  compactly  crystal- 
line and  of  light  green  and  rose  colors.  The  veins  bearing  the  silver 
ores  are  found  in  the  porphyry  dikes.  The  ores  are:  argentiferous 
galena,  gray  copper,  brittle  silver  (with  ruby  and  glance),  pyrite, 
chalcopyrite,  blende  and  native  silver,  in  wires  and  nodules.  The 
gangues  are:  fine  quartz  crystals,  barite  and  fluorspar.  The  por- 
phyry dikes  range  in  width  from  10  to  100  feet,  although  the  chim- 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  19,  p.  323. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  51,  p.  516. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  219 

neys  and  shoots  of  ore  seldom  exceed  12  inches,  and  are  often  as 
narrow  as  one  inch. 

Galena  carries  the  highest  values,  being  fully  50  per  cent  in  nine- 
tenths  of  the  veins,  and  is  very  prominent  in  all.  Pyrite  is  very 
common,  while  zinc  and  copper  minerals  are  practically  always 
present,  arsenic  and  antimony  only  occasionally  so.  The  Snow 
Drift  vein  is  preeminently  a  silver  sulphuret  producer;  its  content 
having  suffered  decomposition,  and  in  places  the  walls  are  difficult 
to  follow.  Between  the  walls  pure  silver  glance  occurs  in  some 
seams;  in  others  are  found  galena  and  glance  combined,  while  in  still 
others  the  sulphuret;  oxides  of  iron  and  lead,  are  present  —  the  sul- 
phuret predominating  in  depth.1 

At  the  Stanley  mine,  Idaho  Springs,  the  country-rock  is  Archaean 
gneiss  and  schist  cut  up  by  masses  of  coarsely  crystalline  granite. 
The  veins  vary  considerably  in  shape  and  character,  having  widths 
of  from  a  few  inches  to  50  feet.  The  vein  upon  which  this  mine  is 
located  has  a  width  of  five  to  ten  feet.  The  ores  (1894)  were  chiefly 
pyrite,  chalcopyrite,  purple  copper  or  bornite  and  peacock  copper. 
The  value  of  the  free-gold  content  is  small. 

Custer  County.  —  A  sheet  of  andesite,  commonly  called  the 
"  Bassic  "  andesite,  occurs  at  the  Bassic  mine,  which  is  situated 
about  five  miles  from  Silver  Cliff.  There  are  two  ore-bodies  in  this 
mine,  one  reaching  to  the  surface,  the  other  extending  slightly  above 
the  600-foot  level.  In  horizontal  section  the  bodies  are  elliptical, 
varying  between  25  to  50  feet  on  the  minor  and  50  to  75  feet  or 
more  on  the  major  axes.  These  ore-bodies,  which  may  be  con- 
sidered as  channels  or  pipes,  stand  practically  vertical.  The  ore 
apparently  occupies  the  duct  of  an  extinct  hot  spring  or  geyser,  and 
occurs  as  thin  incrustations  on  boulders  and  pebbles  which  fill  the 
inverted  conical  opening.  The  shape  of  the  fragments  is  subangular 
and  rounded,  composed  of  volcanic  rock,  similar  to  the  walls  of  the 
duct;  granite  is  also  present  in  small  pieces.  The  voids  between  this 
mass  of  boulders  are  filled  with  a  plastic,  granulated  mass  of  decom- 
posed rock  fragments.  The  minerals  constituting  the  ore  are :  the  sul- 
phide, carbonate  and  hydrous  silicate  of  zinc,  sulphides  of  iron  and 
lead,  gray  copper,  tellurium  and  gold  and  silver.  Quartz  also  occurs 
as  a  filling.  The  ore  is  very  rich,  being  principally  tellurides,  no  free- 
gold  having  been  found.  The  ore  assays  from  $200  to  $5000  per  ton.2 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  27,  p.  73;  Vol.  13,  p.  260,  and  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull. 
No.  285,  p.  38,  1905. 

2  Colliery  Engineer,  Vol.  12,  p.  73,  and  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  23,  p.  489. 


220  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  Racine  Boy  is  the  first  mine  which  attracted  attention  to  the 
district.  The  King  of  the  Valley  and  the  Horn  Silver  are  two  other 
well-known  mines.  The  occurrence  of  ore  is  not  unlike  that  in  the 
Bassic,  the  ore-bodies  being  agglomerated  masses  of  porphyry 
boulders  and  breccia  cemented  together  with  a  trachyte  mud,  which 
has  been  kaolinized.  Near  Silver  Cliff  two  large  dikes  of  feldspathic 
glass  or  obsidian  have  intersected  the  ore-bodies.  The  metallic 
contents  are  derived  almost  entirely  from  the  trachyte  mud  or  sand. 
The  silver  is  largely  silver  chloride,  which  varies  in  richness  from 
1  to  15  ounces.1 

Pitkin  County.  —  The  mines  of  Aspen  Mountain  are  among  the 
richest  of  the  county.  The  ore-deposits  are  found  near  the  junction 
of  the  dolomite  and  blue  limestone.  It  has  been  suggested  that 
the  ore-bodies  occur  at  the  contact  between  the  dolomite  and  blue 
limestone,  the  former  being  of  Silurian  age,  the  latter  of  Carbon- 
iferous. The  vein  is  not  disturbed  on  either  wall  at  the  surface, 
but  in  depth  the  ore-body  becomes  somewhat  irregular.  The  gangue 
is  dolomite,  limestone  and  heavy  spar,  while  the  characteristic 
minerals  are  zinc  and  copper,  although  galena,  blende,  polybasite, 
stephanite,  carbonate  of  copper  and  lead  carbonate  are  found  in  vary- 
ing amounts.  Silver  and  lead  bear  no  special  relation  to  each  other 
in  these  ores.  The  richest  ores  occur  in  the  most  altered  limestone; 
when  heavy  spar  occurs  in  the  ore-body  the  amount  of  silver  present 
is  small.  Some  of  the  richest  mines  in  the  district  are :  the  Spar, 
Washington,  Vallejo,  Emma,  Aspen,  Visino,  Connamara,  Bonnybel, 
Chloride,  and  Silver  Star.2 

Telluride,  San  Miguel  County.  —  There  are  three  large  mines  in 
this  county,  namely :  the  Smuggler-Union,  Liberty  Bell  and  Tomboy. 

The  principal  minerals  occurring  are  pyrite,  chalcopyrite,  galena, 
blende  and  arsenical  pyrites,  such  as  proustite  polybasite,  etc. 
Native  silver  is  rare,  while  native  gold,  though  more  frequent,  is 
also  rare.3  The  Smuggler-Union  vein  is  probably  a  fault-fissure,  the 
walls  showing  much  evidence  of  movement  such  as  striations, 
polished  surfaces  and  gouge-material.  The  width  varies  from 
about  two  feet  up  to  five  feet.  Horses  of  country-rock  are  of  com- 
mon occurrence.  The  occurrence  of  the  ore  in  the  vein  is  very 
regular  and  uniform,  but  shows  a  preference  for  the  foot- wall. 
Shipping  ore  of  a  few  inches  in  width  is  usual,  while  milling  ore 
occupies  a  much  greater  width,  as  one  or  two  feet. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  27,  p.  57. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  17,  p.  156,  and  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  39,  p.  277. 
8  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  26,  p.  455. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


221 


The  common  minerals  are  pyrite,  chalcopyrite,  galena,  sphalerite 
and  the  arsenical  silver  minerals.  Polybasite  and  proustite  are 
known  to  be  present;  tetrahedrite  has  not  been  recognized.  Metallic 
gold  and  silver,  although  present,  are  not  common,  but  when  present 
the  gold  predominates.  At  the  extreme  north  end,  where  the  vein 
crosses  the  divide,  the  gold  value  does  not  exceed  one-fourth  that  of 
the  silver,  while  a  mile  further  south  it  exceeds  that  of  the  silver, 
and  virtually  becomes  a  gold  vein.1  The  Sheridan  mine,  which  is 
the  northerly  extension  of  the  Smuggler  mine,  has  a  country-rock 
porphyritic  and  dioritic  in  character.  The  gangue  is  quartz,  or  the 
so-called  horse-porphyry,  filling  a  vein  which  averages  10  to  20 
feet  in  width,  A  gouge  of  clay  occurs  separating  the  vein  from  the 
walls.  The  metallic  minerals  are  the  sulphides  of  iron,  copper, 
lead  and  zinc,  with  which  is  associated  free-gold.2 

The  country-rock  at  the  Liberty  Bell  mine  is  bluish-gray  breccia, 
angular  and  subangular  fragments  of  andesite  with  a  matrix  of  the 


Gold-quartz,  Smuggler  Unioii  Mine,  San  Miguel  County,  Colorado. 
(From  Mines  and  Minerals..) 

same  material.     The  veins  are  large  and  strong,  varying  in  width 
from  five  to  six  feet.     The  walls  are  well-defined,  although  showing 

1  T.  A.  I  M.  E.,  Vol.  26,  p.  453. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  30,  p.  185. 


222  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

some  movement.  The  vein-filling  is  quartz  and  silicified  earthy 
matter  occurring  in  bands  often  separated  by  gouge  or  clay.  Cal- 
cite  is  occasionally  found  in  masses  and  a  greenish  slaty  gangue  is 
quite  persistent  in  its  occurrence.  Pyrite  is  common  in  the  vein- 
rock,  also  iron  and  manganese  oxides.  Gold-bearing  quartz  pre- 
dominates, the  gold  being  occasionally  visible.  The  gouge  also 
often  runs  high  into  both  gold  and  silver  values.  Gold  also  is  asso- 
ciated with  pyrite.  The  silver,  especially  in  the  unaltered  zone,  is 
probably  a  sulphide  being  combined  with  arsenic  and  antimony.1 

Gilpin  County.  —  In  1892  this  was  one  of  the  most  important 
gold  mining  districts  in  the  state. 

The-  veins  are  two  mineralized  zones  of  altered  quartzose  rock 
with  walls  of  banded  gneiss.  These  zones  or  veins  occur  one  on 
either  side  of  the  main  vein,  and  are  known  as  the  hanging  and 
foot-wall  veins  —  the  former  is  from  three  to  six  feet  wide,  the 
latter  averages  four  feet,  although  it  has  a  maximum  width  of 
16  feet.  The  gangue  is  quartz,  throughout  which  the  metallic 
minerals  pyrite  and  blende  are  found.  Grains  of  free-gold  often 
occur  in  crystalline  form  and  are  readily  visible  to  the  naked 
eye.2 

Gunnison  County.  —  The  ore-body  of  the  Vulcan  and  Mammoth 
mines  consists  of  a  coarse  breccia  of  quartz  fragments,  which  is  both 
white  and  stained  with  oxide  of  iron.  The  quartz  is  considerably 
honeycombed  and  associated  with  red  and  yellow  jasper,  the  mixture 
being  cemented  together  by  oxide  of  iron  and  sand.  A  zone  of 
pure  granulated  sulphur  occurs  just  below  the  100-foot  level  and 
reaches  to  a  depth  of  125  feet,  i.e.,  varies  from  15  to  25  feet  in  vertical 
thickness.  Following  this  is  a  zone  of  loose  pyrite  and  below  that 
massive  iron  pyrites  which  is  low-grade  ore,  carrying  from  $4  to  $14 
per  ton  in  gold.  The  presence  of  telluride  of  gold  is  suspected.  The 
country  is  composed  of  schists  and  masses  of  granite  and  eruptives, 
although  at  the  mines  the  schist  seems  to  predominate.  The  princi- 
pal mines  here  are  the  Vulcan  and  Mammoth.3 

La  Plata  County.  —  The  La  Plata  mines,  some  15  miles  northwest 
of  Durango,  occur  in  sedimentary  rock  cut  by  intrusions  of  diorite, 
which  form  the  core  of  the  mountains.  The  sedimentary  rock  has 
been  very  much  disturbed  and  subsequently  cut  by  nearly  vertical 
dikes  of  diorite.  The  veins  are  large  and  well  defined  and  contain 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  29,  pp.  291  and  292. 

2  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  20,  p.  82. 
s  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  18,  p.  562. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  223 

sulphides  low  in  gold  and  silver  values.  Sylvanite  occurs  between 
the  elevations  of  ten  and  twelve  thousand  feet,  being  well  dissemi- 
nated. The  Columbus  mine  in  the  Silver  Lake  basin  shows  at  a 
depth  of  200  feet  considerable  bodies  of  black  quartz,  averaging 
about  $15  per  ton,  which  is  associated  with  an  exceedingly  rich 
streak  of  sylvanite.1 

The  output  of  the  Cripple  Creek  mines  has  been  increased  most 
remarkably  and  will  undoubtedly  continue  to  be  the  principal  source 
of  the  gold-supply  of  the  United  States.  The  size  and  persistence 
of  the  deposits  of  the  San  Juan  region  ensures  a  steady  production 
if  not  an  increase,  while  from  present  indications  the  production  of 
the  Gilpin  region  will  be  maintained  for  many  years. 

Connecticut.  —  Although  the  argentiferous  lead  mines  of  Connec- 
ticut and  especially  those  of  Middletown  have  become  famous  as  being 
the  first  to  receive  attention  in  the  United  States,  practically  no  ore 
of  commercial  importance  has  been  obtained  from  them. 

According  to  Whitney  indications  of  galena  are  abundant  in  the 
state,  the  more  important  locations  being  at  Monroe,  Plymouth  and 
Middletown.  The  Lane  mine  at  Monroe  yields  rich  argentiferous 
galena  disseminated  in  a  bed  of  quartz,  but  not  in  workable  quanti- 
ties. Probably  the  most  important  geologically  is  that  at  Middle- 
town.  The  galena  occurs  in  a  thin  vein  of  quartz  in  mica-slate, 
having  a  thickness  of  10  to  20  inches. 

The  ore  is  associated  with  blende,  iron  pyrite,  and  rarely  chal- 
copyrite.  Aside  from  the  quartz,  mica-slate  often  .occurs  as  a  vein- 
filling.  The  galena  contains,  according  to  Mr.  Pattinson's  assays, 
from  25  to  75  ounces  of  silver  per  ton  of  lead.2 

Georgia.  —  The  occurrence  of  gold  in  this  state  is  next  to  that  in 
the  Carolina  belt.  The  area  of  auriferous  rock  begins  with  Rabun 
and  Habersham  counties  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  state  and 
extends  southwestward  to  the  Alabama  line,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Tallapoosa,  including  the  mining  town  of  Dahlonega.  The  country- 
rock  is  mica-  and  hornblende-gneisses  and  schists  of  Archaen  Age 
probably  derived  from  granite  and  diorite.  Diabase  dikes  are 
common,  while  granite  dikes  are  less  common. 

The  ore-bodies  consist  of  gneisses  and  schists  cut  by  fissures  and 
bearing  gold-quartz  and  base  minerals.  The  fissures  conform  quite 
closely  to  the  schistosity  of  the  rock,  but  in  some  cases  cut  the 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  66,  p.  667. 

2  Report  on  the  Geology  of  Conn.,  p.  52;  Whitney's  Metallic  Wealth  of  the 
United  States,  1854,  pp.  392-394;  and  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  5,  p.  169. 


224  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

same  at  small  angles.  The  veins  vary  from  3  to  20  feet  in  width 
and  are  often  close  together  being  separated  by  barren  bands  of 
gneiss.  At  the  Shingleton  mine,  Dahlonega,  the  total  width  of  the 
ore-bearing  zone  is  200  feet.  According  to  the  homogeneity  of  the 
rock  various  forms  of  ore-bodies  are  produced  —  the  rock  may  be 
completely  shattered,  which  when  filled  with  auriferous  pyrite  forms 
sort  of  a  stockwork,  while  if  the  rock  is  more  homogeneous  and  the 
forces  of  varying  intensity,  one  or  a  few  large  fissures  may  result, 
which  when  filled  forms  a  solid  mass  of  auriferous  and  pyritic  quartz. 
The  pitch  of  the  ore-bodies  is  usually  to  the  northeast. 

The  vein-content  is  quartz,  calcite,  pyrite  and  chalcopyrite. 
Garnets  and  tourmaline  are  also  present  as  gangues,  but  in  small 
quantities.1 

The  rocks  are  usually  weathered  to  considerable  depths  and  in 
many  instances  solid  rock  is  not  encountered  within  100  feet  from  the 
surface.  This  weathered  material  has  been  called  saprolite  by 
Becker,  in  which  the  gold  occurs  in  the  free  state,  the  whole  mass 
being  suitable  for  treatment  by  the  hydraulicing  process.  Mica- 
schist  is  usually  encountered  in  depth  in  which  gold-bearing  quartz 
occurs.2 

Besides  the  quartz-veins  gold  also  occurs  in  slate-veins,  although 
they  are  few  and  usually  low  in  values  unless  accompanied  by  one 
or  more  quartz-veins,  the  two  deposits  being  worked  together. 
Itacolumyte  is  occasionally  found  in  quartz- veins.3 

The  property  of  the  Chestatee  Pyrites  Company  some  six  miles 
from  Dahlonega  illustrates  the  occurrence  of  gold-bearing  pyrite  in 
this  district  and  is  important  in  that  it  is  a  high-grade  ore-body.  The 
deposit  is  comformable  with  the  quartzose  mica-schists  occurring 
on  the  west  while  the  adjoining  rock  on  the  east  is  hornblende-schist 
—  it  is  then  a  contact  deposit  between  sedimentary  (probably)  and 
metamorphosed  igneous  rock.4 

For  a  description  of  the  peculiar  lode-deposit  near  Dahlonega  see 
Georgia  under  the  head  of  gravels. 

Probably  one  of  the  most  noted  occurrences  in  the  Southern 
States,  of  gold  and  tellurium  closely  associated  is  that  at  the  Boly 
Fields  gold  mine  on  the  Chestatee.  The  vein  is  in  a  compact  horn- 
blende-gneiss or  slate  in  which  no  surface  alteration  is  observable. 

i  T.  A.  I.  M.  K,  Vol.  25,  pp.  673-677. 
a  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  213,  p.  60. 
8  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  24,  p.  258. 
4  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  213,  p.  63. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


225 


/V//WTJ  AND  MINERALS. 


Dahlonega  and  Vicinity  (1903). 


226  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  gold  occurs  in  coarse  grains  both  free  and  combined  with 
tellurium.1 

Idaho.  —  The  southern  part  of  Idaho  is  characterized  by  intrusive 
granites  and  overlying  Tertiary  lavas  together  with  isolated  desert 
ranges  of  stratified  rocks.  In  Owyhee  County  ore-deposits  occur  in 
the  southern  part  only.  Extending  north  of  the  Snake  River  Valley 
is  the  great  central  mountain  mass  consisting  of  intrusive  granite 
surrounded  by  sedimentaries  of  a  great  range  in  age. 

There  are  two  classes  of  gold-deposits:  first,  the  gold-quartz  veins 
found  in  the  granite  area,  in  which  auriferous  pyrites  occur  and  often 
considerable  silver,  and  second,  the  veins  occurring  in  basalt  and 
rhyolite  which  carry  both  gold  and  silver.  Some  of  the  more  im- 
portant of  these  mines  are  the  Custer,  Rocky  Bar,  Atlanta  and  the 
Thunder  Mountain  discoveries.2 

There  is  a  continuous  gold  belt  in  this  state  from  the  Panhandle 
on  the  north  to  the  southern  boundary,  with  a  width  extending  from 
the  summit  of  the  Bitter  Root  Mountain  on  the  east  to  the  Snake 
River  on  the  west,  thus  including  an  area  40  to  175  miles  wide  to 
400  miles  long.  Gold  is  found  in  the  outcrops  of  all  veins,  but  in 
small  amounts,  rarely  ever  exceeding  $2  per  ton,  and  usually  dis- 
appears in  depth. 

Coeur  d'Alene  County  is  rich  in  metals,  especially  lead  and  silver, 
although  it  was  opened  up  as  a  gold  district.3 

In  western  central  Idaho  the  veins  north  of  the  Snake  River  have 
a  general  strike  of  east  and  west.  There  are  four  classes  of  veins: 
first,  silver-bearing  veins  in  which  are  found  some  pyrargyrite, 
argentite,  blende,  tetrahedrite,  a  little  galena  and  only  a  trace  of 
gold;  second,  gold  and  silver-bearing  veins,  which  are  well  defined 
and  contain  pyrargyrite,  stephanite,  argentite,  pyrite,  a  little  galena 
and  blende,  gold  and  silver;  third,  gold-bearing  veins,  chiefly  gold 
with  a  little  silver,  galena  and  pyrite;  and  fourth,  contact  deposits  in 
which  are  found  silver-lead  ores.  The  argentiferous  galena  and 
blende  occur  in  calcareous  strata  accompanied  by  calcite,  quartz, 
actinolite  and  ilvaite.  The  silver  veins  are  found  principally  at 
Banner,  Elmore  County;  Silver  King  and  Vienna,  Alturas  County, 
and  at  Flint,  Owyhee  County.  The  ores  of  the  second  class  contain 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  pp.  802  and  803;  Am.  Jour.  Sci.,  2nd  series,  Vol.  27, 
p.  366,  May,  1859,  and  Mining  Magazine  and  Journal  of  Geology,  2nd  series,  Vol. 
1,  p.  83,  Nov.,  1859,  also  p.  358,  March,  1860. 

3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  823  and  824,  1903. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  60,  p.  172,  and  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  20,  p.  563. 


OCCURRENCE   OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


227 


gold  and  silver  in  the  proportion  of  1  to  25  by  weight,  and  are  found 
at  Atlanta  and  Rocky  Bar,  Elmore  County.  The  gold  veins  contain 
gold  and  silver  in  the  proportion  of  1  to  2  by  weight,  being  found  at 
Florence,  Idaho  County.  The  contact  deposits  are  found  in  South 


Central  Idaho  Gold-Fields  (1899).     (From  Mines  and  Minerals.) 

Mountain,  Owyhee  County,  and  probably  in  Sheep  Mountain,  Custer 
County.1 

The  Coeur  d'Alene  District.  —  The  country-rock  consists  of  a  for- 
mation of  slates,  quartzites  and  graywacke,  which  has  been  folded 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Ann.  Kept.,  pt.  3,  p.  75,  1898-99. 


228 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


with  axes  running  east  and  west.  The  graywacke,  or  something 
between  slate  and  quartzite,  contains  the  lead-veins.  A  few  intru- 
sions of  syenite  and  quartzless  granite  are  known  to  occur,  besides 


which  there  are  a  number  of  narrow  basic  dikes,  probably  basalt.  The 
fissure-veins  are  the  chief  producers  yielding  galena  and  siderite.1 
Other  associated  minerals  are  blende,  pyrite  and  quartz.  In  the 

*  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol  33,  p.  235. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  229 

zone  of  oxidation  other  minerals  occur  such  as  lead  carbonate, 
oxides  of  iron  and  manganese  and  native  silver.  The  proportion  of 
silver  to  lead  varies  greatly  in  different  mines  and  even  in  the  same 
mine,  as  from  0.25  to  2  ounces  to  1  per  cent  of  lead.  The  variation 
may  be  noted  either  with  regard  to  horizontal  or  vertical  directions, 
while  a  wide  variation  in  position  with  respect  to  the  horizontal  of 
ore-bodies  is  also  noted.  The  deposits  are  often  large,  containing 
millions  of  tons  of  concentrating  ore.  The  yield  of  most  of  the  work- 
able deposits  as  mined  is  from  5  to  25  per  cent  lead,  while  the  average 
of  the  whole  district  in  both  silver  and  lead  is  7  ounces  to  10  per  cent.1 

Mineralization  is  more  extensive  in  those  veins  which  have  suffered 
the  greatest  disturbance,  the  hanging-wall  usually  being  most  seriously 
affected;  however,  the  largest  deposits  of  lead-silver  ores  occur  near 
the  foot-wall  fissure.  Occasionally  the  fissuring  has  produced  a 
number  of  nearly  parallel  veins  which,  when  filled  with  ore  and 
close  together,  form  a  broad  zone  of  mineralized  ground.  The  ore- 
bodies  of  the  Bunker  Hill  and  Sullivan  mines  are  often  20  feet  wide; 
in  the  Stemwinder,  the  average  width  is  probably  12  to  15  feet;  while 
in  the  Last  Chance,  one  seam  has  a  width  of  five  feet  and  others 
near-by  3  to  10  inches.2 

The  principal  lodes  in  this  district  are:  the  Bunker  Hill,  Sierra 
Nevada,  Canyon  City  and  Frisco. 

Silver  City  District.  —  This  district  lies  in  the  Owyhee  Moun- 
tians  which  are  composed  of  granite  with  intrusions  of  basalt  and 
rhyolite.  One  of  the  first  veins  developed  was  the  Golden  Chariot 
(1864),  west  of  which  and  paralleling  it  is  the  Poorman,  while 
still  further  to  the  westward  are  found  the  Addie  and  Calaveras, 
all  being  practically  parallel.  The  ore-bodies  are  composed  of  series 
of  shoots  which  vary  in  width  from  1  to  30  feet,  but  usually  from 
1  to  16  feet,  and  average  probably  200  feet  in  length.  The  ore- 
bodies  lie  within  the  veins  and  are  usually  low-grade,  as  from  $12  to 
$20  per  ton.  However,  considerable  ore  is  found  running  much  lower 
in  value  and  probably  not  exceeding  $10  per  ton.  In  the  De  Lamar 
mine  the  surface  ores  were  largely  sulphides  of  silver  and  hornsilver, 
the  silver  being  extracted  by  pan  amalgamation.  With  depth  the 
ore  became  gold-quartz  accompanied  by  silver.  In  1903,  40,000 
tons  of  ore  were  milled  of  an  average  value  of  $11  per  ton,  85  per 
cent  being  extracted.  Evidences  found  within  the  vein  would 
seem  to  indicate  that  the  original  vein-filling  was  calcite  and  barite 

*  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  241. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  45,  p.  108. 


230  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

which  were  later  replaced  by  quartz.  The  principal  mines  in  the 
district  are:  the  Silver  City,  Dewy  and  De  Lamar.1 

Boise  Basin.  —  This  district  includes  the  headwaters  of  Moore 
Creek  and  tributaries  and  is  situated  about  30  miles  northeast  of 
Boise.  Granite  is  the  principal  formation  which  is  soft  and  micace- 
ous, disintegrating  rapidly  under  the  action  of  air  and  water.  Por- 
phyry dikes  occur  cutting  the  country-rock.  The  veins  are  found  in 
the  granite  and  usually  in  connection  with  the  porphyry  dikes,  being 
zones  of  sheeted  granite  and  porphyry  carrying  seams  of  quartz 
in  which  occur  pyrite,  arsenopyrite,  blende  and  free-gold.  The 
surface  ores  are  free-milling,  but  change  to  sulphides  below,  and  owing 
to  the  absence  of  sufficient  lead  and  copper,  smelting  is  rendered 
practically  impossible.  The  walls  of  the  veins  often  show  con- 
siderable disturbance,  being  altered  for  some  distance.2 

The  Washington  mine  is  one  of  the  oldest  gold-quartz  producers 
in  the  district.  The  gold  vein  is  8  feet  wide  and  yields  high-grade, 
free-milling  ore.  Another  ledge  on  the  property  30  feet  from  and 
parallel  with  the  same  carries  gold  and  silver.  Both  the  Lucky  Boy 
and  Mountain  Queen  mines  produce  $8  ore,  although  in  the  lower 
levels  some  $5  ore  is  mined.  In  the  gold  and  silver  vein  the  other 
minerals  found  are  pyrite,  native  ruby,  and  antimonial  silver.3 

The  Thunder  Mountain  District.  —  The  formation  of  this  district 
is  largely  igneous  rocks  which  occur  in  beds,  dikes  and  overflows 
of  porphyry  and  rhyolite  with  large  accumulations  of  brecciated 
material.  Basaltic  domes  and  vents  are  occasionally  observed. 
To  the  northeast  are  crystalline  schists  and  gneisses,  cut  by  dikes  of 
diorite,  syenite  and  porphyry  in  which  are  large  deposits  of  chalcopy- 
rite  bearing  gold.  Cross-cutting  and  radiating  dikes  are  absent  as 
well  as  quartz-veins,  while  secondary  mineralization  has  evidently 
not  acted  to  any  great  extent  in  the  formation  of  the  ore-deposits. 

Free-gold  occurs  in  the  rhyolite,  with  which  is  associated  a  small 
amount  of  pyrite  and  considerable  silver,  the  total  value  of  the  ore 
averaging  probably  $8  per  ton. 

The  White  Knob  vein  is  a  contact  between  blue  limestone  and 
porphyry,  the  former  being  the  hanging,  the  latter  the  foot-wall. 
It  varies  from  10  to  300  feet  in  width.  The  ores  are  copper,  but  carry 
sufficient  gold  and  silver  values  to  cover  cost  of  mining  and  smelting. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  77,  p.  885^  and  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Annual  Kept.  Pt.  3, 
p.  127. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  81,  p.  400. 

8  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  79,  p.  149  and  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  78,  p.  297. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  231 

Other  dikes  yield  auriferous  pyrite  assaying  several  ounces  of  gold 
per  ton.1 

Pearl  District.  —  South  of  the  Payette  River  some  twenty  miles 
northwest  of  Boise  is  situated  a  district  bearing  the  sulphides  of 
iron,  lead,  zinc.  Antimony  also  occurs.  The  values  lie  principally 
in  gold,  silver  and  lead.  Free-gold  is  present  in  the  oxidized  surface 
ores,  but  the  bulk  of  the  ore  is  especially  adapted  to  concentration 
and  smelting.2 

Warren  District.  —  This  district  is  sometimes  spoken  of  as  the 
Washington  district.  The  country-formation  is  granite,  which  has 
suffered  alteration  for  a  distance  of  a  foot  or  more  on  either  wall; 
the  feldspar  and  biotite  have  thus  been  changed  into  sericite,  calcite 
and  pyrite.  The  ore-body  proper  consists  of  quartz  varying  in 
thickness  from  a  few  inches  to  one  or  two  feet,  averaging  probably 
eight  inches.  This  quartz  is  high  in  gold  values,  yielding  from  $20 
to  $100  per  ton. 

The  Little  Giant  is  probably  the  largest  producer  in  the  district. 
The  ore  consists  of  tetrahedrite,  galena,  blende,  pyrite,  arsenopyrite 
and  gold.  Other  minerals  found  in  smaller  quantities  are:  tellurides, 
argentite,  native  silver  and  bromide  of  silver.  The  gangue  is  ex- 
clusively quartz.3 

Wood  River  District.  —  In  this  district  are  found  fissure- veins 
which  carry  silver  and  lead  in  sedimentary  rocks.  There  may  be 
said  to  be  two  types:  the  Wood  River  and  Croesus;  the  former 
yields  galena,  principally  with  a  gangue  of  siderite,  while  the  latter, 
also  fissure-vein,  carries  chalcopyrite,  pyrrhotite  and  gold,  with  a 
gangue  of  quartz  and  carbonates.4 

Florence  District.  —  Thib  district  is  situated  in  Idaho  County 
north  of  the  Salmon  River  and  some  80  miles  southwest  of  Lewiston, 
The  veins  are  quite  regular  and  well  defined,  usually  simple,  and 
consisting  of  altered  granite  separated  by  small  quartz-veins.  The 
gold  occurs  in  quartz  being  wholly  free-milling.  Some  veins  carry 
more  silver  than  gold  by  weight,  but  the  value  of  the  gold-content 
always  exceeds  that  of  the  silver.  Practically  no  sulphides  occur. 
A  comb-structure  of  the  quartz-filling  is  common. 

Blane  County.  —  The  country-formation  is  mostly  granite  cut  by 
porphyry  dikes.  The  Red  Cloud  mine  is  probably  the  principal 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  84,  p.  62,  and  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol,  74,  p.  273. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.  Vol.  77,  p.  1042. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  pp.  237,  245  and  246 

4  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  190. 


232  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

property  of  the  gold-belt.  The  vein  varies  from  30  to  70  feet  in 
width,  and  yields  pyrite,  chalcopyrite  and  gold,  the  ore  being  quite 
siliceous.  The  Jumbo  mines  are  on  a  vein  lying  between  a  hanging- 
wall  of  porphyry  and  a  foot-wall  of  granite.  The  vein-filling  is 
quartz,  granite  and  decomposed  talc.  The  gold  occurs  in  streaks  of 
quartz  bearing  free-gold  and  the  sulphides  of  iron  and  lead.  The 
average  value  of  the  ore  is  about  $10  in  gold  with  3  to  4  ounces  of 
silver  per  ton.1 

The  principal  lead-silver  mines  are  at  Hailey,  Ketchum  and  Belle- 
vue.  At  Hailey  the  ores  oc'cur  in  vertical  or  steeply  inclined  veins 
cutting  slates  and  limestones  which  have  been  tilted  by  intrusions  of 
granite.  The  zone  of  altered  rock  is  from  30  to  40  feet  wide  and 
carries  more  or  less  gold  throughout.2 

The  Seven  Devils  District.  —  This  district  comprises  a  group  of 
peaks  and  spurs  in  northern  Washington  and  southern  Idaho  coun- 
ties. Auriferous  and  argentiferous  copper  ores  occur  here  in  a  con- 
tact between  diorite  and  porphyry.  The  metallic  minerals  occur  in  a 
gangue  of  iron  garnet,  silicates  of  alumina,  iron  and  lime,  and  specular 
iron.  Lenses  of  limestone  occur  in  the  contact- vein,  while  the  ore- 
shoots  are  irregular,  much  broken  and  occasionally  cut  off  by  masses 
of  limestone  and  diorite.  The  ores  are  both  blue  and  green  car- 
bonates of  copper,  bornite  and  chalcopyrite.  The  ore  at  the  Blue 
Jacket  mines  is  largely  bornite;  the  chalcopyrite  ore  has  not  been 
developed  very  extensively  as  yet.  The  bornite  ore  carries  about 
8  ounces  silver  and  $15  in  gold  per  ton.3 

Buffalo  Hump  District.  —  This  region  lies  to  the  west  of  the  Bitter 
Root  Range  and  is  made  up  largely  of  metamorphic  and  igneous 
rocks,  such  as  schists,  gneiss,  coarse-grained  granular  marbles  and 
hornblende.  Stringers  and  irregular  masses  of  epidote,  garnet  and 
iron  occur.  The  ore  is  gold  and  auriferous  sulphides  in  a  gangue  of 
quartz.  There  are  four  principal  veins  cutting  the  country-rocks 
and  dipping  toward  the  east.  The  Big  Buffalo  vein  varies  from  6  to 
30  feet  in  width  carrying  ore  worth  $8.50  per  ton.  The  Mother  lode 
is  22  feet  wide,  15  feet  sampling  $12.60  per  ton.  The  Jumbo  five 
feet  wide  and  carries  $20  ore.  The  gold  is  free-milling.4 

The  Atlantic  lode,  situated  on  Atlantic  Hill  of  the  Sawtooth  Range, 
lias  an  average  width  of  40  feet.  It  is  found  in  Archaean  granite. 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  82,  p.  293. 

2  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  22,  p.  204. 
8  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  83,  p.  4. 

«  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  82,  p.  105. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  233 

The  vein-filling  is  friable,  white,  crystalline  quartz  containing  steph- 
anite,  pyrargyrite,  argentite  and  some  native  silver.  From  one- 
third  to  one-half  the  total  value  is  gold.  The  ore-streak  occupies 
a  space  of  from  one  to  ten  feet  in  the  vein.  The  Buffalo  and  Mon- 
arch mines  are  probably  situated  on  the  same  lode.1 

At  Gibbonsville  gold-bearing  ores  are  found  in  veins  cutting 
siliceous  schists,  with  widths  of  18  inches  to  3  feet.  The  value  of  the 
ore  lies  in  the  sulphides,  although  fully  one-third  is  recovered  by 
amalgamation.  The  pyrite  contains  gold  in  values  from  $30  to  $130 
per  ton.  The  gangue  is  chiefly  quartz  and  schist.  Silver  is  only 
occasionally  found  and  where  it  occurs  with  the  gold  the  value  of  the 
gold  is  low,  ranging  from  $14  to  $18  per  ounce.  Palladium  is  said 
to  be  present.2 

Isthmus  of  Panama.  —  There  are  numerous  gold  mines,  both  gravel 
and  vein  workings,  in  this  territory,  but  comparatively  little  work 
has  been  done  by  way  of  development.  The  gold  mines  near 
Emperador  may  be  chosen  as  a  type.  The  country-rock  is  porphyry 
considerably  decomposed  and  traversed  by  innumerable  veins  of 
ferruginous  quartz,  the  gold  occurring  in  the  thin  seams  and  crevices. 
The  so-called  "  red  ores  "  are  usually  very  rich  and  owe  their  color 
to  large  quantities  of  peroxide  of  iron.  The  veins  of  the  Pacific 
coast  are  generally  characterized  by  containing  a  smaller  per- 
centage of  sulphides. 

The  bulk  of  the  ores  of  the  Emperador  mine  range  from  $5  to  $10 
per  ton,  while  those  on  the  Pacific  side  usually  run  higher,  as  from 
$30  to  $60  in  gold  per  ton.  The  gangue  is  chiefly  porphyry  and 
quartz.3 

Kansas.  —  Aside  from  the  finding  of  gold  in  glacial  drift  and  wash 
from  the  mountains  on  the  west,  but  one  authentic  occurrence  of 
gold  and  silver  in  situ  has  been  reported.  Both  gold  and  silver  have 
been  found  in  small  quantities  in  the  shales  of  the  Benton  group  of 
the  Cretaceous  in  the  western  central  portion  of  the  state,  especially 
in  Gove,  Trego  and  Ellis  counties.4 

Kentucky.  —  Silver  ore  has  at  various  times  been  claimed  to  have 
been  found  in  the  shale  underlying  a  conglomerate  below  the  falls 
of  the  Cumberland  in  Whitley  County.  However,  chemical  analysis 
does  not  corroborate  such  claims.5 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  59,  p.  128. 

Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  19,  p.  277. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  34,  p.  173,  1882,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  6,  p.  377. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  74,  p.  111. 

Report  of  the  Kentucky  Geol.  Survey,  1856,  p.  235. 


234 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


235 


Maine.  —  Gold  is  found  in  quartz- veins  in  mica-schists  at  Bailey- 
ville.  It  is  claimed  that  there  are  other  similar  occurrences  in  the 
state,  but  little  attention  is  paid  to  such  rumors  owing  to  the  small 
amount  of  values  in  the  deposits.  Pyrites  occur  with  the  gold 
especially  in  depth.1 

In  1880  there  were  fully  fifty  incorporated  mining  companies  in 
the  state.  The  chief  centers  of  silver  mining  were  Hancock,  York 
and  Knox  counties.  The  leading  camps  were  the  Sullivan,  Goulds- 
boro,  Cherryfield,  Hampden,  Franklin,  Rockland,  Dexter,  Blue  Hill, 
Acton,  Sedgwick  and  Carmel.2 

To  illustrate  the  extent  of  the  operations  the  following  data  of  the 
Sullivan  district  is  given:3 

THE    SILVER    MINES    OF   THE    SULLIVAN    DISTRICT. 

We  give  below  a  list  of  the  prominent  mines  of  the  Sullivan  district,  Hancock 
County,  upon  which  active  developments  are  now  going  forward: 


Number  of  men 
employed. 

Supt. 

Present  depth 
of  Shaft. 

Capital. 

No.  of 
Shares. 

Franklin  Mining 
Co 

4 

7 
4 

13 

25 

15 

17 
5 
5 

7 
8 

17 
6 

4 
4 

P.  Mullan.. 
F.  W. 
Doughty 
B.  Mullan. 
C.  W.  Kem- 
pton,M.E. 
B.    C.    Til- 
den  .... 

22  feet 

95  feet 
16  feet 

27  feet 

150  feet 
100  feet 

(No.  1,25ft) 
(No.  2,  16ft) 
22  feet 
45  feet 
62  feet 
36  feet 

15  feet 
28  feet 

10  feet 
20  feet 

$400,000 

400,000 
400,000 

500,000 

500,000 
Unorg 
500,000 

Unorj 
400,000 

40,000 

40,000 
40,000 

50,000 

50,000 
anized 
50,000 

;anized 
« 

40,000 

Hancock   Mining 
Co.   (a)    
Grant 

Waukeag    S.    M. 
Co.  (b) 

Sullivan  S.  M.  Co. 
(c)             

Pine  Tree  S.M.  Co. 
Milton  M.  &  M.  Co. 
(d)  
Clapham  Shaft  .... 
Millbrook  "     (e) 
Ashley  S.M.  Co.... 
Tugwassa  Shaft  .  .  . 
Gouldsboro'  S.  M. 
Co  (f)  
Home  S.  M.  Co.  (g) 
H.  M.    Sowle    and 
J.  H.  West  
Eureka  Mine  (h)  .  . 

J.  Cameron 
J.    Shoen- 
bar  

W.  Home.. 
A.  Wilson  . 

400,000 
Unorg. 

Unorg, 

40,000 
mized 

mized 

(a)  Ore  brittle  silver  in  quartz,  (b)  This  company  will  put  in  steam- 
power  immediately;  vein  well  denned  and  promising,  (c)  Shaft  104  feet 
down;  130  tons  of  ore  on  the  dump;  steam-machinery  end  pump,  (d)  This 
company  has  a  5-stamp  mill  and  steam  hoisting  machinery,  (e)  The  vein 
is  well  defined,  and  carries  gold,  (f)  This  company  has  100  tons  of  smelting 
ore  out,  one-half  of  which  is  high -grade;  preparing  for  steam  power,  (g)  This 
company  has  100  tons  of  ore  out,  ready  for  concentration,  (h)  This  ore  shows 
silver. 

«  U.  S.  G.  S.,  16  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  328. 

3  Special  Correspondence  to  the  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  1880. 

3  Ibid.,  Aug.  9,  1879. 


236  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  Mount  Glines  mine,  Oxford  County,  gave,  as  reported  by  assay, 
$7.50  to  $49.68  gold.  However,  the  officials  of  the  United  States 
Geological  Survey  were  not  able  to  obtain  any  trace  of  gold  (see 
Bull.  225,  1904).  (For  analysis  see  Recent  History,  Maine. ) 

The  country-rock  is  largely  granite,  the  gangue  mineral  is  quartz 
while  the  metalliferous  minerals  constituting  the  ore  are  sulphides 
of  iron  and  lead.  In  1879  the  Canna  silver  mine  is  said  to  have 
yielded  ore  worth  $9  in  gold;  37  ounces  in  silver,  with  varying  amounts 
of  copper  and  lead.  The  Home  mine  on  an  18-inch  vein  yielded, 
as  reported,  $22  silver  and  20  per  cent  lead.  It  was  further  claimed 
that  there  were  1000  tons  of  $50  ore  on  the  dump.  Other  more  or 
less  important  mines  considered  from  the  standpoint  of  the  district 
were:  the  Golden  Circle,  the  Fort  Knox,  Gouldsboro,  etc. 

The  minerals  usually  found  are  galena,  gray  copper,  antimonial 
silver,  pyrite,  chalcopyrite,  stephanite  and  arsenical  pyrite,  which  are 
found  in  quartz- veins,  also  veins  of  pegmatyte,  and  in  contact  deposits 
between  limestone  and  trap  dikes.1 

Maryland.  —  Gold  occurs  in  veins  of  quartz  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Potomac  River  in  Montgomery  County.  Assays  of  specimens 
from  this  locality  are  said  to  have  shown  values  ranging  from  $168 
to  $787  per  ton. 

The  country-rock  is  fine-grained  micaceous  schists,  probably  more 
massive  than  schistose  in  structure.  Some  of  the  quartz-filling 
of  the  veins  shows  free-gold,  but  the  greater  part  does  not.  Epidote 
and  chlorite  are  found  associated  with  the  schists  as  basic  silicates. 
Some  pyrite  is  found  in  the  oxidized  zone,  below  which  the  sulphides 
occur  as  in  the  mines  of  the  Southern  states.  It  is  evident  from  the 
work  done  that  the  quartz-veins  are  very  irregular  in  both  vertical 
and  horizontal  directions.2 

Massachusetts.  —  The  mines  at  Newburyport  are  spoken  of  as  sil- 
ver mines,  although  considerable  quantities  of  gold  are  found  in  the 
ores.  The  ore-bodies  are  found  in  veins  which  vary  in  width  from 
three  to  six  feet,  although  the  mineral  does  not  occupy  more  than 
15  inches  in  width  across  the  vein.  The  minerals  are  galena,  gray 
copper,  siderite  and  quartz.  An  assay  made  on  a  sample  taken  from 
borings  across  the*vein  showed  a  gross  value  of  $154.14  per  ton,  of 
which  $69.84  was  lead,  $72.87  silver  and  $11.43  gold,3 

Besides  the  Newburyport  mines  the  following  were  among  the 

1  Special  Correspondence  to  the  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour,  during  the  Eighties. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  18,  p.  391,  etc. 

3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  3,  p.  442. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  237 

more  important:  the  Northampton,  Merrimac,  Four  'Rock,  Cedar, 
Bartlett,  Gorges  and  Davis,  most  of  which  yielded  ore,  largely 
argentiferous  galena.  Probably  the  most  important  of  these  mines 
was  the  Merrimac,  which  in  a  report  by  F.  L.  Vinton  was  accredited 
with  40,000  tons  of  ore  of  a  value  of  $94  per  ton.  The  Davis  mine 
at  Charlemont  produced  ore  which  sold  at  the  mine  for  $4  and  at 
tide  water  for  $5  per  ton.1 

At  the  Merrimac  mine  the  following  conditions  obtain:  The 
country-rock  is  granite  grading  into  gneiss  and  quartzite.  The 
width  of  the  lode  is  approximately  200  feet,  consisting  of  trap, 
with  masses  of  quartz  and  stringers  of  calcareous  clay.  'The  min- 
erals are  argentiferous  galena  and  tetrahedrite;  the  gangue  is  quartz, 
fluor-spar,  pyrite,  blende  and  chalcopyrite.  The  ore  occurs  in  a 
more  or  less  vertical  position  resembling  a  chimney  of  ore.2 

Michigan.  —  The  presence  of  native  silver  associated  with  the 
copper  of  the  Lake  Superior  Copper  region  has  been  known  from  the 
earliest  times.  Only  a  comparatively  few  of  the  copper  mines  of  this 
region  show  no  silver,  while  the  majority  yield  varying  amounts, 
some  in  quantities  to  warrant  its  separation  from  the  copper,  which 
is  seldom  or  never  attempted  at  the  present  time. 

The  belt  of  trap  of  the  extreme  northern  portion  of  Keweenaw 
Point  is  composed  of  a  variety  of  igneous  rocks  known  as  amygda- 
loid and  granular  trap.  The  amygdaloid  is  full  of  vasicles  which  in 
turn  are  filled  with  carbonate  of  lime,  chlorite,  agates,  carnelians 
and  amethysts,  also  minerals  of  the  zeolite  family.  With  depth  the 
vesicular  structure  disappears  and  the  rock  becomes  a  dark  brown 
granular  trap. 

The  belt  is  traversed  by  veins  containing  native  copper  and  silver. 
Mining  has  not,  however,  proven  very  successful,  the  more  important 
attempts  having  been  made  at  Eagle  Harbor  and  Hawe's  Island. 

At  the  Cliff  mine  the  gangue  at  the  outcrop  was  prehnite  with 
copper  and  silver  associated,  all  incrusted  with  beautiful  crystals 
of  red  oxide.  Above,  the  width  of  vein  was  scarcely  over  two  inches, 
but  with  depth  a  width  of  several  feet  is  attained,  the  veinstone  con- 
sisting of  reticulations  of  laumonite. 

The  silver  and  copper  are  not  alloyed  as  would  be  the  case 
had  they  been  in  a  state  of  fusion.  Silver  and  copper  often  occur 
intermixed  but  in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  entirely  free  from  alloy 

1  Special  Correspondence  to  the  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour,  and  Geol.  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, Hitchcock,  Vol.  3,  Pt.  5,  p.  35. 

2  Report  on  the  Merrimac  mine  by  F.  L.  Vinton. 


238  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

one  with  the  other,  although  intimately  joined.  The  native  silver 
occurrence  is  in  connection  with  a  soft,  greenish,  magnesian  mineral, 
also  with  calcite  and  prehnite,  and  seldom  if  ever  distinctly  crystal- 
lized as  is  the  copper.1 

Silver  occurs  on  the  Iron  River  not  far  from  Ontonagon  in  a 
stratum  of  gray  sub-crystalline  quartz  lying  between  a  fine-grained 
black  slate  roof  and  a  red  sandstone  floor,  the  latter  of  Potsdam  age. 
The  silver  is  in  the  native  state.  Considerable  money  was  squan- 
dered in  an  attempt  to  develop  the  mines  at  this  place.2 

The  occurrence  of  gold-bearing  veins  near  Ishpeming  were  dis- 
covered in  developing  argentiferous  galena  deposits.  The  gold  occurs 
in  a  series  of  gash- veins  in  which  are  lenses  of  quartz.  The  country- 
rock  is  serpentine-dolomite  which  has  been  considerably  cut  by 
dikes  and  intrusions  of  diorite.  The  quartz-bodies  are  small  but 
very  compact.  Pyrite,  galena,  blende,  chalcopyrite  and  black  anti- 
monial  silver  are  found  in  small  quantities  in  the  quartz  gangue. 
Free-gold  is  visible  in  the  ore  of  the  Beaver  mine.  The  vein  of  this 
mine  has  a  granite  hanging-wall  and  a  talcoid-slate  foot-wall,  the 
granite  reoccurring  again  beneath  the  slate.  The  Beaver  ore  is  said 
to  have  assayed  $502  per  ton  of  which  $12  was  silver. 

According  to  W.  C.  Hall 4  the  gold  deposits  lie  between  greenstone 
on  the  north  and  serpentine  on  the  south,  and  that  an  average  of 
eleven  assays  gave  $20.80  in  gold  and  $9.50  in  silver  per  ton. 

Other  deposits  occur  in  granite  in  the  form  of  quartz  stringers; 
in  diorite  cut  by  a  segregated  vein  of  quartz;  in  felsite  with  a  vein 
composed  of  layers  of  country-rock  enclosed  and  of  a  merolitic 
structure  formed  by  dolomite,  chlorite  and  quartz ;  in  a  vein  in  diorite 
cut  by  felsite  dikes;  and  in  quartz- veins  with  diorite  and  serpentine 
as  country-rocks.5 

Minnesota.  —  Gold  occurs  in  Benton  County  in  narrow  quartz- veins 
in  eruptive  granite  and  as  a  contact- vein  between  the  granite  and 
basic  crystalline  rock.  The  Delhi  mine  in  Redwood  County  is 
situated  on  quartz-veins  and  segregations  in  Archaean  gneissic  and 
gabbroid  rock.  Quartz-veins  are  found  in  Archaean  garnetiferous 

1  Foster  and  Whitney's  Report,  1850,  pp.  60,  128  and  178. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  20,  p.  575. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  46,  p.  238,  and  Vol.  52,  p.  119. 

4  Lake  Superior  Inst.  Min.  Engrs.,  Vol.  5,  p.  53,  and  Ann.  Rept.  Comr.  Mineral 
Statistics,  1883,  pp.  98-99. 

5  Lake  Superior  Inst.  Min.  Engrs.,  Vol.  5,  p.  54,  and  a  sketch  of  the  iron,  gold 
and  copper  districts  of  Michigan,  M.  E.  Wadsworth,  Rept.  State  Board  of  Geol» 
Survey  for  the  years  of  1891  and  1892,  Lansing  1893,  Exhibit  K.,  pp.  152-155. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD   AND  SILVER.  239 

gabbro,  but  show  hardly  more  than  a  trace  of  gold.  The  quartz- 
veins  existing  in  a  belt  of  hornblende-biotite  schists  and  slates,  extend 
southwestward  from  Thomson  and  Carlton  to  and  beyond  Little 
Falls  and  yield  traces  of  gold,  but  not  in  paying  quantities,  judging 
from  present  developments.1 

The  Rainy  Lake  region  seems  to  be  the  most  promising  portion  of 
the  state  for  the  occurrence  of  gold  in  paying  quantities.  The 
country-rocks  are  granites,  granitoid-gneiss,  mica-schists,  conglom- 
erates and  graywackes.  Diabase  dikes  cut  the  other  formations  in 
various  directions.  The  region  has  been  thoroughly  metamorphosed. 
Quartz-veins  are  numerous  and  their  parallelism  is  quite  marked. 
The  veins  are  bedded  rather  than  fissures.  When  trap  comes  in  over 
the  schist  the  veins  also  disappear,  showing  that  they  are  of  earlier 
date  than  the  overflow  of  trap.  The  quartz- veins  are  usually  heavily 
mineralized  with  iron  sulphide,  chiefly  marcasite.  Only  a  com- 
paratively few  of  the  veins  are  gold-bearing.  The  Little  American 
was  in  1893  one  of  the  most  important  properties.2  Some  veins  in  the 
district  are  as  much  as  five  feet  wide.  Fissure- veins  are  not  common. 

Missouri.  —  According  to  Waldemar  Lindgren  the  lead  ores  from 
the  southeastern  part  of  the  state  contain  from  1  ounce  to  If  ounces 
of  silver  per  ton.3  The  lead-zinc  ores  of  the  Joplin  district  are  also 
reported  as  carrying  traces  of  silver. 

Montana.  —  There  is  a  marked  similarity  between  the  gold- 
deposits  of  Montana  and  those  of  the  Pacific  coast  in  that  there  are 
extensive  placers  and  small  low-grade  gold-quartz  veins.  The 
veins  usually  occur  in  Archaean  terranes  or  intrusions  of  granite. 
The  veins  occurring  in  the  granite  of  the  Butte  district  have  produced 
considerable  gold  and  silver. 

In  the  Judith  Mountains  gold-bearing  replacement  deposits  in 
limestone  and  porphyry  occur  and  seem  to  be  somewhat  propylitic  in 
character.4  The  gold  and  silver  deposits  of  Montana  occur  in  veins 
and  impregnations  in  both  sedimentary  and  eruptive  rocks.  They 
are  found  free,  as  tellurides,  and  associated  with  sulphides,  the  last 
usually  occurring  at  some  depth.  The  more  common  minerals  are 

1  Lake  Superior  Inst.  Min.  Engrs,  Vol.  5,  pp.  55  and  56. 

2  Lake  Superior  Inst.  Min.  Engrs.,  Vol.  5,  p.  56,  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  58, 
pp.  509  and  581,  and  Preliminary  Report  on  the  Rainy  Lake  Gold  Region  by 
H.  V.  Winchell  and  U.  S.  Grant,  23  Ann.  Rept.  Geol.  and  Nat.  Hist.  Survey, 
Minn.,  1895,  pp.  36-105. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  117. 

4  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  826  and  827,  1903. 


240  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

galena,  bornite,  tetrahedrite,  pyrite,  blende,  chalcocite,  chalcopyrite, 
enargite  and  the  sulphantimonides  of  silver. 

Butte  District.  —  The  valuable  ores  are  found  almost  exclusively 
in  the  older  rocks,  such  as  granite  and  aplite  or  quartz-porphyry. 
The  silver  ores  occur  in  granite  and  the  very  acid  porphyry,  while  the 
copper  ores  are  found  only  in  the  very  basic  granite.  The  quartz- 
porphyry  is  found  locally  in  the  dikes  of  the  copper  area.  Gold 
occurs  in  both  the  silver  and  copper  deposits  but  more  especially  the 
silver;  however,  the  copper  deposits  always  carry  some  gold.  In  the 
western  portion  of  the  district  the  copper  values  decrease,  while  the 
gold  and  silver  values  increase,  rendering  them  more  valuable  as  pro- 
ducers of  gold  and  silver  than  of  copper. 

The  silver  deposits  have  been  developed  north  of  the  west  end  of 
the  copper  region,  especially  in  the  Moulton,  Alice  and  Lexington 
mines.  Rich  silver  ores  have  been  obtained  from  the  east  bank  of 
Missoula  Gulch  in  an  area  lying  between  two  copper-bearing  belts. 
Gold  was  an  important  constituent  of  the  ores  of  the  Missoula  mines 
and  was  probably  the  source  of  the  placer  gold  found  there,  but  as  a 
usual  thing  its  occurrence  in  the  silver  ores  is  so  sflght  in  amount  that 
it  is  not  determined  in  commercial  assays. 

The  usual  proportion  of  gold  to  silver  in  the  silver  ores  is  by  weight 
1  to  40  as  shown  by  mill  tests  of  ore,  while  in  the  copper  bullion  ob- 
tained from  the  copper  ores  the  value  of  gold  is  about  3  per  cent,  the 
average  proportion  of  gold  to  silver  by  weight  being  1  to  2  hun- 
dredths  to  1  to  3  hundredths.  In  the  copper  area  the  ores  are  too 
quartzose  and  poor  in  silver  to  warrant  working  them  for  silver  and 
gold.1 

The  principal  minerals  occurring  in  this  silver  district  are  pyrite, 
chalcopyrite,  bornite,  chalcocite,  enargite,  blende,  rhodochrosite, 
rhodonite,  besides  these  there  are  covellite,  argentite,  pyrargyrite, 
hubnerite;  gypsum,  sericite  and  native  silver.  The  oxidized  ores 
contain  cuprite,  melaconite,  chrysocolla,  malachite,  azurite,  chalcan- 
thite,  goslarite,  pyrolusite  and  native  copper.2 

The  Judith  Mountain  District.  —  The  rich  gold  ores  are  found  in 
limestone  near  porphyry  contacts  and  occur  in  masses  instead  of 
veins  and  shoots.  The  ore-deposits  connected  with  the  igneous 
intrusions  may  be  grouped  as  follows:  first,  occurring  in  fissures  in 
masses  of  porphyry;  second,  along  the  contacts  of  phonolite  dikes; 

1  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  20,  pp.  348,  350,  and  Eng.  and  Min  Jour.,  Vol  39, 
p.  261. 

3  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  20,  p.  350. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  241 

and  third,  in  the  limestone  at  the  contact  with  sheets  of  porphyry. 
The  characteristic  ore  is  a  crushed  and  decomposed  limestone  con- 
taining angular  masses  of  purple  fluorite  and  quartz  intimately  inter- 
mixed; however,  in  some  of  the  mines  the  fluorite  and  quartz  are 
wanting.  Gold  occurs  in  all  ores  but  especially  in  the  quartz  and 
fluorite.  The  richest  ores  carry  gold  in  particles  and  cuboidal  masses 
often  of  a  platy,  open  texture,  or  spongy;  occasionally  a  size  of  one- 
twelfth  of  an  inch  thick  and  one-eighth  wide  is  found.  The  gold 
is  usually  more  or  less  colored  being  covered  by  a  film  of  oxide  of  iron 
and  other  material.  Tellurides  also  occur  and  it  is  probably  that 
they  are  the  source  of  the  free-gold.  Calaverite  is  probably  the 
telluride  mineral.  Pyrite  in  the  unaltered  form  is  rare  in  the  gold 
ores.  Silver  is  found  in  small  quantities.1 

The  Judith  Basin  District.  —  This  district  is  surrounded  by  various 
mountains,  as  the  Snowy  Range  on  the  south,  the  Belt  Mountains  on 
the  west,  and  the  Judith  and  Moccasin  on  the  east  and  north.  The 
Kendall  and  Barnes-King  mines  are  in  this  district,  but  lie  in  the 
North  Moccasin  Range.  At  the  Kendall  mine  is  a  vein  which  strikes 
northeast  and  southwest  along  a  foot-wall  of  limestone  and  a  hang- 
ing-wall of  shale  and  sandstone.  The  vein  is  cut  by  a  dike  of  porphyry, 
the  richest  ore  occurring  at  the  contact  of  the  walls  with  the  porphyry. 
The  ore  is  quartz-porphyry  bearing  values  in  gold  and  silver,  espe- 
cially the  former.  The  Barnes-King  mine  occurs  wholly  within  the 
limestone,  the  ore  being  composed  of  altered  limestone  and  sand- 
stone, and  carries  gold  and  silver  to  the  value  of  $9  per  ton.2 

The  Marysville  District.  —  This  is  the  most  important  district  in 
the  state  as  a  precious  metal  producer.  The  district  is  situated  some 
18  miles  from  Helena  in  a  northeasterly  direction.  The  development 
of  the  veins  followed  the  exhaustion  of  the  placers.  The  richness  of 
the  ore-shoots  has  made  the  district  famous,  although  they  have  not 
been  conducive  to  permanent  and  extensive  developments,  as  the 
mines  are  usually  abandoned  following  the  exhaustion  of  the  shoots. 
The  Drumlummon  mine  is  one  of  the  most  famous  and  has  produced 
more  gold  than  any  other  mine  in  the  state,  following  which  is  the 
Bald  Butte. 

The  country-rock  is  granite  surrounded  by  slates  and  thin-bedded 
argillaceous  sandstones.  The  granite  is  technically  known  as  a 
quartz-diorite  which  has  been  intruded  into  the  sandstones  and 
slates.  Near  the  contact  with  the  granite  the  surrounding  rocks 

»  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  pp.  589,  592. 
1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  78,  p.  96. 


242  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

have  been  altered  to  hard  and  dense  hornstone,  while  at  a  greater 
distance  they  have  a  slaty  fracture.  Dikes  of  acidic  porphyry  and 
trap  rocks  traverse  both  the  granite  and  sedimentary  rocks,  occurring 
in  the  greatest  number  near  Bald  Butte. 

There  are  three  vein  systems,  namely :  the  Northeast,  cutting  both 
the  granite  and  sedimentary  rocks;  the  North-south  parallel  with  the 
granite  contact;  and  the  Northwest,  in  the  granite.  The  North 
Star  vein  is  in  the  first,  the  Drumlummon  vein  in  the  second  and  .the 
third  has  produced  no  ore-deposits  of  importance. 

The  ore  occurs  in  fissure-veins  with  quartz-filling  containing  frag- 
ments of  the  country-rock.  The  ore  consists  of  sulphides  and  sul- 
phantimonides  of  silver  with  a  gold-content  aggregating  60  per  cent 
of  the  total  value.  The  oxidized  ores  are  often  very  rich,  while  the 
ore-shoots  of  the  Drumlummon  mine  run  high  in  values.  In  this 
mine  the  fragments  of  wall-rock  have  been  completely  replaced  by 
quartz,  while  in  the  Bald  Butte  mine  there  has  been  but  little  replace- 
ment.1 

Ore-Deposits  of  the  Bitterroot  Range  and  Clearwater  Mountains.  — 
The  country-formations  are  gneiss,  granite,  quartzites,  slates  and 
limestones.  The  granite  is  intrusive  in  the  gneiss  in  the  Clearwater 
Mountains,  in  the  quartzites  and  slates  in  the  Bitterroot  Mountains, 
and  in  the  slates  and  limestones  along  the  western  foot  of  the  Clear- 
water  Mountains. 

The  valuable  deposits  occur  in  fissure- veins  carrying  gold,  and  in  a 
few  isolated  places  deposits  of  lead  and  copper  occur,  being  usually 
argentiferous.2 

The  Eikhorn  District.  —  The  ore-bodies  do  not  occur  in  veins, 
although  commonly  spoken  of  as  such,  but  lie  along  a  bedding  plane 
between  hornstone  (indurated  shale)  and  dolomitic  marble.  Only 
the  steeply  inclined  portions  of  the  contact  are  mineralized.  The 
ore-bodies  are  irregular  although  more  or  less  lenticular  in  form  being 
situated  near  or  against  the  hanging-wall  as  separate  masses  or 
"  chambers  "  of  ore. 

The  principal  minerals  are  galena,  bournonite,  tetrahedrite,  pyrite 
and  blende,  with  indeterminable  rich  silver  sulphides.  The  oxidized 
ores  contain  native  silver,  eerussite,  calamine,  some  minium,  mala- 
chite, limonite,  hornsilver,  etc.  The  gangue  is  composed  of  quartz, 
dolomite,  calcite,  garnet,  pyroxene  and  fragments  of  the  country- roc k.a 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  213,  pp.  66,  89,  1902. 

2  Ibid.,  Bull.  213,  pp.  67,  68,  1902. 

8  U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  2,  pp.  459,  470>  1901. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  243 

Black  Pine.  Granite  County.  —  The  Granite  Mountain  lode  is  a 
blanket- vein  lying  between  hard  quart zite  walls.  The  vein  has  a 
quartz-filling  with  an  average  width  of  three  to  fivfe  feet,  in  which 
the  ore  occurs  in  irregular  seams  and  patches.  The  minerals  are 
malachite  and  tetrahedrite  carrying  silver,  the  average  of  the  milling 
ore  being  about  25  ounces  of  silver  to  the  ton.1 

The  Ammon  mines,  Fergus  County,  are  located  on  a  ledge  of  por- 
phyry intruded  into  a  shaly  limestone  and  clay-band  between  walls 
of  solid  limestone.  The  intrusion  has  disturbed  to  some  extent  the 
limestone  walls  or  ledges,  forcing  them  forward  into  the  vein  in 
places  where  they  are  surrounded  by  ore,  thus  giving  the  limestone 
the  appearance  of  "  horses  "  in  the  vein.  When  no  dislocation  has 
taken  place  a  thin  but  regular  and  laminated  limestone  lies  next 
under  the  porphyry  which  often  constitutes  a  good  ore,  ranging  in 
value  from  $16  to  $40  per  ton.  The  gold  occurs  in  the  joints  of  the 
limestone  which  usually  has  a  thickness  of  18  to  24  inches.2 

The  Big  Indian  mine  is  situated  about  four  and  one-half  miles 
southeast  of  Helena,  on  an  ore  zone  traversing  a  granite  country,  but 
near  or  on  the  contact  between  granite  and  limestone.  The  ore  is 
free-gold  occurring  in  quartz  and  granitic  material  and  associated 
with  hornblende.  The  ore-body  is  really  a  bedded-deposit  and  not 
a  vein,  the  ore  being  extracted  largely  by  quarrying  methods.  The 
ores  range  in  value  from  $2  to  $2.50  per  ton.3 

In  the  northwestern  part  of  the  state,  in  the  Fisher  district,  aurif- 
erous pyrites  carry  the  values  —  pyrite  and  galena  are  the  principal 
minerals.  However,  considerable  of  the  gold-content  is  free-gold  and 
can  be  treated  by  the  free-milling  process.  The  gangue  is  mainly 
white  and  decomposed  quartz  in  which  coarse  flakes  and  particles 
of  gold  are  visible.4 

Although  some  of  the  free-milling  ore-deposits  have  been  practi- 
cally exhausted,  yet  there  will  probably  be  a  sufficient  number  of 
new  discoveries  and  developments  to  keep  up  the  supply  of  the 
precious  metals  from  this  source.  With  regard  to  the  Butte  district 
the  output  of  the  smelting  ores  will  of  necessity  vary  "with  the  rise 
and  fall  in  price  of  copper  and  silver  and  thus  affect  the  production  of 
gold  depending  upon  them. 

Nevada.  —  There  are  numerous  forms  of  mineral  deposits  and  a 

1  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  26,  p.  492. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  59,  p.  416. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  78,  225. 

4  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  83,  p.  78. 


244  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

great  variety  of  ores  found  in  the  state.  Gold-quartz  mines  similar 
to  those  in  California,  although  not  common,  are  represented  by  the 
Silver  Peak  mines  of  Esmeralda  County  and  others. 

Gold-bearing  argentiferous  lead  deposits  with  other  smelting- 
ores  occur  in  limestone  near  intrusions  of  igneous  rock.  The  Eureka 
mine  belongs  to  this  class  and  yields  considerable  gold  —  one-third 
of  the  total  value  of  the  ore  being  in  gold. 

But  by  far  the  most  important  deposits  are  the  veins  in  recent 
volcanic  rocks  or  the  propylitic  deposits.  The  most  important 
mines  of  this  class  are  the  Comstock  lode,  the  Tuscarora  and  the 
De  Lamar,  all  of  which  yield  both  gold  and  silver.1 

This  state  is  important  when  considered  from  the  standpoint  of 
precious  metal  production,  as  it  is  not  only  one  of  the  first  of  the 
Western  States  to  become  actively  engaged  in  mining  but  more 
especially  since  it  contains  the  famous  Comstock  lode,  without  the 
stimulating  influence  of  which  the  mining  industry  of  the  United 
States  would  be  far  behind  what  it  is  at  present. 

Gold  and  silver  occur  in  veins,  both  contact  and  fissure,  and  in 
sedimentary  and  igneous  rocks.  The  principal  minerals  associated 
with  gold  and  silver  are  galena,  blende,  bornite,  chalcopyrite, 
pyrite,  tetrahedrite,  chalcocite,  stephanite,  sulphides  and  chlorides 
of  silver  and  antimony  minerals,  while  in  the  oxidized  ores  are 
oxides,  carbonates  and  phosphates  of  lead,  carbonates  of  copper 
and  iron,  chloride  of  silver  and  native  silver,  free-gold  and  prob- 
ably the  tellurides  of  both  gold  and  silver,  etc.  The  usual  gangue 
minerals  are  quartz,  porphyry,  hydrous  oxides  of  iron  and  man- 
ganese, etc. 

The  Comstock  Lode.  —  This  famous  lode  is  situated  in  Storey 
County  and  extends  along  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Washoe  Mountains 
at  the  foot  of  Mount  Davidson.  The  outcrop  consists  of  parallel 
quartz  ledges  running  east  and  west  and  often  having  an  extent  of 
1000  feet  or  more.  The  length  of  the  lode  is  probably  about  three 
and  one-half  miles,  being  composed  of  bonanzas  or  ore-bodies  and 
great  areas  of  barren  ground.  Its  strike  is  approximately  north  and 
south. 

The  entire  east  wall  of  the  lode  is  propylite  or  porphyry,  while  on 
the  west  the  wall  varies  considerably  in  character:  on  the  slopes  of 
Mount  Davidson  and  Mount  Butler  it  is  syenite,  north  of  this  both 
walls  are  propylite,  while  in  southern  Gold  Hill  the  west  wall  is  com- 
posed of  various  metamorphic  rocks.  A  well  defined  clay-selvage 
1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  829  and  830,  1903. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  245 

separates  the  west  wall  from  the  country-rock.  The  west  wall  has  a 
fairly  uniform  dip  of  38  to  40  degrees  to  the  east  which  increases 
gradually  to  45  degrees,  continuing  so  to  considerable  depths. 
The  east  wall  first  dips  to  the  west  but  gradually  assuming  verti- 
cality  and  at  a  depth  of  400  to  500  feet  reverses  and  follows  the 
direction  of  the  foot-wall,  maintaining  a  fairly  uniform  width  of 
vein. 

At  the  surface  the  width  of  the  lode  varies  from  500  to  1000  feet, 
but  owing  to  the  convergence  of  the  walls  this  is  reduced  to  a  width 
of  150  feet  in  a  few  hundred  feet,  vertical  distance.  However,  the 
width  is  quite  irregular  owing  to  the  hanging-wall  which  is  full  of 
sinuosities,  rolling  and  pinching  both  in  horizontal  and  vertical 
directions  —  the  depressions  and  expansions  conform  remarkably 
well  with  the  streams  and  spurs  of  the  mountains. 

The  lode  is  filled  with  great  masses,  "  horses,"  of  country-rock, 
surrounding  which  is  a  selvage  of  clay,  the  whole  being  enclosed  in  a 
brecciated  mass  of  porphyry,  quartz  and  clay.  The  aggregate  thick- 
ness of  the  quartz-seams  at  the  surface  is  often  not  more  than  five- 
sixths  of  the  total  width  of  the  lode,  yet  there  are  places  where  fully 
150  feet  of  quartz  occurs  without  interruption.  Probably  two-thirds 
of  the  lode-filling  is  barren  country-rock.  It  would  seem  to  be  not 
improbable  that  the  lode  was  formed  not  by  one  but  a  series  of  practi- 
cally parallel  fissures. 

The  ore-bodies  or  bonanzas  lie  mainly  within  the  swells  of  the  vein 
with  their  upper  extensions  adjacent  to  the  eastern  wall  and  their 
lower  extensions  near  the  foot- wall  on  the  west.  They  are  then  of 
necessity  practically  vertical  in  their  longer  dimensions,  except  as 
they  may  pitch  in  the  plane  of  the  vein.  Space  is  thus  left  between 
the  ore-bodies  and  the  east  wall  for  the  formation  of  still  others. 
However,  all  of  the  bonanzas  do  not  conform  to  this  general  arrange- 
ment, but  dip  at  various  angles  toward  one  wall  or  the  other, 
or  may  run  parallel  with  one  of  the  walls  and  pitch  at  varying 
angles. 

The  bonanza  in  the  Ophir-Mexican  mines  was  330  feet  in  depth, 
200  feet  long  and  45  feet  thick,  tapering  both  above  and  below  to 
two  or  three  feet.  The  Gould  and  Curry  bonanza  was  500  feet  in 
depth,  nearly  650  feet  long  and  100  feet  wide  at  the  widest  point. 
The  Savage  and  Hale  and  Norcross  bonanza  was  250  feet  deep  and 
followed  the  east  wall  with  remarkable  uniformity,  having  a  width 
of  10  to  50  feet.  Its  total  length  was  over  800  feet.  A  lenticular 
mass  of  red  ore  was  found  in  the  Chollar  mine  which  was  200  feet 


246  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

long,  300  deep  and  25  wide.1  The  largest  single  bonanza  in  the 
whole  lode  was  fonnd  at  Gold  Hill.  Its  horizontal  dimension  was 
1,100  feet  and  reached  from  the  surface  to  the  700-foot  level.2 

The  minerals  of  value  are:  native  gold,  native  silver,  argentite, 
polybasite  (silver  glance)  and  stephanite.  Occasionally  rich  galena 
and  pyrargyrite  are  encountered.  Besides  these  pyrite,  chalcopyrite, 
oxide  of  iron,  manganese,  sulphates  of  lime  and  magnesia,  and  car- 
bonates of  magnesia,  lime,  lead  and  copper.  The  zone  of  oxidation 
is  confined  to  the  upper  500  feet  of  the  lode,  when  pyrite  and  all  of 
the  carbonates  of  lead  and  manganese  are  changed  to  oxides  which 
account  for  the  prevailing  reddish  color  of  the  ore.3  The  gangue  is 
chiefly  quartz,  which,  with  the  exception  of  small  quantities  of  silver 
minerals  occurring  in  the  clays,  carries  all  of  the  silver  values.  From 
the  position  of  the  clays  and  their  relation  to  the  quartz,  the  walls 
and  the  horses,  they  were  evidently  formed  subsequent  to  the  quartz. 
The  ore  itself  is  composed  of  native  gold  and  silver,  silver  glance, 
stephanite,  polybasite,  galena,  some  pyrargyrite,  hornsilver  and 
rarely  sternbergite,  with  which  are  associated  pyrite,  chalcopyrite 
and  blende.4 

After  the  rich  surface  ores  were  extracted  the  yield  rarely  exceeded 
$50  per  ton  and  $15  is  probably  nearer  an  average.  Twelve  of  the 
principal  mines  in  1872  produced  $13,569,724  and  the  average  value 
of  the  ores  that  yielded  $12,000,000  of  this  was  $19.60  per  ton.  The 
Utah  mine  produced  ore  worth  $3  to  $12  per  ton,  value  principally 
in  gold;  the  Sierra  Nevada  ore  averaged  $5.50  per  ton.  The  Virginia 
Consolidated  and  California  mines  in  1875  produced  ore  worth  $150 
as  an  average,  although  picked  ore  ran  from  $300  to  $500  per  ton. 
The  Savage  ore  ranged  from  $1  to  $20  per  ton,  while  in  1874  the  Hale 
and  Norcross  ore  yielded  from  $14  to  $17  per  ton  and  the  Bullion  $10 
to  $15.  The  Belcher  ore  ran  from  $25  to  $35  per  ton. 

The  ratio  of  gold  to  silver  was  about  one-third  to  two-thirds, 
although  the  deepest  ore-body  in  the  Chollar  carried  three-fifths  gold 
to  two-fifths  silver.5  A  native  alloy  of  gold  and  silver  occurs  quite 

1  Mineral  Resources  of  the  United  States,  J.  Ross  Browne,  1868,  pp.  341, 342,343. 

2  Mineral  Resources  of  the  United  States,  J.  Ross  Browne,  1868,  p.  343  and 
The  Comstock  Lode,  its  Formation  and  History,  J.  A.  Church,  1879,  pp.  100  and 
101,  and  Min.  and  Sci.  Press.,  Vol.  33,  p.  418. 

3  Mining  Industry,  Rept.  Geol.  Exploration  Fortieth  Parallel,  Clarence  King, 
p.  75,  1870. 

4  Mineral  Resources  of  the  United  States,  J.  Ross  Browne,  1868,  p.  343,  and 
Mining  Industry,  Clarence  King,  1870,  p.  79. 

6  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  18,  p.  404. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


247 


generally  in  the  ores  of  the  Comstock  lode  which  contains  55.37  per 
cent  gold,  42.87  per  cent  silver,  and  the  remainder  some  unknown 
substance,  which  is  commonly  known  as  electrum.1 


Death  Valley  and  Adjacent  Mining  Districts. 
(From  Mining  and  Scientific  Press.) 

Eureka  District.  —  This  district  is  situated  in  Eureka  County,  on 
the  western  side  of  the  Diamond  Range  and  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  state.  The  principal  ore-deposits  are  found  in  the  Prospect 
Mountain  and  Hamburg  limestones.  The  massive  rocks  found 
in  the  metalliferous  zone  are:  granites,  quartz-porphyry,  rhyolite, 
hornblende-andesite  and  basalt.  The  limestones  with  accompanying 
strata  of  shale  have  suffered  extensive  folding,  which  produced  many 
fissures  in  the  hard  and  compact  limestone.  In  places  the  pressure 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  28,  p.  232. 


248  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

was  so  great  as  to  reduce  much  of  the  limestone  to  a  fine  state  of 
subdivision.  Subsequent  to  the  folding  there  occurred  eruptions  of 
rhyolite  and  hornblende-andesite,  often  occurring  in  dikes  and  masses. 
Among  the  first  locations  in  the  district  were  the  Champion  and 
Buckeye  claims  on  the  southwest  side  of  Ruby  Hill,  and  later  the 
Richmond  and  Tip-top  claims  were  located. 

The  ores  of  Ruby  Hill  are  argentiferous-auriferous  lead  ores,  of 
which  there  are  the  oxidized  and  unoxidized  forms.  Sulphurets 
have  been  found  in  a  few  places,  both  above  and  below  water  level. 
The  galena  ore  is  usually  changed  to  the  sulphate  and  carbonate  of 
lead  near  the  surface.  The  galena  contains  small  quantities  of 
arsenic,  antimony  and  molybdenum.  In  1884  the  ores  carried  from 
$100  to  $150  per  ton  in  silver  and  from  $1  to  $10  in  gold.  Anglesite 
(sulphate  of  lead)  is  an  important  mineral  constituent  of  the  Eureka 
ores.  Other  minerals  found  are:  cerussite,  mimetite,  wulfenite, 
pyrite,  limonite,  blende,  calamine,  smithsonite,  calcite,  argonite, 
siderite  and  quartz.  The  ore-deposits  resemble  a  number  of  dif- 
ferent classes  such  as:  fissure,  contact,  and  stockwork  types;  they 
are  often  lenticular,  occupying  great  chambers  in  the  limestone,  often 
more  than  50  feet  in  each  dimension,  which  are  completely  filled 
with  ore.  The  ore-bodies  do  not  appear  to  follow  any  general  direc- 
tion either  as  regards  strike  or  dip,  yet  they  are  not  wholly  without 
system.  On  Ruby  Hill  the  ore  is  usually  found  near  the  contact 
of  limestone  and  quartzite.  The  ore-bodies  are  almost  invariably 
connected  with  fissures  through  which  the  mineralized  solutions 
largely  came.1 

White  Pine  District.  —  This  district  lies  in  White  Pine  County,  at 
the  east  end  of  the  White  Pine  Mountains.  The  principal  mines  are 
located  on  Treasure  Hill.  The  predominating  formation  is  Devonian 
limestone,  being  composed  of  stratified  dolomites  and  calcareous 
schists.  The  veins  extend  from  base  to  summit  of  the  mountains, 
the  sides  of  which  are  formed  of  huge  benches  of  limestone. 

The  ore-bodies  occur  as  contact-deposits  between  limestones  and 
shales,  in  fissures,  in  beds  or  chambers  in  limestone,  and  in  vertical 
and  oblique  seams  across  the  bedding.  They  are  exceedingly 
variable  in  size,  strike  and  dip,  cutting  the  mountain  in  all  directions. 
In  width  they  vary  from  mere  stringers  of  spar  and  quartz  to  chan- 
nels having  a  breadth  of  several  hundred  feet.  The  more  important 
minerals  constituting  the  ores  are:  green  and  gray  silver  chlorides 

1  The  Silver-Lead  Deposits  of  Eureka,  Nevada,  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Monograph  No:  7, 
pp.  1-75. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  249 

and  hornsilver  often  carrying  high  percentages  of  lead  and  copper, 
the  latter  occurring  at  higher  altitudes.  The  ores  range  in  value 
from  $120  to  $10,000  per  ton,  an  average  being  perhaps  $600. 
Gold  is  scarce  and  when  it  does  occur  is  found  principally  in  the 
gangues  and  in  limited  amounts.1 

Esmeralda  County.  —  High-grade  gold  and  silver  ores  are  mined 
in  this  county,  the  principal  camps  being  Aurora,  Candelaria  and 
Silver  Peak.  In  the  Candelaria  the  ores  are  mainly  silver,  contain- 
ing hornsilver,  malachite,  galena  and  tetrahedrite  in  quartz-veins. 
The  Silver  Peak  district  is  situated  on  the  east  spur  of  the  Silver 
Peak  Range,  which  is  composed  of  a  complex  formation  of  granite, 
gneiss  and  schist,  upon  which  is  superimposed  dolomite,  limestone 
of  Lower  Carboniferous  age  and  Olenellus  slate.  The  quartz- vein 
traverses  this  formation  in  which  also  occur  dikes  of  diorite.  Ore 
not  exceeding  $10  per  ton  cannot  be  worked  with  profit.  The  gold 
is  free-milling.  Ores  from  the  Great  Gulch  vein  average  about  $20 
per  ton.  The  Montezuma  district  lying  to  the  east  of  Clayton 
Valley  produces  lead-silver  ores,  consisting  mainly  of  the  sulphides 
and  chlorides  of  silver  and  galena  which  are  found  in  Pmall  shoots  and 
pockets.2 

Lincoln  County.  —  The  Pioche,  Pahranagat  and  Tern  Pahute  dis- 
tricts are  situated  in  this  county.  The  country-rock  is  quartzite 
and  limestone,  the  latter  overlying  the  former.  A  large  dike  of  por- 
phyry, varying  from  25  to  35  feet  in  width  at  the  surface  and  60  to  70 
feet  below,  cuts  the  formations.  The  fissures  are  well  defined  and 
easily  followed  with  a  strike  of  east  and  west  and  a  dip  of  50  to  80 
degrees  to  the  south.  When  the  veins  lie  wholly  in  porphyry  they 
contain  a  mass  of  decomposed  porphyry;  at  the  contact  of  quartz 
and  porphyry  they  become  more  siliceous,  and  when  wholly  in  the 
quartzite,  silica  predominates.  At  the  Zero  mine  the  vein-filling 
is  almost  entirely  hydrous  oxides  of  iron  and  manganese.  The  ores 
are  the  oxide,  carbonate  and  phosphate  of  lead  carrying  silver 
values,  that  were  originally  galena,  which  is  still  to  be  found  in 
large  masses  above  the  water-level.  Other  minerals  are:  blende, 
which  increases  with  depth  and  is  often  rich  in  silver  and  silver 
sulphides,  occasionally  with  hornsilver  scattered  through  the  vein, 
and  with  small  quantities  of  lead.  The  last  mentioned  silver  mineral 
and  gold  were  the  values  first  sought,  the  sulphide  being  left.  The 
Day  fissure  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  district,  having  a  maximum 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  18,  pp.  18  and  226. 
3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press.,  Vol.  82,  p.  73. 


250  GOLD'  AND  SILVER. 

width  of  130  feet.  Here  bodies  of  carbonate  and  oxide  of  lead  occur 
of  varying  width  and  rich  in  silver.  The  gangue  when  not  ore- 
bearing  is  mostly  crystalline  calcite.  It  is  claimed  that  the  values 
in  copper  formerly  thrown  on  the  durmps  exceed  in  value  per  ton  that 
recovered  in  gold  and  silver.  It  is  claimed  that  the  ore  carries  from 
50  to  100  ounces  of  silver,  30  to  50  per  cent  lead  and  5  to  10  per  cent 
copper  per  ton,  while  certain  ores  run  as  high  as  $7.60  in  gold.1 

Tonapah  District.  —  This  district  is  situated  in  the  central  part 
of  the  state,  in  a  range  of  low  volcanic  mountains,  being  a  southern 
extension  of  the  San  Antonio  Range.  The  pass  to  the  Ralston  desert 
lies  in  these  mountains.  The  district  has  been  known  for  some  time, 
but  owing  to  the  arid  condition  of  the  country  both  prospecting  and 
development  were  seriously  handicapped.  Cambrian  limestones 
occur  both  to  the  north  and  south  of  the  igneous  rocks  of  this  district, 
which  consist  of  flows,  breccias,  derived  tuffs  and  ash  accumulations, 
probably  of  Tertiary  age.  There  were  evidently  several  successive 
flows  with  intervals  during  which  there  were  showers  of  ash  and 
breccia,  erosion  acting  in  the  meanwhile.  The  following  sequence  of 
the  igneous  rocks  has  been  given:  first,  earlier  andesite;  second, 
earlier  rhyolite  and  breccias;  third,  later  andesite;  fourth,  volcanic 
breccias  and  flows;  and  fifth,  water-laid  tuffs.  The  oldest  volcanic 
rock  is  called  the  "  lode-porphyry  "  which  is  now  largely  decomposed 
into  fibrous  muscovite,  pyrite,  chlorite,  iron  carbonate,  quartz,  etc. 

The  more  important  veins  occur  in  the  lode-porphyry  only  and  not 
in  the  later  rock,  although  it  is  not  improbable  that  they  may  be 
found  there.  However,  as  only  the  earlier  rocks  contain  mineralized 
veins,  so  far  as  is  known,  it  is  possible  that  mineralization  followed 
the  first  eruption.  Moreover,  the  later  flows  cover  the  veins  exist- 
ing in  the  earlier  andesite,  and  they  must  therefore  be  pierced  in 
order  to  reach  the  veins.  In  a  width  of  1500  feet  there  are  fifteen 
known  veins  ranging  in  width  from  18  inches  to  8  feet.  They  stand 
nearly  vertically  and  contain  a  hard,  compact,  close-grained  quartz 
with  a  little  calcite  carrying  gold  and  silver,  the  mineral  occurring 
in  sheets  and  ribbons  in  the  vein-matter.  The  veins  resemble 
fissures,  but  are  probably  zones  of  fracturing  and  sheeting  in  the 
porphyry,  the  gangue  varying  from  a  pure  quartz  to  a  highly  silici- 
fied  porphyry.  The  ore-bodies  are  somewhat  irregular,  occurring  in 
lenticular  and  detached  forms,  occasionally  being  connected  by 
stringers,  but  more  often  without  any  connection.  The  values  are 
very  finely  disseminated  so  as  to  be  barely  visible  to  the  naked  eye. 

>  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  51,  p.  171,  and  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  83,  p.  164. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  251 

Silver  occurs  as  chloride,  sulphide  and  as  ruby  silver  with  pyrite;  no 
lead  and  zinc  are  present.  However,  the  ores  have  changed  in  part 
near  the  surface  to  sulphates,  oxides,  carbonates  and  chlorides.1 
The  ratio  of  gold  to  silver  is  1  to  100;  average  samples  of  all  outcrops 
gave  100  ounces  in  silver  and  $20  in  gold  per  ton.  The  second-class 
ore  thrown  on  the  dumps  in  1901  averaged  50  to  80  ounces  in  silver 
and  $12  to  $15  gold  per  ton.  In  1904  the  average  of  the  ores  sent 
to  the  smelters  was  about  $150  per  ton. 

Goldfleid  District.  —  Goldfield  is  situated  in  southwestern  Nevada 
and  was  originally  known  as  the  Grandpa  district.  The  district  to 
the  westward  is  overlain  with  basalt,  beneath  which  is  a  brown,  sandy- 
appearing  rock,  being  a  rhyolite  glass-flow.  Quartz-reefs  cut  the 
rhyolite  formation,  which,  having  resisted  wear,  now  stand  above  the 
surface  in  the  form  of  ridges.  The  veins  are  neither  persistent  nor 
well  defined,  as  is  shown  by  irregular,  branching  outcrops,  and  show 
no  definite  system. 

The  quartz  vein-filling  is  usually  gray  and  jaspery,  being  derived 
from  the  igneous  rocks  by  silicification.  Pyrite  occurs  in  the  quartz 
gangue,  but  in  the  majority  of  cases  the  veins  are  low-grade  or 
barren.  However,  occasional  lenticular  masses  of  quartz  occur  in 
the  veins  which  are  very  rich,  but  are  not  easily  distinguished  from 
the  barren  portions.  These  mineralized  reefs  constitute  the  true 
ore-bodies,  while  the  bulk  of  the  reefs  or  veins  is  merely  a  siliceous 
jacket,  which  may  range  from  25  to  30  feet  in  thickness,  while  the 
enclosed  shoot  may  be  only  one  or  two  feet  wide. 

The  pyrite  occurring  in  the  quartz  or  siliceous  gangue  is  probably 
indigenous,  i.e.,  has  had  its  origin  in  the  immediate  vicinity.  Tetra- 
hedrite  and  free-gold  are  also  present,  and  probably,  although  not 
definitely  known,  tellurides  occur. 

The  values  are  all  in  gold,  silver  being  practically  absent,  although 
the  ores  from  the  Combination  mine  yield  1  to  3  ounces  of  silver 
per  ton.2 

Bullfrog  District.  —  This  district  is  in  Ney  County,  some  80  miles 
from  Goldfield.  The  country-rock  is  rhyolite  and  andesite  with 
bodies  of  porphyry  and  limestone.  The  original  Bullfrog  mine  is 
about  three  miles  west  of  the  town  of  Rhyolite  and  is  on  the  outcrop 
of  a  quartz-ledge  occurring  between  limestone  and  porphyry.  The 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  86,  p.  338;  Ibid.,  Vol.  88,  p.  364;  Ibid.,  Vol.  82,  pp. 
230  and  231,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  86,  p.  20. 

2  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  25,  p.  332 ;  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  90,  pp.  394  and 
393. 


252  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

gold  can  readily  be  seen  with  the  naked  eye.  The  Montgomery- 
Shoshone  property  is  on  a  talcose  vein  on  a  rhyolite  hill.  The  ores 
of  the  mine  run  as  high  as  $200  to  $300  per  ton  in  both  gold  and 
silver  values.  The  proportion  of  gold  to  silver  is  two-thirds  to  one- 
third.  The  silver  occurs  as  ruby  silver  and  as  a  chloride;  the  gold 
is  free.1 

Gold  Mountain  District.  —  The  district  is  about  35  miles  south 
and  26  miles  east  of  Silver  Peak.  The  "  State  line  lode  "  is  situated 
in  this  district  and  at  the  west  end  of  a  belt  of  slate  not  far  from  its 
junction  with  granite.  The  walls  of  the  vein  are  well  defined,  being 
separated  by  clay  seams.  The  vein  varies  from  8  to  12  feet  in  width 
and  is  composed  largely  of  a  friable,  granular  quartz,  stained  with 
iron,  manganese  and  phosphate  and  oxide  of  lead.  Iron  sulphides 
and  oxides  occur  in  considerable  quantities  and  bear  the  gold,  which 
is  fairly  well  disseminated  throughout  the  mass  of  the  vein-filling. 
However,  the  gold-content  seems  to  favor  two  special  bands:  one 
follows  the  foot-wall,  while  the  other  starts  in  the  middle  of  the  vein 
and  seeks  the  hanging-wall  above.  Aside  from  these  two  enriched 
bands  which  do  not  exceed  two  feet  in  thickness,  the  bulk  of  the 
ore  is  low-grade,  ranging  from  $5  to  $15  per  ton.2 

Lander  County.  —  Lander  Hill,  a  western  spur  of  Mount  Prome- 
theus, has  mines  rich  in  silver  ores.  The  spur  is  composed  of  granite 
which  is  traversed  by  narrow  fissure-veins  trending  northwest  and 
southeast,  which  show  a  banded-structure  and  have  suffered  con- 
siderable faulting.  Besides  rich  ruby  silver  ores  are  found  gray 
copper,  galena,  blende  and  antimony  with  a  gangue  of  quartz.3 

Elko  County.  —  This  county  lies  north  of  White  Pine  and  Eureka 
counties,  and  in  it  is  situated  the  Tuscarora  district  which  con- 
tains deposits  of  silver  ores  of  high-grade,  occurring  in  veins  cutting 
a  decomposed  hornblende  andesite.4 

Nevada  has  produced  a  number  of  famous  bonanzas,  the  most 
important  having  been  found  at  Virginia  City,  Reese  River,  Aurora, 
Eureka,  White  Pine,  Pioche  and  Tuscarora,  while  smaller  ones  have 
been  worked  at  Cornucopia  and  Candelaria. 

The  occurrence  of  bonanzas  is  a  characteristic  of  propylitic  deposits 
which,  as  the  majority  of  them  are  comparatively  small,  are  not  con- 

1  Eng.   and  Min.    Jour.,   Vol.  80,   p.   12,  and  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,    Vol.  90, 
p.  273. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  18,  p.  62. 

3  Fortieth  Parallel  Survey,  G.  F.  Emmons,  Vol.  3,  p.  349. 

4  Tenth  Census,  G.  F.  Becker,  Vol.  13,  p.  34. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  253 

ducive  to  extensive  and  permanent  operations.  However,  judging 
from  the  experience  of  the  past,  it  is  reasonable  to  expect  that  new 
discoveries  of  such  rich  deposits  will  maintain  the  output  of  the 
state  —  Tonopah  is  a  case  in  point. 

New  Hampshire.  —  The  Ammonoosuc  gold  field,  as  described  by 
Professor  C.  H.  Hitchcock,1  consists  of  auriferous  slates  and  schists. 
The  schistose  rocks  belong  probably  to  the  Huronian  and  Cambrian 
systems.  The  gold-bearing  quartz-veins  traverse  talcose  slates  and 
schists  in  which  are  found  pyrite  and  chalcopyrite,  together  with 
seams  of  magnetic  iron  ore.  The  Dodge  vein  at  Lyman  has  a  width 
of  16  feet;  it  dips  to  the  northeast  and  contains  ore  shoots  pitching 
to  the  northwest.  Besides  the  quartz  gangue  and  slate  fragments, 
pyrite,  galena,  and  ankerite  occur  bearing  free-gold.  The  pyrite 
carries  but  little  gold.  The  ore  carries  from  $3  to  $19  in  gold  per 
ton. 

At  the  Lisbon  mine,  not  far  from  the  Dodge,  pyrrhotite,  chalcopy- 
rite and  mispickel  occur  in  quartz  bearing  gold  —  probably  5  per 
cent  of  the  vein-content  is  pyrrhotite.2 

In  the  Milan  mine  the  metalliferous  products  are  gray  copper 
chalcopyrite,  and  blende,  with  which  are  associated  gold  and  silver. 
This  ore  is  said  to  have  produced  a  matte  valued  at  $60  per  ton. 
The  Shelburne  mine  produced  galena  which,  according  to  reported 
assay,  contained  36  to  84  ounces  of  silver  —  a  five-ton  lot  is 
claimed  to  have  yielded  $80  per  ton.  This  mine  was  worked  during 
1846-49.3 

In  the  Ammonoosuc  gold  field  the  Bedell  mine  produced  ore  which 
was  claimed  to  yield  according  to  assay  $12  per  ton  free-gold.  The 
vein  is  two  feet  wide.  The  Hartford  and  Moulton  mine  was  on  a 
quartz- vein,  which  yielded  $30  in  gold  and  $10  in  silver  per  ton, 
according  to  reports.  A  bed  of  conglomerate,  ranging  in  thickness 
from  40  to  60  feet,  shows  values  ranging  from  75  cents  to  $10  per  ton 
in  gold.4 

Ores  from  the  Eaton  and  Shelburne  mines  yielded  2  and  3  pounds 
of  silver  per  ton.5 

New  Jersey.  —  The  Bridgewater  copper  mine,  long  since  closed,  has 

1  Ammonoosuc  Gold  Field,  Geol.  of  New  Hampshire,  Pt.  5,  p.  7,  1878. 
3  American  Jour,  of  Min.,  Vol.  2,  p.  390,  and  U.  S.  G.  S.,[16  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  3, 
pp.  329  and  330,  1894-95. 

3  Special  correspondence  to  the  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour,  during  the  early  Eighties. 

4  Hitchcock,  Geology  of  New  Hampshire,  Vol.  3,  Pt.  5,  pp.  7-31. 

5  Geol.  of  New  Hampshire,  1844,  p.  216. 


254  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

produced  some  silver  and  enough  in  fact  to  warrant  coining,  which 
was  done  in  England.  (See  also  "  Recent  History.")1 

New  Mexico.  —  According  to  Professor  Herrick  the  gold  occurs 
mainly  in  volcanic  rocks  and  principally  in  andesites,  rhyolites  and 
trachytes  —  the  basalts  are  barren.  Probably  the  andesite  is  the 
most  productive.  There  is  a  great  similarity  between  the  deposits 
of  Colorado  and  New  Mexico  and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  similar 
deposits  may  be  found  in  the  latter  territory. 

Gold-bearing  veins  occur  in  the  granites  of  Pinos  Altos,  Grant 
County,  most  of  which  are  connected  with  dikes  of  igneous  rock. 
Further,  quartz- veins  occur  in  the  diorite  of  the  Shakespeare  district. 
These  veins  carry  auriferous  pyrite.2 

One  of  the  earliest  records,  in  recent  times,  of  the  occurrence  of 
gold  in  New  Mexico  is  that  by  Dr.  Wislizenus.3  He  describes  the 
old  "  Placer  "  and  the  "  New  Placer,"  stating  that  the  predominat- 
ing rocks  of  the  country  are  yellow  and  white  quart zose  sandstone, 
quartz,  hornblende  rock,  syenite  and  diorite.  The  veins  occur  in 
syenite  and  greenstone  and  have  a  quartzose  and  ferruginous  gangue. 
Both  washings  and  mines  were  worked  here,  which  at  various  times 
are  said  to  have  yielded  from  $30,000  to  $250,000  per  year. 

The  ore-deposits  of  this  territory  consist  of  lead-silver  and  silver- 
gold  ores  which  occur  in  sedimentary  and  igneous  rocks,  both  as  con- 
tact-deposits and  in  veins.  The  ores  consist  of  minerals  of  copper, 
lead,  gold  and  silver,  while  the  gangue  is  largely  quartz  and  altered 
igneous  rocks. 

1  Lake  Valley  District.  —  This  district  is  situated  in  Dona  Ana 
County  some  15  miles  from  the  Rio  Grande  and  six  miles  from  the 
Old  Santa  F6  trail.  These  deposits  bear  a  striking  resemblance  to 
those  of  Leadville  and  although  they  are  lead-silver  ores  the  silver 
predominates.  The  country-formations  are  shales,  quartzites,  lime- 
stones and  porphyrite,  the  last  mentioned  probably  being  of  the  most 
importance  owing  to  the  close  proximity  of  the  ore-bodies  to  it. 
Further,  the  porphyrite  often  carries  from  a  trace  to  1  ounce  of  silver 
per  ton. 

The  ore-bodies  are  practically  always  connected  with  blue  limestone 
and  occur  either  in  contact  with  it  and  the  crinoidal  limestone  or 
porphyrite;  in  form  they  are  chambers  and  shoots.  Probably  the 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  33,  p.  90. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  831  and  832,  1903. 

3  Memoir  of  a  Tour  to  Northern  Mexico,  1846-7,  published  by  Congress,  p.  24, 
and  Whitney's  Metallic  Wealth  of  the  United  States,  1854,  p.  134. 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  255 

two  most  important  deposits  so  far  worked  are  the  Bridal  Chamber 
in  the  Grande  and  the  Bunkhouse  in  the  Bella,  although  there  are 
several  others  of  considerable  importance. 

The  character  of  the  ore  varies  much  with  the  different  mines;  the 
Twenty-five  Cut,  Thirty  Stope,  and  Bridal  Chamber  yield  siliceous 
ores;  the  Emporia  Incline  yields  neutral  ores;  while  the  Bunkhouse, 
Columbia  and  Apache  yield  ores  basic  in  character.  The  ores  of 
the  Thirty  Stope  workings  are  variously  colored  flint.  Pyrolusite 
occurs  here.  The  ore  from  the  Bridal  Chamber  consists  largely  of 
cerargyrite.  Galena  is  an  accessory  mineral  in  the  Emporia.  The 
Bunkhouse  workings  yield  several  distinct  kinds  of  ore:  that  from 
the  central  portion  contained  from  200  to  500  ounces  of  silver  and 
was  basic  bearing  considerable  cerargyrite,  while  later  workings 
produced  manganiferous  ore.  The  silver-content  varies  with  that 
of  the  silica,  increasing  and  decreasing  with  it  and  averages  about 
5  ounces  to  the  ton.1 

Kelley  Lode.  —  This  ore-deposit  is  situated  in  the  Magdalena 
Mountains,  some  30  miles  west  of  Socorro.  It  is  a  contact-deposit 
between  slates  and  porphyry.  The  ores  are  the  usual  minerals  of 
lead  produced  by  oxidation,  blende  and  zinc  silicate.2 

Organ  District.  —  This  district  is  in  the  Organ  Mountains,  from  14 
to  17  miles  east  of  Las  Cruces  and  extends  southward  for  a  distance 
of  some  eight  miles.  The  country-formations  are  largely  Archaan 
granite,  Cambrian  quartzite  and  Trenton  limestone,  overlying 
which  is  Carboniferous  limestone  with  intrusions  and  overflows  of 
porphyry.  Lead-silver  and  copper-silver  ores  occur  in  contact- 
deposits  between  porphyry  and  limestone.  Ores  found  in  the 
Bennett-Stephenson  mine  are  argentiferous  galena  associated  with 
carbonates,  sulphides  and  chlorides.  Molybdenite  and  other  allied 
minerals  also  occur.3 

The  Hopewell  and  Bromide  districts  in  Rio  Arriba  County  have 
veins  in  altered  amphibolite,  in  which  occur  copper  and  silver  minerals 
bearing  gold.  The  gangue  is  usually  quartz.  The  veins  are  narrow 
but  strong  and  well  defined.  Some  values  are  also  found  in  the  wall 
rocks.4 

In  the  southwest  corner  of  Socorro  County,  in  the  Mogollon  Range, 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  24,  pp.  148  and  149,  and  Rept.  of  Director  of  the  Mint, 
1882,  p.  341. 

3  Rept.  Director  of  Mint,  1882,  p.  376. 

3  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  24,  p.  1. 

4  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No.  285,  p.  81,  1905. 


256  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

are  deposits  of  considerable  size  containing  sulphides  bearing  gold 
and  silver  in  a  gangue  of  quartz  and  calcite.1 

There  has  been  a  steady  increase  in  production  in  this  territory 
during  the  past  decade  and  there  is  every  likelihood  of  a  still  further 
increase  in  the  future,  due  to  new  discoveries  being  made  in  many 
of  the  districts. 

New  York.  —  Gold  is  known  to  occur  in  Dutchess  County  and  on 
Manhattan  Island.  At  Wassaic,  Dutchess  County,  gold-bearing 
quartz-veins  are  found  in  mica-schists  of  post-ArchaBan  age.2 

The  auriferous  area  has  been  divided  into  four  portions;  first, 
beginning  near  Plattsburg  and  extending  into  Hamilton,  Fulton 
and  Saratoga  counties  to  the  south,  thence  branching  west  into 
Herkimer  and  east  into  Washington  County;  second,  in  Dutchess 
County;  third,  in  Westchester  and  Rockland  counties;  and  a  fourth, 
in  Erie  and  Alleghany  counties.  A  gold-quartz  vein  varying  from 
6  to  12  inches  in  width  occurs  at  Clinton.  Assays  of  samples  of  the 
ore  showed  $15.45  per  ton  in  gold.  Other  quartz-veins  containing 
gold  have  been  found  at  various  localities.3 

Lead  veins  of  some  importance  occur  near  Rossie,  St.  Lawrence 
County.  They  are  well  known  for  their  specimen  ore,  consisting  of 
galena  and  calcite.  The  country-rocks  are  gneiss,  hornblende  and 
mica-slates.  The  Coal  Hill  vein  is  probably  the  most  prominent, 
being  two  to  four  feet  wide  and  standing  almost  perpendicular. 
The  silver-content  is  variable,  but  is  seldom  more  than  a  trace  in 
these  ores.4 

Oklahoma.  —  The  region  in  which  gold  is  reported  to  have  been 
found  includes  the  Wichita  Mountains,  located  within  Coddo,  Co- 
manche,  Kiowa  and  Greer  counties  of  Oklahoma.  This  area  form- 
erly occupied  the  section  known  as  the  Kiowa-Cbmanche  Reservation 
which  was  opened  for  settlement  in  1901. 

The  core  of  the  mountains  consists  of  crystalline  rocks  including 
granite,  gabbro,  porphyry  and  greenstone  dikes,  partially  sur- 
rounded by  Paleozoic  limestones.  The  gabbro  and  porphyry  are 
pre-Cambrian. 

»  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No.  285,  p.  85,  1905. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  16  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  330,  1894-95. 

3  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extractions,  A.  G.  Locke,  1882,  p.  180  and  Ann. 
Kept.  Amer.  Inst.  City  N.  Y.,  Vol.  25,  p.  827. 

4  Whitney's  Metallic  Wealth  of  the  United  States,  1854,  pp.  382-387,  and 
Mineralogy  of  New  York,  p.  48. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  257 

There  are  five  modes  of  occurrence  which  have  been  prospected : 

1.  Well-defined  quartz- veins  cutting  both  gabbro  and  granite. 

2.  Greenstone  dikes  cutting  all  crystalline  rocks  indiscriminately. 

3.  Contacts  of  granite  and  gabbro. 

4.  Disintegration  products  of  gabbro. 

5.  Occasional  simple  shear-zones. 

Notwithstanding  many  and  varied  reports  regarding  the  values 
of  the  ore  found,  it  is  probable  that  but  little  more  than  a  trace  of  the 
precious  metals  are  to  be  found.  According  to  assays  made  by  the 
United  States  Geological  Survey  on  300  pounds  of  samples  carefully 
selected  no  gold  was  revealed.1 

Oregon.  —  The  gold  fields  of  this  state  are  located  principally  in  the 
mountain  ranges,  such  as  the  Coast  and  Cascade  ranges,  and  the  Blue, 
Siskiyou,  Umpqua,  Calapooya,  Snow  and  Puebla  mountains.  The 
Cascade  Range  consists  of  granite  and  metamorphic  rocks  while 
Baker  County  is  largely  granite  and  slates. 

The  principal  gold-bearing  deposits  of  Oregon  are  found  both  in 
the  southwestern  and  northeastern  corners  of  the  state.  The  former 
are  closely  allied  to  the  California  gold-belt,  while  the  latter  are  also 
similar  and  probably  belong  to  the  same  geological  age  —  Cretaceous. 
In  the  deposits  of  the  northeastern  part  of  the  state  the  occurrence 
of  silver  is  more  marked,  and  occasionally  sulphide  ores  carrying  a 
little  free-gold  are  found.  Veins  carrying  gold  and  silver  in  andesite 
are  found  in  the  Bohemia  district  of  the  Cascade  Mountains  and  are 
probably  post-Miocene  deposits.2 

Bohemia  District,  Lane  and  Douglas  Counties.  —  The  country- 
rock  is  andesite  which  is  traversed  by  numerous  mineral  veins  of 
great  strength  and  continuity.  The  veins  stand  nearly  vertically 
and  strike  northeast  and  southwest.  Brecciated  areas  occur  filled 
with  quartz,  which  is  the  usual  interstitial-filling  for  all  brecciation. 
The  whole  brecciated  mass  is  usually  mineralized,  bearing  auriferous 
and  argentiferous  sulphides.  Lenses  and  other  forms  assumed  by 
the  ore-bodies  are  strikingly  parallel.  The  ores  seldom  fall  below  a 
value  of  $10,  while  $16  may  be  considered  a  fair  average.  Ores 
shipped  from  the  Musick  and  Helena  bodies  average  about  $70  and 
$125  in  gold  per  ton.3 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No.  225,  pp.  120,  122. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  833  and  834,  1903. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  73,  p.  889. 


258 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


In  the  Blue  Mountains  the  primary  gold  and  silver  deposits  are 
usually  normal  fissure- veins.  The  gangue  minerals  are  quartz, 
calcite,  and  dolomite.  Occasionally  the  gold  deposits  contain  notice- 


Gold  Mining  Region  of  Eastern  Oregon  (1898). 


able  quantities  of  lead,  zinc  and  copper,  while  the  copper  deposits 
usually  contain  small  quantities  of  gold  and  silver;  otherwise  main- 
taining their  distinct  and  separate  characteristics.  The  zone  occu- 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  259 

pied  by  the  gold  and  silver  veins  is  about  30  or  40  miles  wide  and  100 
miles  long  —  extending  from  the  state  line  along  Snake  River  and 
westward.  Narrow  and  irregular  mineralized  belts  constitute  the 
veins  which  have  suffered  considerable  brecciation.  Both  veins  and 
walls  are  impregnated  with  pyrite.  The  veins  are  both  simple  and 
complex,  the  former  exemplified  in  the  Champion,  the  latter  in  the 
Musick  lodes.  The  simple  veins  are  usually  much  narrower  than 
the  more  complex  forms,  with  an  average  ratio  of  probably  4  to  12 
feet.1 

The  minerals  occurring  in  the  district  are:  pyrite,  arsenopyrite, 
blende,  galena,  chalcopyrite,  cinnabar,  stibnite,  tetrahedrite,  pyrar- 
gyrite  and  tellurides,  of  which  pyrite  predominates,  while  arseno- 
pyrite is  second  in  quantity.2 

Elkhorn  and  Bock  Creek  District.  —  The  mineral-bearing  veins  of 
this  district  may  be  grouped  into  two  classes:  first,  in  the  massive 
granite  formation  as  a  series  of  parallel  veins  running  north  and 
south;  and  second,  south  of  the  granite  in  gneiss,  schists  and  quart- 
zites  in  a  series  of  veins  parallel  with  the  stratification  and  running 
east  and  west.3 

This  district  is  also  in  the  Blue  Mountains.  The  ores  are  gold- 
bearing  sulphides,  which  at  the  surface  in  the  oxidized  zone  yield 
free-gold,  that  decreases  with  depth.  In  the  Chloride  mine  the 
ores  are  chiefly  silver  chloride  above,  changing  into  ruby  silver  and 
argentiferous  galena  and  blende  below.  With  the  exception  of  this 
-mine  the  ores  have  been  exclusively  gold.4 

Southern  Oregon.  —  The  vein-filling  in  this  region  is  quartz  which 
is  hard,  white  and  compact,  in  which  are  found  the  gold  and  silver- 
bearing  sulphides.  The  gold  is  largely  free,  although  variable  in 
quantity.  The  more  common  minerals  are:  pyrite,  chalcopyrite, 
mispickel  and  galena,  all  gold  and  silver-bearing..  The  veins  are  rich 
in  specimen-rock,  which  often  occurs  at  the  intersections.  Remark- 
able specimens  of  flake  native  gold,  occasionally  as  large  as  the  palm 
of  the  hand,  are  found  in  the  lower  levels.  The  free-gold  usually 
occurs  in  hard,  snow-white  quartz.5 

It  is  claimed  that  silver  in  the  form  of  chloride  is  found  in  saline 
mud  or  sediments  at  Silver  Springs,  Wasco  County.  It  is  evident 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  2,  p.  599. 
U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  2,  p.  604. 
Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  19,  p.  12. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  62,  p.  128. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  87,  p.  391. 


260  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

that  little  reliance  is  to  be  put  in  this  report,  as  tests  by  reliable  parties 
have  not  shown  the  existence  of  silver.1 

The  Philippines.  —  Gold  is  known  to  occur  in  practically  every 
large  island  in  the  Philippine  archipelago,  being  first  worked  as 
placers  and  later  the  quartz-veins  were  discovered  and  developed. 
Gold-bearing  quartz-veins  are  found  in  Benguet,  Lepanto  and 
Surigao  provinces,  the  most  prominent  and  well-defined  occurring  in 
the  older  crystalline  rocks,  especially  of  Camarines  and  Masbate. 
There  are  several  deposits  of  low-grade  and  refractory  ores  in  the 
provinces  of  Lepanto  and  Benguet. 

The  placers  of  Camarines,  Bulacan,  Pigholugan,  Arroroy  and 
Pigtao  have  been  large  producers.  It  is  proposed  to  begin  dredging 
operations  in  the  placers  of  Camarines,  Masbate  and  Mindanao. 

Transportation  facilities  are  such  that  supplies  can  be  obtained  in  a 
fairly  reasonable  time  and  conditions  are  constantly  improving.2 

Pennsylvania.  —  According  to  Whitney  the  lead  veins  of  Mont- 
gomery and  Chester  counties  yield  some  silver,  although  they  have 
been  worked  for  lead  and  copper  chiefly.  There  are  ten  to  twelve 
veins  lying  close  to  the  junction  of  the  New  Red  sandstone  and 
gneiss,  some  of  which  traverse  gneiss  while  others  lie  wholly  in  red 
shale,  the  latter  being  characterized  by  yielding  copper  ores.  The 
principal  gangue  is  quartz  and  heavy  spar.  The  following  mines 
have  been  worked  for  lead  and  silver:  Chester  County,  Wheatley, 
Brookdale  and  Charlestown.3 

Porto  Rico.  —  As  previously  given  (under  the  head  of  Recent 
History)  the  gold  obtained  from  this  territory  i°  chiefly  placer 
product.  Veins  of  quartz  and  iron  pyrites  bearing  gold  occur  in 
euritic  and  porphyritic  rocks  of  the  watershed  of  the  Mameyes  River. 
Near  the  source  of  the  Congos  River  pieces  of  quartz  have  been 
taken  from  its  bed- which  contained  from  8  to  10  grams  (123  to  154 
grains)  of  pure  gold.  Numerous  nuggets  have  been  found  in  Maya- 
guez,  San  German,  Yauco  and  Coamo. 

Although  silver  mines  have  been  known  to  exist  as  early  as  1538, 
yet  little  authentic  information  regarding  them  is  available.  Con- 
cessions for  working  silver  mines  have  been  granted  in  Naguabo, 
Corozal,  Rio  Grande,  Fajardo,  Lajas  and  Las  Piedras.4 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  34,  p.  415. 

8  Annual  Report  of  Mining  Bureau  of  the  Philippines,  1904,  and  the  Mineral 
Industry,  1904,  pp.  178  and  179. 

8  Whitney's  Metallic  Wealth  of  the  United  States,  1854,  pp.  397-398. 

4  Second  Annual  Report  of  Governor  of  Porto  Rico  to  the  President  of  the  U.  S. 
and  Special  Report  Census  Office,  Mines  and  Quarries,  1902,  pp.  1076,  1077,  1902. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


261 


262  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

South  Dakota.  —  The  ore-deposits  of  this  state  consist  of  two 
distinct  classes :  first,  the  great  lodes  occurring  in  Algonkian  and 
Archaean  rocks,  the  Homestake  being  a  type.  The  deposits  consist 
of  closely-massed  stringers  of  free-gold  and  auriferous  pyrites  and  are 
known  to  extend  to  considerable  depth.  These  deposits  are  proba- 
bly of  pre-Cambrian  and  post-Archaean  age.  The  second  class 
comprises  the  siliceous  ore-belt,  in  which  the  ore-deposits  occur 
as  irregular  masses  or  horizontal  shoots  lying  between  Cambrian 
quartzites  and  the  superimposed  lime-shales.  These  deposits  being 
genetically  connected  with  phonolite  dikes  are  considered  as  belong- 
ing to  the  Tertiary  age.1 

Mining  in  South  Dakota  is  largely  confined  to  the  Black  Hills 
and  the  adjacent  territory.  The  Black  Hills  occupy  an  elevated  area 
roughly  elliptical  in  form,  which  consists  of  a  mass  of  metamorphic 
crystalline  rocks  as  a  core,  around  which  are  grouped  sedimentary 
strata  of  later  geologic  age. 

The  so-called  basement  formation,  consisting  of  schists,  slates, 
amphibolite-schists  and  various  other  crystalline  rocks  of  Archa3an 
age,  was  evidently  an  island  in  the  Cambrian  sea,  the  erosion  of 
which  produced  material  which  was  deposited  along  the  shore  line 
thus  completely  enveloping  that  portion  lying  below  the  level  of  the 
sea.  This  deposit  of  shingle  sloped  gradually  away  in  all  directions 
from  the  central  ridge  and  was  later  cemented  into  a  conglomerate. 
Successive  subsidences  permitted  other  deposits  to  be  formed  upon 
this  conglomerate,  which  in  order  of  their  deposition  are:  sands  and 
alternating  beds  of  calcareous  and  argillaceous  materials,  another 
sand  deposit,  then  successive  deposits  of  limestone  and  sandstone, 
which  continued  to  the  close  of  the  Cretaceous  period,  etc.  The 
deposits  of  sand  were  ultimately  consolidated  into  quartzite.  At  the 
end  of  the  Cretaceous  an  uplift  occurred,  when  the  whole  area  of  the 
Black  Hills  was  elevated,  accompanying  which  were  intrusions  of 
igneous  rock,  as  rhyolite,  trachyte  and  phonolite.  In  the  northern 
hills  laccolites  were  formed,  thus  elevating  the  sedimentary  rock,  the 
higher  portions  of  which  being  eroded  away  exposed  the  underlying 
igneous  formation.  Surrounding  these  cores  of  igneous  rock  and 
sloping  away  in  all  directions  are  the  sedimentary  formations,  the 
sequence  of  their  deposition  being  readily  observable. 

The  ore-deposits  occur  principally  in  the  sedimentary  rocks,  par- 
ticularly in  the  Cambrian,  although  other  ore  such  as  lead-silver  is 
found  in  the  Carboniferous.     Placer-gold  occurs  in  the  conglomerate 
»'  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  834  and  835,  1903. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  263 

beds  at  the  base  of  the  sedimentary  formations,  having  been  derived 
from  the  erosion  of  the  crystalline  rocks  below.  Gold  ores,  particu- 
larly tellurides,  occur  in  the  quartzite  overlying  the  conglomerate.  So 
extensive  has  been  the  erosive  action  that  large  areas  of  ore-deposits 
are  exposed  thus  permitting  of  their  easy  extraction  by  quarrying.1 

Deposits  of  iron,  copper  and  tin  as  well  as  gold  and  silver  are  found 
in  this  area.  However,  auriferous  pyrite  is  of  the  most  importance, 
although  lead  and  zinc  ores  are  also  mined.  The  ore-bodies  are 
irregular  in  shape,  varying  from  thin  sheets  to  20  feet  in  thickness, 
but  also  occasionally  assume  a  lenticular  form  and  are  often  associated 
with  dikes,  having  a  width  of  a  few  to  100  feet  on  either  side.  They 
usually  have  the  columnar  cleavage  coincident  with  the  bedding- 
planes,  that  is  noticed  in  the  slates  and  schists.  The  pyritic  impreg- 
nations occurring  in  the  slates  and  schists  which  constitute  the 
ore-bodies  are  seldom  or  never  very  large,  rarely  yielding  above  20 
per  cent  and  averaging  about  7  per  cent.  There  are,  however,  solid 
bodies  of  pyrite.  The  igneous  rock  in  the  Homestake  mine,  although 
porous  and  much  altered,  shows  no  gold  on  analysis. 

The  function  of  the  porphyry  has  been  two-fold,  it  is  claimed, 
namely,  it  has  rendered  the  ore  free-milling  and  caused  a  concentra- 
tion of  the  gold  by  enrichment  from  the  neighboring  rocks.  The 
cross  sectional  dimensions  of  the  ore-bodies  in  the  Golden  Star  and 
Terra  claims  were  150  by  130  feet  and  150  by  250  feet  respectively, 
while  it  is  claimed  that  widths  of  300  feet  are  attained.  Other  ore- 
bodies  besides  those  at  the  Homestake  occur  in  the  Black  Hills  which 
show  values  by  assay  ranging  from  $2  to  $12  per  ton.  Most  of  them 
are  somewhat  smaller  than  those  mentioned.2 

There  are  two  belts  of  free-milling  gold  ores  occurring  iA  the  Algon- 
kian  schists,  namely,  the  Homestake  and  the  Clover  Leaf,  or  Uncle 
Sam,  to  the  southeast.  The  Homestake  ores  occur  in  mica-schists 
and  are  not  true  fissure- veins,  but  broad  zones  of  impregnations  in  the 
schists,  with  a  strike  of  north  34  degrees  west  and  dipping  to  the 
south.  The  ore  first  mined  at  the  surface  was  in  irregular  lentic- 
ular masses  lying  almost  entirely  within  the  dikes  of  porphyry, 
but  in  depth  a  gradual  divergence  has  taken  place,  the  two  sepa- 
rating until  in  the  lower  levels  they  appear  to  be  independent. 
Pyrite  is  an  index  of  the  ore,  but  often  quartz  is  also  present. 
The  usual  character  of  the  ores  is  quartz  and  pyrite,  although  cal- 
cite,  dolomite  and  arsenopyrite  also  occur. 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  87,  p.  166,  and  Vol.  86,  p.  212. 
»  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  17,  p.  571. 


264  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  gold-bearing  cement  deposits  have  a  thickness  of  about  30 
feet  and  are  grouped  about  the  Homestake  mine.  The  enclosed 
pyrite  is  probably  a  replacement  of  the  original  quartzose  bond. 
The  refractory  siliceous  ores  are  found  at  Bald  Mountain,  Yellow 
Creek,  Lead  City,  Garden  City  and  Squaw  Mountain,  while  the  lead- 
silver  ores  of  Galena  resemble  in  form  and  occurrence  the  refractory 
gold  ores.  Further,  both  gold  and  silver  and  lead  and  silver  ores  are 
found  in  the  Carboniferous  rocks  although  they  have  not  been  large 
producers.  Tellurium  has  also  been  found  here.  The  lead-silver 
ores  occur  in  limestone  traversed  by  dikes  and  masses  of  porphyry 
in  which  are  found  two  classes  of  deposits :  large  irregular  masses  of 
lead  carbonate  and  partially  filled  crevices.  Crystals  of  cerussite  and 
wulfenite  are  occasionally  found. 

The  siliceous  gold  ores  have  been  successfully  treated  by  the 
chlorination  and  cyanide  processes  and  by  smelting.1 

Although  there  may  not  be  any  material  increase  in  the  pro- 
duction from  the  mines  of  the  Black  Hills,  yet  a  steady  output  is 
assured  for  many  years  to  come  —  enormous  ore  reserves  have  been 
proven. 

Tennessee.  —  The  discovery  of  gold  on  Coca  Creek  in  Monroe 
County  as  early  as  1831  created  quite  a  stir  and  was  responsible  for  a 
not  inconsiderable  rush  to  this  and  other  localities.  Aside  from 
these  placer  diggings  gold-bearing  quartz- veins  have  been  discovered 
on  the  Whippoorwill  branch  of  the  Tellico  River.  They  are  small 
and  have  never  been  worked  and  it  is  not  probable  that  any  more 
extensive  deposits  will  be  located.2 

Most  of  the  gold  so  far  produced  in  this  state  has  come  from  the 
Ocoee  shales  along  Coca  Creek,  Monroe  County,  which  contain 
numerous  lenticular,  conformable  veins  of  quartz  in  which  the 
values  occur  very  scatteringly.3 

A  mass  of  silver  sulphide  ore  was  found  in  eastern  Tennessee  in 
1857,  but  to  our  knowledge  no  further  discoveries  have  been  made, 
either  of  other  detached  pieces  or  the  source  of  the  original  find.4 

Texas.  —  Both  gold  and  silver  are  found  in  this  state,  but,  up  to 
the  present  time  developments  have  not  shown  any  very  extensive 
deposits.  Probably  the  most  pretentious  workings  are  near  Shafter, 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  87,  p.  187. 

3  Resources  of  Tennessee,  J.  B.  Killebrew,  1874,  p.  265,  and  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,Vol. 
25,  p.  717. 

8  Geology  of  Tennessee,  James  M.  Safferd,  1869,  pp.  489,  490. 

4  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  805,  1895. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  265 

• 

Presidio  County,  where  silver  has  been  mined  since  1884.     The  Presi- 
dio mine  has  produced  over  $300,000  for  quite  a  number  of  years. 

The  country-rock  is  dolomitic  limestone  which  has  been  con- 
siderably disturbed  by  the  intrusion  of  igneous  matter,  the  center 
of  the  disturbance  being  the  Chinatti  Mountains.  Two  dikes 
traverse  the  property  of  the  Presidio  mine  which  have  probably 
influenced  the  mineralization,  as  the  ore-bodies  are  more  or  less 
intimately  associated  with  such  occurrences,  although  not  always 
in  actual  contact. 

The  ore  of  the  Presidio  mine  is  free-milling  silver  chloride,  bearing 
traces  of  gold,  and  argentiferous  galena.  Indications  of  copper  are 
present.  The  line  separating  these  two  classes  of  ore  is  about  one- 
half  mile  west  of  the  Presidio  mine.  The  ore  occurs  both  as  pockets 
and  impregnations  in  limestone  strata,  often  being  as  much  as  50  to 
60  feet  in  both  vertical  and  horizontal  dimensions.  However,  the 
impregnations  form  the  principal  source  of  the  ore.1 

Gold  occurs  in  small  quantities  in  Llano  and  Gillespie  counties. 
Veins  carrying  traces  of  gold  are  quite  common  in  the  Quitman 
Mountains.  Gold  also  is  found  in  the  Burnetan  system  of  rocks  of 
central  Texas,  but  according  to  the  Texas  Geological  Survey  "  do 
not  give  much  promise  of  profit."  2 

The  Bonanza  and  Alice  Ray  mines  of  the  Quitman  mountains  have 
produced  some  fairly  good  ore  containing  30  per  cent  lead,  25  to 
30  per  cent  zinc,  and  from  20  to  30  ounces  of  silver,  with  traces  of 
gold.  An  average  value  of  the  ore  is  probably  close  to  $60  or  $65 
per  ton. 

Gold  and  silver  associated  with  pyrite,  marcasite  and  various  cop- 
per and  lead  minerals  occur  in  the  Burnetan  system,  usually  as 
infiltrated  masses, -streaks,  pockets,  etc.3  The  Trans-Pecos  region 
also  produces  gold  and  silver,  especially  the  latter  —  the  Presidio 
and  Cibolo  mines  are  the  main  silver  producers.  The  copper  ores 
of  the  Carrizo  Mountains  show  traces  of  gold.4 

The  Silver  Mine  Creek,  southeast  of  Enchanted  Rock,  Gillespie 
County,  was  the  scene  of  operations  in  1889  the  object  of  which  was 
the  search  for  gold.  The  ore  found  consisted  of  schists  and  quartz- 
seams  carrying  pyrite,  which  in  part  was  altered  to  hematite  and 
limonite.  However,  the  only  district  in  the  Central  Mineral  region 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  74,  p.  150. 

8  Geol.  Survey  of  Texas,  1  Ann.  Rept.,  E.  T.  Durable,  p.  331. 
3  First  Ann.  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  of  Texas,  1889,  pp.  223,  260. 
*  Lake  Superior  Inst.  Min.  Engrs.  Vol.  5,  p.  59,  1898. 


266  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

which  has  produced  gold  is  the  country  about  the  headwaters  of  the 
Little  Llano  Creek  and  Babyhead  Creek,  in  Llano  County.  Here 
the  gold  is  invariably  associated  with  silver  and  copper-bearing 
minerals. 

The  auriferous  deposits  of  Big  Sandy  Creek  have  been  known  for 
some  time,  but  have  never  been  profitably  worked. 

The  "  Mexican  Diggings  "  on  a  branch  of  Babyhead  Creek  have 
probably  been  the  most  productive  of  silver.1 

There  is,  however,  little  literature  on  the  subject  of  the  occurrence 
of  gold  and  silver  in  this  state  and  the  information  available  is 
therefore  entirely  out  of  proportion  with  the  importance  of  the 
industry. 

Utah.  —  The  productive  districts  of  Utah  occur  in  the  desert- 
ranges  at  the  foot  of  the  great  Wasatch  fault  and  also  in  the  Wasatch 
Mountains,  the  latter  being  mainly  silver-lead  deposits.  Very  few 
deposits  are  found  in  which  gold  predominates.  The  Horn  Silver 
mine,  at  Frisco,  and  the  Tintic  district  contain  veins  of  the  propy- 
litic  type.  The  typical  deposits  are  veins  and  irregular  masses  of  ore, 
following  contacts  of  sheets  and  masses  of  porphyry.  The  ores  are 
chiefly  of  lead  and  copper  carrying  considerable  silver  and  little 
gold  and  are  usually  base.  The  age  of  these  deposits  is  probably 
Cretaceous. 

Gold-deposits  in  limestone  are  found  in  the  Mercur  district;  silver- 
bearing  deposits  are  also  found  here.  The  former  are  probably  of 
Tertiary  age  while  the  latter  are  Cretaceous.2 

The  gold  and  silver  deposits  of  this  state  occur  in  veins,  bedded 
deposits  and  impregnations  in  sedimentary  and  igneous  rocks. 
The  minerals  forming  the  ores  are:  chalcopyrite,  pyrite,  manganese 
oxide,  polybasite,  blende,  orpiment,  realgar,  cinnabar,  black  copper 
sulphide,  galena,  enargite,  cerussite,  anglesite,  calamine,  cerargyrite, 
pyrargyrite,  stibnite,  while  some  of  the  oxidized  products  are  horn- 
silver,  malachite,  azurite,  lead  carbonate,  etc.  The  gangues  are: 
quartz,  tremolite,  calcite,  barite,  gypsum,  rhodochrosite,  magnetite, 
shale,  limestone,  quartzites  and  igneous  rocks. 

The  Camp  Floyd  or  Mercur  District.  —  This  district  began  its 
existence  as  a  silver  producer.  The  country-rocks  are  limestones  and 
shales,  which  have  been  interstratified  by  a  sheet  of  quartz-porphyry, 
known  as  the  Eagle  Hill  porphyry.  This  intrusion  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  productive  mine  has  separated  into  three  sheets  which 

1  First  Ann.  Kept.  Geol.  Surv.  of  Texas,  1889,  pp.  260,  331,  332  and  333. . 
8  T.A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  836  and  837,  1903. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  267 

lie  some  150  feet  apart,  forming  one  gold  ledge  and  two  silver 
ledges.  Following  the  intrusion  and  consequent  disturbance  miner- 
alized currents  impregnated  the  limestone,  forming  a  zone  of  10  to 
20  feet  in  thickness. 

In  the  Mercur  mines  there  are  two  distinct  horizons  which  carry 
ore:  the  lower  or  "  Mercur  "  vein  and  the  upper  or  "  Ruby  "  vein, 
being  separated  by  from  50  to  70  feet  of  limestone.  Pay  ore  is 
obtained  from  both,  but  the  upper  is  smaller  and  of  lower-grade. 
The  lime  has  been  largely  replaced  by  quartz  which  carries  high 
values  in  gold,  being  often  associated  with  cinnabar  in  considerable 
quantities.  However,  the  limestone  may  carry  the  values,  little 
silica  being  present ;  in  which  case  the  limestone  is  usually  porous  and 
cellular.  The  values  are  often  very  irregularly  distributed.  The 
amount  of  gold  in  the  ores,  never  very  great,  rarely  exceeds  2  or  3 
ounces  per  ton,  while  silver  is  entirely  absent  from  the  gold  ledge. 
Iron  and  sulphur,  although  present  in  quantities,  do  not  unite  as 
pyrite;  however,  pyrite  was  formerly  a  constituent  of  the  rock  as 
shown  by  the  cubical  cavities.  The  base  ores  carry  from  1  to  5i  per 
cent  of  arsenical  sulphides  —  orpiment  and  realgar.  It  is  probable 
that  the  gold  occurs  in  the  original  sulphide  ores  as  tellurides,  which 
having  been  oxidized,  yielded  free-gold.  Cinnabar  does  not  occur 
throughout  the  Mercur  vein  except  at  intervals,  but  is  usually  an 
index  of  good  values.  When  arsenic  occurs  the  ore  is  usually  dark 
but  fresh  fractures  show  layers  of  realgar.  Large  masses  of  this 
base  or  arsenical  ore  occur,  or  it  may  be  in  small  quantities,  yet  will 
coat  the  gold  to  such  an  extent  as  to  render  its  extraction  difficult. 

The  silver  ledge  is  characterized  by  the  complete  silicification  of  the 
limestone  and  by  the  presence  of  barite  in  masses  accompanied  by 
small  amounts  of  stibnite,  some  copper  and  silver.  The  copper 
occurs  as  carbonate,  while  the  silver  is  principally  chloride  and 
probably  some  sulphide  also. 

The  values  of  the  gold  ores  range  from  $2  to  $60  per  ton,  the  base 
ore  carrying  the  higher  value  —  the  average  run  of  ore  is  between  $3 
and  $12  per  ton.1  There  are,  however,  large  areas  in  which  the  gold 
values  run  from  $1.20  to  $1.70  per  ton.2 

Bingham  District.  —  Bingham  and  Big  and  Little  Cottonwood 
Canons  constitute  the  oldest  district  in  the  state.  It  is  situated 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  68,  p.  754;  Ibid.,  Vol.  63,  p.  403;  Ibid.,  Vol.  61, 
p.  86;  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  19,  p.  82,  and  U.  S.  G.  S.,  16  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  2, 
pp.  368,  455. 

3  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  19,  p.  130. 


268 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


in  the  northern  central  part  of  the  state  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
Oquirrh  Mountains,  some  20  miles  southwest  of  Salt  Lake  City. 
The  district  originally  produced  lead-copper  ores;  then  carbonate 
and  argentiferous  lead  ores  and  oxidized  gold  ores,  and  finally  an 
increased  production  of  copper  ore. 


Map  of  Mercur  Eegion,  Utah  (1898). 

The  country-rock  is  mainly  sedimentary,  consisting  of  Carbonif- 
erous quart zite  with  limestone  and  calcareous  shale,  which  have 
together  suffered  extensive  alteration,  thorough  contact  metamor- 
phism,  intense  fissuring  and  partial  burial  beneath  a  latite  flow. 


OCCURRENCE  OF   GOLD  AND  SILVER.  269 

The  characteristic  formations  of  the  region  which  have  proven  pro- 
ductive are  the  intrusives.  The  largest  ore-bodies  are  found  in 
metamorphosed  limestone  in  close  proximity  to  fissures  and  intru- 
sives, while  outside  of  such  areas  no  deposits  are  found. 

Argentiferous  lead  ores  occur  in  single  and  composite  veins  through- 
out the  extent  of  the  camp,  but  usually  favor  the  presence  of  intru- 
sives. All  formations  are  cut  by  the  mineral  veins  which  show  the 
greatest  width  in  the  limestones  and  shales.  Much  of  the  ore  mined 
at  present  is  derived  from  the  bedded-deposits  in  limestone,  and  con- 
sists of  copper  and  iron  sulphides.  Chalcocite,  tetrahedrite  and 
tenorite  occur  as  alteration  products  with  sulphides.  In  some  of  the 
ores  tellurium  is  associated  with  black  sulphide,  often  in  considerable 
amounts,  with  which  the  values  in  gold  and  silver  are  increased. 
The  ores  produced  in  1905  were  composed  largely  of  low-grade 
pyritous  copper  sulphides,  with  comparatively  small  amounts  of 
enriched  high-grade  black  copper  sulphide  and  rich  argentiferous 
lead  ores. 

The  average  copper-content  in  the  sulphide  ores  is  low,  running 
from  2.5  to  5  per  cent,  and  averaging  about  3.5  to  4  per  cent.  The 
accessory  gold  averages  from  $.10  to  $1  per  ton,  while  the  silver- 
content  is  2  to  5  ounces  per  ton,  making  a  total  value  of  $11  to  $15 
per  ton.  It  is  not  improbable  that  both  gold  and  silver  occur  in 
part  as  tellurides. 

The  auriferous  copper  ores,  which  form  the  milling-ores,  occur  in 
monzonite  and  are  composed  of  chalcopyrite  and  pyrite  with  some 
bornite,  magnetite  and  a  highly  siliceous  gangue.  Gray  copper 
seems  to  be  the  silver  carrier  in  the  lead-bearing  ores;  galena  and 
blende  are  also  argentiferous.  Pyrargyrite,  galena,  cerussite,  angle- 
site,  blende,  calamine,  native  silver,  silver  sulphide,  pyrite,  realgar, 
gold  and  cerargyrite  also  occur  occasionally.  The  gangue  minerals 
are:  quartz,  calcite,  barite  and  rhodochrosite. 

The  early  silver-lead  properties  in  this  district  were  the  Winne- 
mucca,  Tiawaukee,  Telegraph,  Galena,  Nast,  Giant,  Roman  Empire, 
Spanish,  Stewart  and  Jordan.1 

There  is  probably  no  district  in  the  state  where  such  large  quan- 
tities of  ore  have  been  mined  so  close  to  the  surface  as  at  Bingham. 
The  work  is  largely  done  by  lessees. 

The  Old  Telegraph  mine  has  large  irregular  bodies  of  more  or  less 
siliceous  pyrites  which  in  the  zone 4  of  oxidation  are  altered  into 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  79,  pp.  1176-1178;  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No.  213, 
p.  118,  1905;  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  19,  pp.  377  and  378. 


270 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


ochreous,  spongy  and  brittle  quartz  and  into  siliceous  ochres  of 
various  colors.  Other  bodies  of  galena  with  blende  and  pyrite 
occur  and  correspond  to  the  bodies  of  lead  carbonate  ore  within  the 
zone  of  oxidation  which  have  produced  most  of  the  ore  mined. 
These  oxidized  lead  ores  or  carbonates  carry  as  high  as  16  ounces  of 
silver,  60  per  cent  lead  and  a  little  gold.  The  distribution  of  the 


MINES   AND   MINCHALS. 

Bingham  Canon  Region,  Utah  (1899). 


gold  and  silver  is  very  irregular,  the  larger  part  of  the  ore  being  low- 
grade,  while  pockets  run  considerably  higher.  The  pyrite  ores  are 
low-grade  and  those  parts  that  are  free  from  quartz  contain  from 
5  to  6  ounces  of  silver  and  less  than  $1  in  gold  per  ton.  The  carbon- 
ate ore  carries  about  10  to  12  ounces  in  silver  and  about  $1  in  gold 
per  ton.  The  quartz  ore  may  carry  as  much  gold  and  silver  as  the 
carbonate.  The  ores  are  wholly  sulphide  in  depth.  The  gangue  is 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  271 

usually  quartz,  especially  of  the  pyrite  and  galena  ores,  and  is  in 
the  crystalline  form.1 

Tintic  District.  —  The  country-rock  is  both  sedimentary  and 
igneous;  in  the  former  the  ore-bodies  occur  in  very  irregular  forms, 
being  in  the  shape  of  chambers,  chimneys,  pipes  and  pockets,  and  not 
infrequently  of  considerable  size.  They  extend  on  both  sides  of 
the  planes  of  fracture  and  are  not  separated  from  the  country-rock 
by  walls  and  selvages.  In  the  igneous  rocks  the  veins  are  narrow 
and  regular,  the  walls  being  well  defined.  The  mineralized  zones  in 
the  sedimentary  rocks  are  sometimes  from  100  to  200  feet  in  width 
and  extend  to  depths  of  100  to  400  feet.  Their  size  and  persist- 
ency would  seem  to  indicate  that  these  deposits  are  of  greater 
permanence  than  those  in  the  igneous  rocks.  The  zone  in  which 
the  mines  are  located  does  not  usually  show  its  greatest  values 
close  to  the  surface,  nor  is  there  a  continuous  body  of  ore  along  the 
foot-wall,  but  for  a  width  of  about  1000  feet  its  mineralization  con- 
situtes  an  independent  zone  in  which  the  large  ore-bodies  are  found. 

Gold  is  confined  almost  entirely  to  the  sedimentary  rocks  in  which 
it  is  only  distinguishable  as  free-gold.  Native  gold  is  found  in  small 
quantities  in  the  Mammoth,  Grand  Central  and  Eagle  mines.  Tellu- 
rium is  known  to  occur  in  the  ores,  but  has  not  been  found  associated 
with  the  gold.  Owing  to  the  complete  oxidation  of  the  ores  it  is 
next  to  impossible  to  determine  its  original  condition,  but  was  prob- 
ably auriferous  pyrite. 

Silver  is  common  to  both  sedimentary  and  igneous  rocks,  its  usual 
associate  being  galena,  although  in  the  sedimentary  rock  cerargyrite 
forms  the  most  important  mineral.  Silver  is  also  associated  with 
the  unaltered-  copper  minerals,  but  only  rarely  so  found.  Lead 
seems  to  be  the  predominating  mineral  in  the  northerly  mines  of 
each  zone  except  the  Mammoth.  Sulphides  and  sulpharsenides 
occur  in  both  kinds  of  rocks,  but  sparingly  in  the  sedimentary  and  as 
residual  bodies  in  the  upper  workings.  On  the  other  hand  enargite, 
accompanied  by  chalcopyrite  and  tennanite  are  more  common  in  the 
sedimentary  than  in  the  igneous  rocks.  Blende  is  also  found 
occasionally.2 

The  Mammoth  mine  leads  in  the  production  of  gold.  Gold,  copper, 
silver,  lead  and  bismuth  are  also  found  in  the  mine.  The  ores 
often  run  exceedingly  high  in  value  —  it  is  claimed  that  occasionally 

»  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  16,  p.  26,  and  School  of  Mines  Quarterly,  Vol.  14,  p.  354. 
2  U.  S.  G.  S.,  19  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  pp.  685,  713,  1898,  and  Mines  and  Minerals, 
Vol.  19,  p.  154. 


272  GOLD   AND  SILVER. 

$80,000  in  gold  per  ton  is  obtained  and  similarly  equally  high  values 
in  silver.1 

Tooele  County.  —  The  Chloride  Point  mine  is  situated  on  Lion 
Hill  and  is  really  a  part  of  the  Camp  Floyd  district.  The  vein  for- 
mation consists  of  altered  cherty  and  shattered  limestone  in  which 
are  bunches  and  stringers  of  quartz,  calcite,  barite  and  gypsum. 
The  veins  are  bedded- veins  lying  between  limestone  and  quartzite, 
or  wholly  in  limestone.  The  ores  are  lead-silver  occurring  in  shoots. 
Fissure-veins  also  occur  but  are  of  comparatively  little  importance. 
The  metalliferous  minerals  are:  galena,  cerussite,  stibnite,  mala- 
chite, azurite  and  cuprite.  Lead  is  found  in  the  richer  ores.  Copper 
stains  are  considered  as  an  index  of  good  ore.  The  chlorides  and 
bromides  of  silver  occur  in  cracks  in  the  vein-filling.  The  ore  yields 
from  15  to  40  ounces  of  silver  and  from  $.50  to  $1.50  in  gold  per  ton.2 

State  Line  District.  —  This  district  is  located  in  Iron  County, 
close  to  the  Nevada  line.  Quartz-veins  occur  in  a  dike  of  porphyry 
which  has  been  formed  by  a  succession  of  flows  and  intrusions  of 
igneous  rock.  This  dike  is  fully  a  mile  wide  and  can  be  traced  for 
several  miles.  The  underlying  portions  consist  of  hard,  iron-stained 
quartz-porphyry  or  rhyolite,  while  the  overlying  portions  are  less 
siliceous  and  more  feldspathic.  Fluorspar  occurs  in  considerable 
quantities,  also  black  oxide  of  manganese  in  practically  all  of  the 
veins,  but  neither  are  gold-bearing.  The  strike  of  the  veins  is  usually 
north  and  south  and  east  and  west,  the  former  corresponding  to  the 
fractures  in  the  porphyry.  The  veins  vary  in  width  from  stringers 
to  30  feet.  The  country-rock  is  porphyry. 

The  ore  occurs  in  well-defined  shoots  in  the  north  and  south  veins, 
while  in  the  other  series  of  veins  running  east  and  west  the  ore  has 
displaced  the  country-rock,  there  being  no  well-defined  limits.  A 
characteristic  feature  of  the  east  and  west  veins  is  the  occurrence 
of  silver,  equalling  the  gold  value,  while  the  north  and  south  veins 
carry  but  little.  The  vein-filling  is  quartz  which  carries  the  values. 
The  ore  is  free- milling  but  low-grade,  although  ore  is  mined  which 
runs  as  high  as  $1000  and  $2000  per  ton.3 

Park  City.  —  Park  City  is  situated  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
Wasatch  Mountains  in  the  northern  central  part  of  the  state  and  some 
25  miles  southeast  of  Salt  Lake  City.  The  ore-bodies  occur  in 
fissure- veins,  replacements  and  as  contact  ores.  The  fissures  carry 

1  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  19,  p.  154. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  66,  p.  605,  and  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  77,  p.  451. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  84,  p.  101. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD   AND  SILVER.  273 

silver  or  lead,  with  or  without  zinc,  gray  copper,  or  gold.  In  the 
impregnations  the  ores  are  largely  silver  and  lead  occurring  as  elon- 
gated lenses  in  limestone  and  being  approximately  parallel  with  the 
bedding-planes.  In  the  contact  deposits  the  ore  contains  copper 
and  gold,  with  or  without  silver  and  lead.  The  ore-bodies  are  in  the 
form  of  irregular  masses,  pockets,  lenses  and  pencils  in  metamorphic 
limestones  adjacent  to  intrusive  masses.1 

The  Ontario  mine  was  the  most  important  mine  in  the  district 
during  the  early  days,  but  was  closed  in  1897  when  the  Silver  King 
was  the  only  reliable  producer;  however,  in  1899,  the  Ontario  took 
on  new  life  and  has  produced  smelting  ore  ever  since.  The  ores  are 
lead  carbonate  and  silver,  carrying  some  copper  and  gold.  In  1901 
a  fair-grade  sulphide  and  carbonate  ore  was  found  on  the  fifteenth 
level.2  The  ore  of  the  Silver  King  mine  is  free  from  zinc  which  has 
been  the  source  of  much  trouble  in  the  Cresent,  Anchor  and  Daly 
West  mines.  The  ore  also  contains  some  gold,  but  the  mine  is  not 
considered  as  a  gold  producer.  The  mine  produces  large  amounts 
of  low-grade  concentrating  ore,  composed  largely  of  galena  and  lead 
carbonate.3 

The  Horn  Silver  mine,  at  Frisco,  Beaver  County,  is  located  on  a 
contact  deposit.  A  great  contact  vein  with  a  hanging  wall  of  trachyte 
and  a  foot-wall  of  limestone  and  quartzite  carries  almost  a  solid 
body  of  lead-silver  ore.  The  ore  is  hornsilver  and  sulphate  of 
copper.  Barite  and  other  minerals  occur.  Although  the  fissure  can 
be  traced  for  several  miles  it  is  only  at  the  Horn  Silver  mine  that 
values  are  found.  The  average  thickness  of  the  ore-body  is  50  feet, 
range  20  to  150  feet,  which  is  all  removed  as  pay-rock,  but  of  vary- 
ing degrees  of  richness.  The  ore  carries  from  40  to  50  ounces  of 
silver  and  from  30  to  40  per  cent  of  lead  per  ton.4 

Silver  Reef  District.  —  This  district  is  situated  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  state,  the  town  of  Silver  Reef  being  on  the  upper  Leeds 
Creek.  The  silver  occurs  in  Triassic  sandstones  which  are  traversed 
by  dikes  of  igneous  rock.  There  are  two  strata  of  sandstone  which 
carry  the  silver  minerals,  being  separated  by  beds  of  shale;  they  are 
red  and  white  and  are  associated  with  carbon  and  clays.  Other  beds 
of  clayey  rock  carry  considerable  copper  as  blue  or  green  carbonate 
and  rich  argentiferous  iron  in  nodular  form.  Values  show  along  the 

»  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No.  213,  pp.  39,  52,  1905. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  68,  p.  455,  and  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  82,  p.  242. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  68,  p.  545. 

4  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  27,  p.  219,  and  Colliery  Engineer,  Vol.  12,  p.  50. 


274  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

bedding-planes,  while  the  mineralization  extends  from  a  few  inches  to 
one  and  two  feet  into  the  adjacent  strata.  Probably  the  highest 
values  occur  along  the  contacts  in  the  form  of  extensive  lenses. 
Although  there  is  no  vein  formation  the  silver  values  follow  certain 
channels  and  seams  which  are  connected  with  the  neighboring 
intrusions.  The  best  values  lie  close  to  the  surface,  the  silver 
existing  as  black  sulphurets,  chlorides,  hornsilver  and  native  silver 
in  thin  sheets.  The  silver  occurs  almost  entirely  as  sulphide  below 
the  water-level  and  the  values  average  rather  low.  The  light 
sandstone  stratum  contains  the  silver  mineral  in  streaks  and  thin 
layers  carrying  from  $50  to  $100  in  silver  per  ton,  although  a  more 
usual  range  is  from  $5  to  $30  per  ton. 

The  hornsilver  is  often  invisible  and  occasionally  replaces  the  stems 
and  leaves  of  plants.1 

Deep  Creek  District.  —  The  district  lies  along  the  western  border 
of  the  state  and  southwest  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake.  Gold  occurs  in 
limestone  associated  with  tremolite  and  pyrite.  The  limestones  and 
other  sedimentary  rocks  have  been  considerably  broken  by  over- 
flows of  igneous  rocks,  such  as  granite,  andesite,  etc.  The  ore-bodies 
usually  occur  near  the  contacts  between  limestone  and  igneous  rocks. 
The  gold  is  in  coarse  grains  and  stringers,  is  free  and  in  considerable 
quantity.2 

Box  Elder  County.  —  In  Park  Valley  near  the  base  of  the  Sierra 
Madre  Mountains  are  strong  quartz- veins  between  well-defined  walls 
of  granite,  gneiss  and  porphyry,  and  near  the  surface  in  slates. 
Midway  up  the  mountain  is  a  belt  of  Cambrian  or  Weber  quartzite 
on  the  upper  contact  of  which  is  clay-slate.  The  slate  caps 
Carboniferous  limestone,  which  in  turn  is  overlain  with  chloritic 
schist  and  later  quartzites.  The  ores  contain  gold,  silver,  copper, 
lead,  zinc,  antimony,  iron,  nickel,  cobalt,  molybdenite  and  uranium. 
The  gold-bearing  fissures  occur  in  the  gneiss,  while  the  silver-bearing 
lead  ores  are  in  the  Carboniferous  limestone  and  clay-slate  near  the 
summit  of  the  mountain. 

The  Eldorado  vein  is  a  gold-  and  silver-bearing  lead  vein  lying 
between  blue  limestone  and  clay-slate,  the  limestone  often  containing 
large  bodies  of  ore.  The  ore  usually  has  a  value  of  from  20  to  85  per  cent 
lead,  30  ounces  in  silver  and  from  2  to  Q  pennyweights  in  gold  per  ton.3 

1  Colliery  Engineer,  Vol.  12,  p.  73;  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  20,  p.  323,  and 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  23,  p.  317. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  53,  p.  253. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  82,  p.  93. 


OCCURRENCE  OF   GOLD  AND  SILVER.  275 

From  present  indications  it  is  probable  that  the  production  of 
gold  from  smelting  ores  will  increase.  However,  nothing  definite 
is  known  regarding  the  ore-reserves  of  the  large  districts,  as  for 
instance  the  Mercur,  but  with  the  opening  of  new  mines,  as  is  con- 
stantly being  done,  the  prospects  are  encouraging. 

Vermont.  —  Gold  has  been  found  in  the  extreme  northern  part  of 
the  state  next  to  Massachusetts.  Search  for  gold- veins  began  with 
the  discovery  of  a  small  nugget  at  Readsboro.  The  first  work  was 
probably  done  about  1884.  Ore  was  mined  yielding,  according  to 
report,  from  $30  to  $40  per  ton,  of  which  $25  was  gold. 

The  Taggart  vein  at  Bridgewater  was  opened  in  1859  and  pro- 
duced 10  tons  of  ore  which  yielded  374  pennyweights  of  21.5  carat 
gold. 

The  following  assay  by  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  gives 
an  idea  of  the  value :  1 

Gold none. 

Silver 1.27  oz. 

Copper. 6.19  per  cent. 

Lead 6.26    "      " 

Two  nuggets  found  at  the  Plymouth  mine,  in  1855  and  1861,  were 
worth  $9  and  $14  respectively. 

According  to  Hitchcock2  in  1861,  "  We  trust  that  too  much  is 
known  of  the  subject  at  the  present  day  to  leave  any  to  indulge  in 
extravagant  speculation,  or  to  make  investments  without  reason." 

The  Virginias.  —  The  gold  belt  consists  of  an  accumulation  of 
veins  of  iron  pyrite  associated  with  chalcopyrite.  The  veins  have  a 
quartz-filling  in  which  the  gold  occurs  as  spangles,  plates,  grains  and 
well-developed  crystals.  Pyrite  is  evidently  the  matrix  of  the  gold 
and  silver.3 

The  principal  gold-region  is  the  Virginia  belt,  which  extends  from 
Montgomery  County,  Maryland,  to  the  North  Carolina  line,  paralleling 
and  lying  on  the  east  side  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  Mining  is  carried  on 
principally  in  Fauquier,  Stafford,  Culpepper,  Orange  and  Spottsyl- 
vania  counties,  being  in  a  belt  some  15  miles  wide  at  the  junction  of 
the  Rappahannock  and  Rapidan  rivers,  although  Louisa,  Fluvanna 
and  Goochland  counties  have  been  the  seat  of  active  operations. 

In  Louisa  County  are  large  bo'dies  of  pyrite  occurring  in  lenses,  often 
60  feet  thick  and  over  600  feet  long.  Traces  of  gold  are  found  in  the 

>  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No.  225,  pp.  85,  87,  1904. 

3  Vermont  Geol.  Survey,  Final  Report,  Vol.  1,  p.  533. 

3  American  Jour,  of  Min.,  Vol.  2,  p.'  389. 


276  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

pyrite  deposits,  which  also  contain  small  quartz-veins  bearing  gold. 
The  State  Hill  mine  of  this  county  contains  quartz-veins  which  yield 
ore  averaging  $4  per  ton. 

According  to  Professor  Silliman  the  average  values  of  the  Busby 
and  Moss  mines  of  Fluvanna  and  Goochland  counties  are  $160  and 
$140  per  ton,  while  the  Fisher  mine  has  $60  ore. 

Gold  is  also  found  in  Patrick,  Carroll  and  Grayson  counties  but  in 
small  quantities  and  associated  with  copper.1 

Gold  and  silver  are  occasionally  reported  as  being  found  in  the 
Panhandle  of  West  Virginia.  It  is  supposed  to  occur  in  beds  of  shale 
contiguous  to  coal  strata.  It  is  claimed  that  the  precious  metals  are 
associated  with  pyrite.  According  to  J.  D.  Whitham  $5,000,000 
worth  of  the  precious  metals  were  taken  out  of  the  Lake  Valley 
mines,  while  at  another  place  $340,000  were  obtained.2 

Washington.  —  The  country  has  been  subjected  to  extensive 
lava-flows  which  overlie  folded  sedimentary  rocks  of  a  considerable 
range  in  age.  The  Monte  Cristo  in  the  Cascade  Range  and  the 
Republic  districts  are  the  two  most  important  sources  of  gold  in 
Washington.  From  the  limited  amount  of  information  available 
the  precious  metal  deposits  are  found  in  fissure-veins,  contacts  and 
impregnations.  The  ore  forming  minerals  are:  chalcopyrite,  pyrite, 
bornite,  pyrrhotite,  marcasite,  arsenopyrite,  galena,  cuprite,  bende, 
magnetite,  stibnite,  argentite,  millerite,  realgar,  etc.,  while  the  gangue 
is  quartz,  tonalite,  andesite,  dolomite  and  limestone. 

The  Republic  District.  —  This  district  contains  the  Republic  mine 
and  is  composed  largely  of  sandstones  of  the  Cretaceous  and  possibly 
Tertiary  ages.  Archaen  granites  and  syenites  and  Silurian  syenite 
occur,  while  between  the  granite  and  sandstones  are  thin  beds  of 
gneiss  and  mica-schists.  The  fissures  of  the  vein  systems  follow  the 
lines  of  contact  and  structure,  while  others  run  transversely.  Further, 
the  veins  are  considerably  faulted  and  cut  by  intrusions  of  porphyry 
and  vary  in  width  from  a  few  inches  to  60  and  70  feet,  average 
between  4  and  20  feet  or  probably  eight  feet. 

The  foot-wall  is  andesite-porphyry  and  the  hanging-wall  porphy- 
ritic  conglomerate  overlain  with  argillaceous  sandstone  somewhat 
metamorphosed. 

The  vein-filling  is  country-rock  and  quartz  of  a  variety  of  colors, 
usually  .containing  only  gold  and  silver;  however,  pyrite  occurs  either 
finely  disseminated  or  in  aggregations,  but  seldom  carries  any  values, 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  pp.  689-693. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  48,  p.  71. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  277 

although  it  is  considered  as  an  index  of  ore-bodies.  The  ores  are 
highly  siliceous,  containing  as  much  as  93  per  cent  of  silica.  The 
gold  is  usually  very  finely  subdivided,  although  it  is  found  in  fine  grains 
in  the  rich  ores.  The  quartz  occasionally  carries  black  sulphurets  of 
silver  which  are  also  gold-bearing. J  The  district  is  essentially  a 
gold  region,  although  some  mines  yield  considerable  silver.  The 
general  average  of  a  large  number  of  mines  is  $12  to  $16  per  ton, 
although  occasional  enriched  portions  run  as  high  as  $50  and  $1000. 
Large  quantities  of  ore  run  as  low  as  $10  and  more  yet  of  a  value  of 
$6,  but  are  not  worked.  The  proportion  of  silver  to  gold  is,  for  ore 
milled,  3.2  to  1  ounce,  which  does  not,  however,  represent  the  true 
value.  About  twenty-five  mines  produce  ores  more  valuable  in 
silver  than  gold.  The  average  of  the  district  is  5  ounces  silver  to  1 
ounce  of  gold. 

The  ore  is  difficult  to  treat,  necessitating  unusually  fine  crushing  to 
liberate  the  gold  so  it  can  be  leached  out.2 

The  Mountain  Lion  mine  probably  ranks  second  or  next  to  the 
Republic  as  a  producer  in  this  district;  it  consists  of  the  following 
claims:  Mountain  Lion,  Flat  Iron,  Lost  Chance,  Navahoe,  Zeta  and 
Mountain  Lion  Fraction. 

Monte  Cristo  District.  —  The  country-rock  is  black  slate  over- 
lying a  metamorphic  granite.  A  system  'of  east  and  west  veins  carry 
argentiferous  galena  in  the  slates,  with  which  are  associated  arseno- 
pyrite  and  blende,  with  silver  in  excess  of  the  gold  values ;  but  when 
the  veins  enter  the  granite  below,  the  amount  of  galena  decreases 
and  even  disappears  altogether.  The  ore  then  becomes  an  arsen- 
ical pyrite  in  which  the  gold  value  is  in  excess  of  the  silver  value. 
Probably  two-thirds  of  the  ore  of  this  district  is  suitable  for 
concentration.3 

The  ores  occur  mainly  in  the  joints  and  fractures,  often  being 
localized  at  the  intersection  of  fractures ;  therefore  wherever  the  rock 
has  been  most  fractured  is  the  seat  of  .the  greatest  mineralization. 
In  passing  from  above  downward  the  minerals  occur  roughly  in  the 
following  order:  galena,  blende,  chalcopyrite,  pyrite  and  arsenopyrite; 
the  upper  zone  containing  galena,  blende  and  chalcopyrite,  with  more 
gold  and  silver  than  the  lower  zone  in  which  pyrite  and  arseno- 
pyrite predominate.4 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  68,  p.  636. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  74,  p.  74. 

8  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  55,  p.  343. 

4  U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Ann.  Rept.,  Ft.  2,  p.  865,  1901. 


278  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Silverton  District.  —  This  district  lies  in  Snohomish  County  and 
produces  both  gold  and  silver.  The  characteristic  ore  is  chalco- 
pyrite,  which  is  associated  with  bornite  in  the  Index  region  and  with 
pyrrhotite  and  pyrite  at  Silverton.  Galena  is  also  present,  accom- 
panied by  ruby  silver. 

The  Independent  mine  carries  its  ore  in  quartz-veins  and  also  in 
the  interlaminated  schists.  The  ore  is  pyrite,  lollingite  (an  arseno- 
pyrite  low  in  sulphur),  galena  and  traces  of  blende.  Realgar  is 
found  with  the  gold,  but  occurs  sparingly.  The  lollingite  seems  to  be 
the  principal  gold-bearer  for  the  district.  Other  veins  parallel  with 
the  Independent  produce  ores  which  differ  mainly  in  the  galena  and 
blende-content.  Small  amounts  of  chalcopyrite  and  ruby  silver  are 
found,  while  bornite  is  notably  absent.1 

Stevens  County.  —  The  silver  mines  of  this  region  are  probably 
the  largest  producers  in  the  state.  The  ore  is  composed  of  silver 
sulphide  and  galena  in  limestone,  and  ranges  in  value  from  25  to 
100  ounces  silver  and  40  to  70  per  cent  lead  per  ton.  The  Chewelah, 
Alice,  Copper  King,  Jay  Gould  and  Golden  Crown  are  the  principal 
mines.2 

Wisconsin.  — "  Gold  might  naturally  be  expected  to  occur,  in 
small  quantities  at  least,  anywhere  within  the  region  of  crystalline 
rocks  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state;  and  it  has  in  fact  been  reported 
from  that  region  at  a  number  of  points.  So  far  as  my  own  tests  are 
concerned,  however,  —  and  I  have  no  other  reliable  information  — 
these  reports  have  always  failed  of  proof  save  in  one  instance.  In 
some  samples  of  a  quartz  carrying  pyrite  and  arsenopyrite  brought 
me  from  the  northern  part  of  Clark  County,  I  found  minute  quantities 
of  both  gold  and  silver.  It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  gold  in  quan- 
tity will  ever  be  found  in  Wisconsin."  3 

Gold  also  occurs  in  veins  of  diabase  in  Douglas  County  and  in  the 
Chippawa  mine,  assays  of  the  ore  have  shown  a  value  of  $9  per  ton. 

Native  gold  and  silver  have  been  found  alone  and  in  the  native 
copper  occurring  in  the  drift  from  the  copper  region  of  Lake  Superior, 
also  in  the  Keweenawan  system  of  rocks  which  is  silver-bearing  near 
Ontonagon  on  the  Iron  River  in  Michigan  and  extends  westward 
across  the  Montreal  River  into  Wisconsin.  Both  silver  and  copper 
are  found  in  this  formation,  but  owing  to  the  lack  of  success  in  work- 

>  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  72,  p.  105,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  73,  p.  832. 
3  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  18,  p.  313. 

3  Trans.  Wis.  Acad.  Sci.,  Arts  and  Letters,  Vol.  1,  Geol.  of  Wis.,  1873-79, Vol.1, 
p.  310,  and  Geol.  Wis.  Vol.  1,  p.  661. 


OCCURRENCE  OF   GOLD  AND  SILVER.  279 

ing  this  silver-bearing  stratum  in  Michigan  little  or  no  work  has  been 
done  upon  it  in  this  state.  Silver  also  occurs  in  the  lead  ores  of 
southwestern  Wisconsin,  but  in  minute  quantities  only.  According 
to  the  Geological  Reports  of  the  state:  "  there  is  no  justification  for 
fostering  an  expectation  of  rich  results,  or  for  incurring  an  expense 
beyond  what  the  satisfaction  of  knowing,  or  the  possibilities,  rather 
than  the  probabilities,  may  warrant.1 

Wyoming.  —  Granite  and  gneiss  constitute  the  formations  of  the 
central  portion  of  some  of  the  larger  mountain  ranges.  The  Cre- 
taceous and  Tertiary  rocks  form  the  plains  and  plateaus.  The 
National  Park  of  the  northwest  is  largely  volcanic,  while  in  the  north- 
eastern portion  of  the  state  is  a  part  of  the  Black  Hills.  The  precious 
metals  are  found  in  both  sedimentary  and  igneous  rocks  and  usually 
in  quartz- veins. 

The  Grand  Encampment  and  Saratoga  Districts.  —  In  1899  the 
principal  mines  of  this  region  were:  the  Rambler  or  Doane,  Ru- 
defeha,  Chatterton-Kurtz,  Haskins,  Bohemian,  Charter  Oak,  Meta, 
Alma,  Puzzler,  Spring  Creek,  Badger,  Cox,  Evans,  etc.,  all  of  which 
were  largely  in  the  prospect  stage.  However,  some  ore  has  been 
mined  and  assays  made  on  a  sample  from  the  Cox  mine  are  said  to 
show  48.8  per  cent  copper,  $17.16  in  gold  and  $3.87  in  silver  per  ton.2 

Weston  County.  —  This  district  is  situated  about  65  miles  from 
Deadwood,  South  Dakota.  The  gold  occurs  in  portions  of  a  coal 
seam,  silver  is  also  present  but  in  smaller  amounts.  Pyrite  is 
associated  with  the  gold,  certain  specimens  contain  as  much  as 
3  pennyweight  of  gold  per  ton  of  coke,  although  the  average  is 
between  1  and  2  pennyweight  per  ton.3 

Sweetwater  County.  —  Gold  and  silver  occur  in  quartz-veins 
traversing  granites,  gneisses  and  schists. 

The  mining  industry  of  this  state  is  handicapped  by  lack  of 
capital,  transportation  facilities  and  severe  climatic  conditions  —  capi- 
tal and  railroads  will  come  in  time  and  with  the  consequent  develop- 
ment the  disadvantage  of  a  rigorous  climate  will  be  largely  alleviated. 

To  supplement  the  foregoing  discussion  a  table  on  the  occur- 
rence and  mineralogical  association  of  ores  has  been  prepared,  see 
tables  following  Chapter  VII.  (Appendix  of  Tables.) 

*  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  8,  p.  488;  Geol.  Wis.  Vol.  1,  1873-79,  p.  661;  Ibid.,  Vol.  2, 
p.  27;  Vol.  3,  pp.  201,  206,  358,  and  669;  Vol.  4,  pp.  382-383,  and  Eng.  and  Min. 
Jour.,  Vol.  74,  p.  248. 

2  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  20,  p.  28. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  90,  p.  184. 


280  GOLD   AND   SILVER 

Permanence  in  Depth.  —  The  occurrence  of  workable  ores  in 
depth  is  a  subject,  the  discussion  of  which  is  of  peculiar  interest  to 
the  mining  engineer  and  mining  geologist.  Much  is  known  regard- 
ing the  genesis  of  ore-deposits  of  moderate  depth,  but  as  yet  our 
knowledge  of  the  occurrence  of  ores  at  greater  depth  is  very  meagre 
and  most  uncertain  and  unreliable  at  best,  and  is  based  upon  only 
a  comparatively  few  disconnected  and  isolated  cases.  However,  we 
may  hope  that  in  time  the  system,  if  such  exists,  of  the  occurrence  of 
metalliferous  minerals  in  depth  will  be  revealed  under  the  intelligent 
and  painstaking  search  of  those  whose  business  it  is  to  direct  the 
mining  industry  of  the  world.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  facts  already 
known,  or  such  fortified  by  information  subsequently  obtained,  will 
ultimately  be  correlated  and  crystallized  into  an  orderly  system  of 
occurrence  in  a  manner  similar  to  the  law  of  vadose  or  ground-water 
and  permanent  water-levels,  and  the  oxidized  and  unoxidized  zones, 
together  with  the  zone  of  secondary  enrichment. 

Although  the  depth  to  which  fissures  may  extend  and  remain  open 
sufficiently  long  to  permit  the  formation  of  bodies  of  mineral  matter 
is  largely  conjectural,  yet  it  has  been  estimated  with  some  degree  of 
certainty.  According  to  the  old  German  miners  the  "ewige  Teufe," 
the  extreme  depth  at  which  fissures  may  remain  open  in  the  most 
resistant  rocks,  is  10,000  meters.1  Professor  Van  Hise's  "zone  of 
flowage"  begins  at  a  depth  of  5,000  to  12,000  meters.2  Thirty 
thousand  feet  then  for  rocks  such  as  granite  and  10,000  feet  for 
softer  rocks  as  shales  may  be  considered  the  probable  depth  to  which 
veins  remain  open  and,  if  other  conditions  do  not  prevent,  the  depth 
to  which  mining  operations  may  be  carried. 

The  origin  of  fissures  is  probably  largely  due  to  the  intrusions  of 
igneous  rocks,  such  as  granite,  porphyry,  etc.,  and  we  may  therefore 
expect  to  find  the  widest,  deepest  and  richest  veins  flanking  mountain 
ranges  and  in  general  in  the  centers  of  greatest  disturbance.  The 
common  occurrence  of  mineral-bearing  veins  in  or  adjacent  to  areas 
of  igneous  rocks  is  generally  recognized  at  the  present  time,  as  has 
been  pointed  out,  in  the  case  of  gold  deposits,  by  Lindgren.3  In 
contra-distinction  to  the  association  of  metalliferous  mineral  veins 
with  igneous  rocks  are  the  fissures  occurring  at  a  distance  from 

1  Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  10,  p.  91. 

The  limit  set  by  Professor  Heim,  at  which  fissures  or  open  spaces  cannot 
exist,  is  16,000  feet.  U.  S.  G.  S.,  17  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  2,  p.  162. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  New  York  Meeting,  Apr.,  1907,  p.  502. 
8  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  790,  1903. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  281 

mountain  masses  as  in  plains  and  valleys,  which  are  usually  barren  or 
only  slightly  metalliferous. 

As  a  rule  veins  contain  ores  of  workable  value  to  comparatively 
shallow  depth  only,  and  therefore  mines  located  thereon  are  soon 
exhausted.  However,  care  should  be  taken  that  too  broad  and 
sweeping  generalizations  are  not  made  without  due  consideration 
as  to  the  nature  of  the  deposit  in  question,  as  well  as  that  of  the 
neighboring  country-rock  and  the  geological  age  of  both.  It  may 
be  that  erosion  has  removed  the  greater  part  of  a  vein  in  its  vertical 
dimensions  leaving  only  the  root  as  it  were  as  the  part  with  which 
we  have  to  do.  Facts  obtained  and  conclusions  drawn  from  such 
fragmentary  evidence  are  obviously  unreliable.  Further,  other 
veins  protected  from  erosion  by  an  overflow  of  igneous  material  and 
therefore  left  intact  may  represent  an  unbroken  record  throughout 
their  vertical  length.  But  in  this  case  the  record,  although  unbroken, 
is  incomplete  owing  to  the  elimination  of  the  after  effects  of  the 
secondary  action  of  percolating  waters,  having  been  effectually 
sealed  by  the  lava  cap,  and  conclusions  drawn  therefrom  may  be 
as  illy  applicable  to  ore-deposits  in  general  as  in  the  former  instance. 

The  processes  of  oxidation  and  leaching  of  the  sulphides  of  the 
primary  deposits  in  the  upper  portion  of  veins  may  disguise  the  true 
nature  of  the  deposit,  and,  as  has  been  previously  stated,  not  until 
the  permanent  water-level  has  been  reached  and  passed  can  the 
true  character  of  the  deposit  be  determined.  Such,  indeed,  was  the 
case  at  Leadville,  Colorado;  Bingham,  Utah;  Ely,  Nevada;  and 
in  many  other  localities  both  in  the  United  States  and  abroad  — 
one  of  the  most  prominent  cases  outside  of  the  States  is  that  of  the 
Mount  Morgan  mine,  Australia,  where  a  gold  mine  has  proven  te  be 
a  great  copper  mine. 

In  other  cases  the  metallic-content  of  the  oxidized  portions  of  a 
vein  may  be  wholly  wanting,  owing  either  to  scant  primary  occurrence 
of  the  sulphides  or  to  their  more  or  less  complete  removal.  And  as 
has  been  remarked,  "  In  such  cases  the  discovery  of  the  subterranean 
treasures  is  purely  fortuitous  "  —  Butte  is  a  case  in  point.1 

The  natural  concentration  often  effected  in  the  oxidized  portions 
of  a  vein,  together  with  the  metallic  state  of  the  values,  may  render 
those  portions  sufficiently  valuable  to  warrant  mining,  while  the 
unaltered  portions  with  the  widely  disseminated  values  combined 
with  sulphide  minerals  may  be  unworkable.2  This  condition  of 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  84,  p.  1068. 

2  U.  S.  G.  S.,  17  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  2,  p.  161. 


282  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

affairs  may  exist  in  narrow  and  wide  veins  alike,  but  under  similar 
conditions  of  dissemination  it  may  be  said  that  a  vein  of  considerable 
width  can  be  worked  more  profitably  than  a  narrow  one  —  the  Alaska- 
Treadwell  and  Homestake  mines  may  be  cited  as  instances  where 
low-grade  deposits  are  worked  with  profit,  which  condition  of  affairs  is 
rendered  possible  only  through  a  large  output.  It  is  claimed  that  cer- 
tain veins  in  Calif  orni a  with  a  width  of  only  three  feet  have  been  worked 
very  profitably  at  or  near  the  surface,  which,  with  depths  of  600  to 
700  feet,  have  proven  unprofitable  to  work  owing  to  the  scattering 
of  values  and  that,  too,  when  the  width  has  increased  to  40,  60  and 
even  up  to  120  feet.1 

Sir  Frederick  McCoy  speaking  of  the  probable  occurrence  of  gold 
with  depth  says:  "  I  believe,  as  a  rule,  the  upper  portion  of  gold 
veins  is  richer  than  the  lower,  but  that  there  is  no  limit  to  the  depth 
at  which  traces  of  gold  may  be  found." 2 

Uniform  dissemination  of  values  in  vein-rock,  both  vertically  and 
horizontally,  is  the  exception  rather  than  the  rule,  both  primary  and 
secondary  occurrences  favoring  unequal  and  irregular  distribution, 
and  owing  to  the  irregularities  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  determine 
when  the  limits  of  an  ore-body  have  been  reached.  However,  ore- 
shoots,  bonanzas,  etc.,  although  broken  in  their  continuity,  often 
show  a  pronounced  tendency  to  maintain  more  or  less  vertical,  rarely 
horizontal,  lines,  which  condition,  when  once  established  with  cer- 
tainty, is  of  considerable  importance  in  the  development  and  opera- 
tion of  a  mining  property. 

Regarding  the  influence  of  width  on  the  comparative  richness  of 
veins  no  definite  conclusions  can  be  stated,  except  in  special  in- 
stances; both  wide  and  narrow  veins  have  produced  extremely  rich 
ores,  and  in  fact  the  same  general  locality  may  contain  such  occur- 
rences. Probably  the  narrow  veins  of  Grass  Valley,  California,  and 
Colorado  may  be  classed  among  the  most  productive  in  the  United 
States. 

The  following  specific  instances  are  cited  illustrative  of  the  actual 
conditions  existing  in  some  of  the  most  prominent  mines  and  districts 
of  the  States:  In  the  gold  belt  of  the  Sierra  Nevadas,  Lindgren  3 
states  that  it  is  "  an  incontestable  fact  that  many  small  veins  close 
up  in  depth."  In  Amador  County,  California,  at  the  Kennedy  mine, 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  13,  p.  50. 

2  Ibid.,  Vol.  78,  p.  258. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  17  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  2,  p.  162,  1895-96,  and  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Genesis 
of  Ore-Deposits,  1901,  p.  290. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  283 

after  working  in  medium  and  low-grade  ores  a  barren  zone  was 
encountered  at  a  depth  of  400  to  500  feet,  but  on  proceeding  to  a 
depth  of  900  feet  a  body  of  high-grade  ore  was  struck  which  extended 
to  a  depth  of  1000  feet  more  and  yielded  several  millions  of  dollars 
worth  of  ore.  Later  another  body  of  high-grade  ore  was  encountered 
at  a  depth  of  2200  feet,  which  so  encouraged  the  management  of  the 
Argonaut,  a  neighboring  property,  that  a  deep  shaft  was  sunk  to  a 
depth  of  1000  feet  when  a  valuable  discovery  was  made.1 

The  depth  of  a  number  of  the  prominent  mines  on  the  Mother  lode, 
California,  especially  in  Amador  and  Calaveras  counties,  are  approxi- 
mately as  follows:2 

Incline  Feet.  Vertical  Feet. 

Lincoln 2000 1766 

Baliol  ....    .    ...    .  .„   ...   .,."..- 1800 

South  Eureka 1800 

Central  Eureka 2300 2030 

Oneida 2300 

Kennedy 2863 

Argonaut 2100 

Zeila 120o 

Gwin        2380 

In  1906  the  Kennedy,  Central  Eureka,  Oneida  and  Gwin  mines 
were  stoping  on  or  below  the  2700,  2000,  1900  and  2000-foot  levels, 
which  condition  of  affairs  shows  that  free-gold  ores  do  occur  in  depth, 
although  the  bonanzas  are  of  less  frequent  occurrence  in  the  lower 
than  in  the  upper  levels.  Hopes  are  entertained  that  paying  values 
may  be  found  at  much  greater  depths,  which  cannot,  however, 
probably  exceed  5,000  feet,  owing  to  the  increasing  temperature  of 
the  workings. 

It  has  been  estimated  that  fully  3000  feet  of  the  veins  have  been 
removed  by  erosion,  which,  if  so,  would  indicate  a  depth  of  some  6000 
feet  as  that  of  deposition  of  gold  ores  in  this  locality.  In  Calaveras 
County,  the  Utica  mine  showed  a  decided  improvement  in  value  of 
ore  with  depth  and  the  same  has  been  the  case  with  other  properties. 
However,  other  important  mines  of  the  Mother  lode  have  not  been 
so  fortunate  and,  although  developed  to  a  depth  of  1200  to  1500  feet, 
the  results  have  been  much  less  satisfactory  than  at  a  more  moderate 
depth  of  800  or  900  feet.  Furthermore,  the  cases  given  were  located 
at  the  most  favorable  portions  of  the  surface.3  Speaking  of  the 

1  Proceedings  Royal  Society  of  New  South  Wales,  Vol.  9,  p.  75,  1875. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  92,  p.  41. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  76,  p.  106. 


284  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

veins  of  the  Grass  Valley  district,  Lindgren  says,  "  It  can  be  con- 
fidently stated  that  there  is  no  gradual  diminution  of  the  tenor  of 
the  ore  in  the  pay  shoots  below  the  zone  of  surface  decomposition; 
within  the  same  shoot  there  may  be  many  and  great  variations  of 
the  tenor,  but  there  is  certainly  no  gradual  decrease  of  it  from  the 
surface  down."  x  Such  facts  have  been  previously  brought  out  by 
Professor  Silliman  and  Mr.  J.  A.  Phillips,  while  statements  to  the 
contrary  have  been  made  by  Mr.  Laur  or  Mr.  Reyer.2  Mr.  Lindgren, 
however,  states  that  from  the  standpoint  of  production,  in  tons  and 
value,  this  district  has  undeniably  shown  a  decided  decrease.  This 
statement  also  includes  the  average  value  of  the  ore.  He  explains 
the  decrease  as  follows:  "  The  cost  of  treatment  and  mining  has 
decreased  greatly  by  reason  of  the  modern  methods  introduced,  and 
more  low-grade  ores  are  now  milled  than  formerly;  nor  are  there  any 
rich  surface  ores  left  to  swell  the  grade.3 

With  reference  to  the  occurrence  of  the  ores  in  the  Cripple  Creek 
district,  Messrs.  Lindgren  and  Ransome  state  that  "  The  position  of 
this  carbonaceous  material  (the  materials  now  filling  the  volcanic 
neck)  affords  material  support  to  the  view  .  .  .  that  the  Cripple 
Creek  ores  were  deposited  at  a  very  moderate  depth."4  However,  Mr. 
T.  A.  Rickard,5  argues  as  follows  regarding  the  probable  continuance 
of  the  ore  in  depth  in  the  mines  of  this  district.  "  What  of  the  deep? 
Will  increasing  depth  be  accompanied  by  impoverishment?  This  is 
not  asked  with  the  timidity  of  a  few  years  ago,  when  the  lodes  had 
only  been  followed  two  or  three  hundred  feet  in  vertical  descent,  and 
it  was  foreseen  that  they  would  eventually  cut  into  the  granite 
under  the  breccia.  At  that  time  the  future  of  the  district  was 
uncertain,  and  many  cautious  men  held  back  in  fear  of  unfavorable 
developments.  It  is  obvious  that  the  mines  near  the  edge  of  the 
depression  occupied  by  the  breccia  will  penetrate  into  granite.  .  .  . 
This  has  occurred  notably  in  the  case  of  the  Independence  and  Port- 
land mines,  which  reach  the  granite  on  the  southern  and  western 
sides  of  the  territory  owned  by  them.  It  is  very  satisfactory  to  be 
able  to  record  the  fact  that  magnificent  ore-bodies  have  been  found 
in  these  two  properties  upon  veins  which  have  been  followed  down- 
ward into  the  underlying  granite.  If  good  ore  is  found  in  the  granite 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  17  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  2,  p.  163. 

2  Hiitten-  imd  Salienenwesen  im  preuss,  Staate,  Vol.  34,  pp.  1-28,  1886. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  17  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  2,  p.  163. 

4  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Professional  Paper,  No.  54,  p.  32,  1906. 

5  Trans.  Inst.  Min.  and  Met.,  Vol.  8,  p.  93,  1899-1900. 


OCCURRENCE  OF   GOLD   AND  SILVER.  285 

at  a  horizontal  distance  of  2,000  feet  from  the  mass  of  breccia,  why 
should  it  not  be  also  found  at  a  similar  vertical  distance  below  the 
same  formation?  " 

The  following  facts  regarding  the  occurrence  of  ore  in  the  Cripple 
Creek  mines,  during  1903,  is  of  interest  in  this  connection.1  The 
Portland  shaft  had  a  depth  of  1,200  feet,  and  the  ore-bodies  encoun- 
tered, as  a  rule,  showed  no  signs  of  playing  out.  The  Hidden  Treas- 
ure, one  of  the  larger  ore-bodies,  first  opened  up  on  the  10th  level, 
is  500  feet  long  with  an  average  stoping  width  of  ten  feet.  The 
average  value  of  the  shipping  ore  was  $35  per  ton.  The  Stratton's 
Independence  shaft  had  a  depth  of  1,400  feet  and  showed  little  ore 
in  the  lower  levels.  The  Gold  Coin  shaft  was  1,200  feet  deep.  The 
vein  contains  low-grade  ore  and  is  rather  irregular.  It  was  last  cut 
on  the  10th  level,  where  it  was  poor.  The  shaft  of  the  Golden  Cycle 
was  down  1,000  feet.  There  has  been  a  marked  improvement  from 
the  7th  level  downward.  Two  ore-shoots  were  encountered  on  the 
10th  level,  which  had  a  combined  length  of  400  feet  with  an  average 
thickness  of  ten  feet.  The  average  value  of  the  shipping  ore  was  $35 
per  ton.  The  Vindicator  shaft  had  a  depth  of  1,200  feet.  The  lower 
levels  showed  high-grade  ores.  A  400-foot  ore-body  was  struck  on  the 
10th  level  with  an  average  thickness  of  nine  feet.  The  ore  averaged 
$50  per  ton.  The  Eagles  shaft  was  1,500  feet  deep.  The  main  ore- 
body  has  been  encountered  at  the  5th,  8th,  llth,  and  15th  levels,  the 
llth  being  the  best  opened.  The  ore-body  was  120  feet  long  with  a 
width  of  five  feet  yielding  ore  valued  at  $60  per  ton.  The  15th  level 
showed  high-grade  ore.  The  Doctor- Jackpot  mine  was  700  feet  deep. 
Winzes  sunk  below  the  7th  level  showed  high-grade  ore  which  in- 
creased in  richness  with  depth.  Average  shipments  from  the  winzes 
have  averaged  $40  per  ton.  The  Gold  King  shaft  had  a  depth  of  920 
feet.  The  6th  and  7th  levels  were  poor,  while  raises  and  winzes 
driven  from  the  8th  developed  rich  ore,  which  was  especially  found 
in  the  winzes.  Assays  showed  four  feet  of  $80  ore  and  12  feet  of 
lower-grade.  The  Shurtloff  shaft  was  920  feet  deep  and  had  developed 
no  ore  in  quantity  above  the  7th  level.  On  the-  8th  level  an  ore- 
body  160  feet  long  and  five  feet  wide  was  opened  up,  which  yielded 
shipping  ores  worth  $45  per  ton.  Even  better  showings  were  found 
on  the  9th  level.  The  Findley  shaft  was  down  1,300  feet.  No 
ore-body  of  importance  was  found  above  the  7th  level.  At  750  feet 
a  body  of  fair  ore  was  found  which  continued  to  a  depth  of  1,300 
feet.  The  12th  level  was  the  best  in  the  mine,  where  the  ore-body 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  76,  pp.  86-88. 


286  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

was  350  feet  long  by  four  feet  wide,  averaging  $35  per  ton.  The  Blue 
Bird  shaft  had  a  depth  of  1,350  feet.  Considerable  ore  was  found  on 
the  6th,  7th  and  8th  levels.  Ore  was  again  encountered  on  the  9th 
and  llth  levels,  where  a  space  from  300  to  400  feet  in  length  by  five 
feet  in  width  was  occuDied  by  ore.  The  Last  Dollar  shaft  had  a 
depth  of  1,220  feet  and  is  claimed  to  have  the  most  remarkable 
showing  in  depth  of  any  mine  in  the  camp,  the  bottom  level  being 
the  best.  Two  veins  occur  running  parallel  which  with  the  included 
rock  constitute  a  mass  75  feet  wide  which  can  be  regarded  as  low- 
grade  ore.  The  Princess  Alice  shaft  was  down  1,000  feet,  which  was 
still  further  extended  by  a  winze  to  a  depth  of  1,320  feet.  A  rich 
ore-body  was  struck  at  the  1,220-foot  level.  The  Wild  Horse  was 
1,250  feet  deep.  The  largest  and  probably  the  best  stope  in  the 
mine  was  between  the  8th  and  10th  levels.  It  was  100  feet  long  and 
15  feet  wide,  and  yielded  $90  ore.  The  Isabella  and  Victor  yielded  the 
best  ore  above  the  500-foot  level,  although  some  rich  ore  was  en- 
countered on  the  10th  level.  The  Elkton  shaft  was  800  feet  deep  and 
carried  its  best  ore  at  the  bottom.  The  Hull  City  shaft  was  1,180 
feet  deep.  An  ore-body  450  feet  long  by  eight  feet  wide  with  $40 
ore  occurred  at  the  bottom.  The  Ajax  shaft  was  down  1,200  feet. 
Work  had  not  been  carried  below  the  10th  level  but  the  ore  was 
evidently  just  as  good  there  as  elsewhere  in  the  mine.  There  were 
four  other  deep  shafts  in  which  no  ore  occurred  at  the  bottom.  Out 
of  23  deep  shafts  which  yielded  ore  19  showed  good  ore  at  the  bottom 
levels,  a  remarkably  good  showing  and  one  which  augurs  well  for  the 
future  of  the  camp. 

According  to  Lindgren: l  "  A  review  of  the  veins  which  cut  through 
surface  lavas  will  show  that  many  of  them  have  been  followed  down 
for  over  a  thousand  feet  from  a  point  which  was  undoubtedly  near 
the  original  surface.  In  the  Silver  City  district  a  depth  of  over  2,000 
feet  has  been  attained,  in  Cripple  Creek  1,500  feet,  and  in  the  San 
Juan  country,  Colorado,  at  least  one  of  the  veins  has  actually  been 
proved  payable  within  a  vertical  range  of  3,000  feet.  But  in  most 
cases  the  ore  —  which  generally  is  of  higher  value  than  in  the  deep 
gold-quartz  mines  of  California  —  seems  to  decrease  somewhat  in 
quantity  and  value  as  the  lowest  levels  are  reached,  and  in  many 
cases  the  decrease  is  marked  and  conspicuous.'* 

The  occurrence  of  the  rich  ore  and  bonanzas  seemed  to  favor  the 
upper  levels,  which  were  still  further  enriched  in  many  cases  by 
secondary  action. 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  92,  p.  41. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  287 

With  regard  to  the  Southern  Appalachian  gold  fields  the  limit  of 
pay-ore  is  usually  only  several  hundred  feet  in  depth;  a  depth  of  1,000 
feet  has,  however,  been  attained,  but  the  probable  depth  at  which 
values  terminate,  and  indeed  even  the  veins  themselves,  is  largely 
or  wholly  conjectural.  However,  the  formation  of  the  veins  of  this 
region  is  known  to  be  of  remote  date  and  consequently  erosion  has 
had  a  much  longer  time  to  act  than  in  many  other  localities  — 
thousands  of  feet  have  thus  been  removed  and  yet  there  still  remain 
low-grade  ores  and  small  pockets  of  rich  ores  at  considerable 
depths.1 

What  has  been  said  of  gold  is  also  to  a  certain  extent  applicable 
to  the  occurrence  of  silver,  as  they  are  usually  associated.  Probably 
the  largest  and  richest  bodies  of  silver  ore  were  those  of  the  Comstock 
lode,  some  of  which  were  found  at  considerable  depth  although  they 
favored  the  upper  levels  of  the  great  vein  in  which  they  occurred. 

Abroad  one  of  the  most  prominent  instances  of  continuance  of  gold 
in  depth  is  that  of  the  Victoria  mine  at  Bendigo,  Victoria,  Australia. 
In  1904  a  depth  of  4,029  feet  had  been  reached,  at  which  point  a 
quartz  feeder  some  four  inches  thick  was  cut  in  which  free-gold  was 
found.2  However,  gold  was  found  at  still  greater  depth  in  a  neigh- 
boring mine,  the  New  Chum  Railway  mine,  Bendigo;  where  at  a 
depth  of  4,224  feet,  gold  in  the  free  state  was  found  associated  with 
quartz  and  slate.3  This  is  probably  the  greatest  depth  at  which 
gold  has  been  discovered. 

According  to  the  Australian  geologist  and  others,  a  conservative 
estimate  of  the  rock  removed  by  erosion  has  amounted  to  3,000  feet, 
which  gives  a  depth  of  at  least  7,000  feet  as  that  at  which  gold  was 
probably  originally  deposited. 

A  decrease,  although  comparatively  slight,  is  noticeable  in  the 
ores  of  the  quartz  mines  of  Ballarat,  Australia,  which  are  in  the 
neighborhood  of  2,000  feet  deep.4 

In  the  Dutch  East  Indies,  especially  in  West  Borneo,  a  large 
amount  of  exploratory  work  has  been  done  with  the  discovery  of  the 
source  of  the  gold  in  the  alluvial  deposits  as  the  object  in  view. 
The  results  have  been  far  from  satisfactory,  however,  the  veins 
encountered  showing  little  persistency  in  depth.5  r 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  92,  p.  41. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  78,  p.  618. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  91,  p.  360. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  92,  p.  41. 
The  Mineral  Industry,  1901,  p.  319. 


288  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  following  statement  by  G.  A.  Denny  regarding  the  per- 
manency of  the  gold  reefs  of  the  Witwatersrand  is  of  interest  in  this 
connection:  "  The  incontestable  truths  that  for  42  miles  on  the  line 
of  strike  there  is  a  practical  continuity  of  the  reef  that  in  all  probabil- 
ity the  existing  line  of  outcrop  forms  to  the  original  detrital  edge  the 
relationship  of  an  immensely  deep  level;  that  the  reefs  and  quartz- 
ites  form  inseparable  parts  of  a  whole,  which  as  such  must  be 
regarded  as  above  any  suspicion  of  doubt  of  continuity;  that  the 
present  line  of  outcrop  is  only  accidental  on  the  plane  it  represents, 
and  might  easily,  if  acted  upon  by  the  same  forces  in  another  axial 
direction,  have  occupied  a  position  corresponding  to  portions  now 
very  remote  from  the  outcrop;  all  these  premises  form  strong  links 
in  a  chain  of  evidence  favoring  the  assumption  of  the  permanency 
of  average  conditions  in  the  reefs  themselves,  which  cannot  be  con- 
troverted. * " 

According  to  Truscott 2  "  it  would  appear  that  on  an  average  the 
deep  levels  .  .  .  are  working  10  inches  less  than  the  outcrop  mines, 
though  the  assay  value  is  slightly  higher." 

However,  the  gold  reefs  of  the  Witwatersrand  are  peculiar  and 
can  hardly  be  compared  with  the  lode  mines  with  which  this  dis- 
cussion is  particularly  concerned. 

Observations  in  Nova  Scotia  by  Mr.  Faribault  and  W.  H.  Prest 
seem  to  confirm  the  fact  that  paying  gold  mines  occur  throughout 
a  thickness  of  formation  of  17,500  feet,  the  Moose  River  mine  being 
one  of  the  lowest  geologically  and  the  Caribou  the  highest  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. Further,  it  seems  evident  that  the  gold-bearing  rocks  have 
suffered  denudation  to  a  depth  of  26,000  feet,  and  as  the  Moose  River 
district  lies  at  the  bottom  of  this  26,000  feet,  deep-mining  would 
have  been  necessary  to  have  reached  the  ores  here  had  not  erosion 
brought  them  to  or  near  the  surface.  Similarly  with  the  Caribou 
mines  which  are,  however,  17,000  feet  higher.  To  cite  a  specific  case 
to  substantiate  the  theory  of  permanency,  that  of  the  Libby  mine 
at  North  Brookfield  may  be  taken.  This  mine  at  a  depth  of  200 
feet  yielded  2,419  tons  of  ore  with  a  gold-content  of  2,232  ounces. 
A  pinch  closed  the  vein  and  it  was  abandoned.  Several  years 
la,ter  the  mine  was  reopened  and  on  cutting  through  the  pinch  the 
vein  was  found  as  good  as  ever  and  has  continued  for  years  to  pro- 
duce paying  ore. 

The  North  Star  vein  was  followed  for  1,000  feet  at  least,  yielding 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  76,  pp.  80-81. 

2  The  Witwatersrand  Gold  Fields  Banket  and  Mining  Practice,  1902,  p.  461. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  289 

an  average  of  6  ounces  of  gold  to  the  ton.1  Other  instances  might 
be  cited  to  the  same  effect. 

Although  the  information  cited  is  far  from  conclusive  even  for  a 
given  locality,  yet  it  is  only  through  the  collection  and  correlation 
of  such  data  that  anything  definite  as  to  theory  can  be  arrived  at 
regarding  the  occurrence  of  mineral,  in  paying  quantities,  with  depth. 
The  lack  of  extended  and  published  records  of  observation  is  largely 
responsible  for  the  lack  of  more  detailed  discussion  in  this  connection. 

In  conclusion  the  relation  of  gold  values  to  depth  may  be  summar- 
ized as  follows:  first,  the  contention  that  workable  values  are  not 
co-extensive  with  depth  is  fairly  well  established;2  second,  the  change 
in  values  takes  place  comparatively  slowly;  third,  the  distribution  of 
values  seems  to  be  more  uniform  in  depth,  at  least  masses  and 
bonanzas  are  of  less  frequent  occurrence;  and  fourth,  the  relation  of 
value  to  depth  depends  largely  upon  economic  mining  and  extrac- 
tion. The  reduction  of  cost  of  operations  is  then  the  working  basis  of 
permanency  of  values  in  depth  which  combined  with  any  natural, 
loc,al  advantage  of  occurrence  makes  for  higher  profits,  and  larger 
production. 

Occurrence  of  Gold  in  Gravels,  by  States  and  Territories. 

Introductory  Remarks.  —  Gold  always  occurs  in  gravels  in  the 
metallic  state  and  when  so  found  has  various  physical  character- 
istics —  in  the  deep  placers  it  usually  has  no  luster,  often  having  no 
appearance  of  gold  whatever,  and  resembles  the  associated  iron 
sands.  In  the  shallow  placers,  however,  the  gold  usually  has 
more  marked  characteristics,  although  varying  considerably  in  color. 
Dark-colored  gold  is  found  to  become  clearer  on  exposure  to  atmos- 
pheric agencies  and  is  more  amenable  to  amalgamation.  This  is 
shown  to  advantage  in  the  case  of  the  Red  Gulch  mine,  El  Dorado 
County,  California,  where  it  has  been  found  both  possible  and  profit- 
able to  rework  the  gravels  at  least  six  times,  which  fact  has  led  to 
a  belief  among  miners  that  the  gold  is  constantly  being  renewed,  i.e., 
that  it  "  grows  again."3 

There  are  three  classes  of  gravel  deposits,  namely;  1st,  bar,  ravine 
and  canon  placers;  2d,  bench  or  hillside  placers;  and  3d,  extinct 
river-channel  deposits  usually  overlain  with  lava. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  67,  p.  495. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  92,  p.  41. 
,                        s  Min.  &  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  60,  p.  297. 


290  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  grade  of  most  streams  traversing  auriferous  areas  is  usually 
considerable  and  it  is  therefore  only  the  coarser  pieces  of  rock  which 
find  their  way  into  them  that  find  lodgment,  the  finer  and  lighter 
particles  being  carried  down-stream  to  a  point  where  the  current 
velocity  is  less,  unless  they  are  checked  by  some  especially  favorable 
condition.  The  tendency  then  is  to  sort  the  materials  entering  the 
streams,  each  particular  stream  varying  that  action  with  its  varying 
conditions  of  grade,  width,  depth  and  character  of  channel.  Such 
variations  are  constantly  happening  at  any  particular  place  owing 
to  changes  in  shape  of  channel  and  seasons.  It  is  evident  then  that 
there  will  be  a  considerable  overlapping  of  the  grades  of  sorted 
products,  including  the  accumulations  of  gold  and  associated  minerals. 

Disintegrated  fragments  of  quartz-veins  entering  a  stream  may  be 
comparatively  large  fragments,  pebbles  or  sands,  which  continue  to 
be  reduced  in  size  by  abrasion,  thus  gradually  approaching  the  nor- 
mal specific  gravity  of  the  gold.  The  movement  then  of  such  a 
fragment  under  the  action  of  running  water  becomes  more  and  more 
retarded  until  freed  of  all  adhering  gangue  it  attains  a  maximum 
specific  gravity,  and  a  minimum  volume,  when  it  stops  and  is  added 
to  the  accumulation  in  the  bed  of  the  stream,  while  the  gangue 
passes  on. 

It  has  been  observed  that  coarse  gold  tends  to  be  concentrated  on 
soft  bed-rock  in  preference  to  hard.  The  reason  for  such  ocurrence  is 
that  the  soft  bed-rock  wears  away  much  more  rapidly  than  the  hard 
and  therefore  the  disintegration  of  the  quartz-veins  is  more  rapid  at 
such  points  and  consequently  more  gold  is  freed  and  in  larger  pieces 
than  would  be  the  case  were  the  wear  less  rapid.  Further,  the  base- 
level  of  a  stream  in  a  soft  country-rock  is  more  quickly  attained  and 
the  deposits  of  gravel  are  therefore  more  uniform. 

"  In  the  larger  streams,  when  the  current  which  transports  gold 
along  with  other  detrital  material  suffers  a  decrease  of  velocity,  and 
hence  of  carrying  power,  some  material  may  be  dropped  to  the 
bottom,  while  the  water  flows  on  more  slowly  and  gradually  becomes 
comparatively  clear.  The  rate  of  cutting  and  consequently  the  load 
carried  by  a  stream  has  much  to  do  with  the  deposition  of  the  gold 
carried.  A  greatly  over-loaded  current  will  deposit  too  rapidly  to 
admit  of  the  concentration  of  the  gold  and  especially  the  fine  gold. 
Evidently  then  there  is  a  certain  relation  between  the  velocity  of 
current  and  the  load  of  debris  carried  that  is  of  considerable  import- 
ance in  determining  the  character  and  location  of  the  pay  streak* 
Further,  this  condition  of  affairs  varies  considerably  with  the  position 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  291 

of  deposit  with  respect  to  the  banks  —  there  may  be  an  unloading  on 
the  outer  rim  and  an  overloading  on  the  inner.1 

It  thus  happens  that  in  long  rivers  which  flow  through  auriferous 
formations  or  whose  feeders  cut  auriferous  rocks  there  are  at  inter- 
vals deposits  of  fine  gold  in  gravelly  accumulations.  Such  accumu- 
lations of  detrital  material  are  known  among  the  miners  as  bars,  and 
when  sufficiently  rich  in  gold  to  repay  working,  these  are  called  '  bar 
diggings.'  Bars  are  formed  wherever  the  curves  of  the  channel  are 
such  that  the  current  flows  off  at  a  tangent  to  the  bank,  thus  pro- 
ducing slack  water  and  often  back  water  or  an  eddy  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  bank.  Thus  the  most  common  loci  for  bars  are  points 
immediately  below  where  a  pronounced  curve  changes  suddenly  for 
another.  Slightly  concave  irregularities  in  an  otherwise  straight 
channel  also  produce  the  conditions  necessary  for  these  deposits, 
since  such  concavities  will  not  ordinarily  influence  the  course  of  a 
moderately  swift  current."2 

The  character  of  the  bed-rock  when  not  covered  with  gravel  is 
largely  responsible  for  the  nature  of  the  deposits  and  may  contain 
within  itself  the  larger  part  of  the  gold.  In  comparatively  soft 
bed-rock  the  gold  may  be  found  in  paying  and  often  large  quantities 
for  a  depth  of  18  to  24  inches,  while  hard  bed-rock,  especially  when 
fissured  and  cut  by  cleavage  planes,  may  hold  the  largest  values. 
Subsequent  deposition  of  gravel  may  form  a  deposit  of  many  feet 
depth  throughout  which  much  gold  may  occur,  thus  forming  an 
exceedingly  rich  gravel  bed.  When  a  stream  crosses  a  formation 
consisting  of  stratified  rock  more  or  less  tilted  so  that  the  upturned 
edges  of  the  strata  form  riffles  on  a  large  scale,  or  when  under  similar 
conditions  hard  and  soft  strata  alternate  one  with  the  other,  excep- 
tionally favorable  conditions  exist  for  the  collection  of  both  coarse 
and  fine  gold. 

The  position  of  such  riffles  with  respect  to  the  stream  has  much 
to  do  with  the  collection  of  gold  on  the  bed-rock  and  in  the  overlying 
gravels.  To  illustrate  this  point  the  bend  of  a  stream  cutting  up- 
turned strata  may  be  taken.  If  the  case  is  chosen  where  the  course  of 
the  stream  directly  at  the  bends  is  at  right  angles  with  the  stratifica- 
tion, there  will  be  no  other  point  in  the  stream's  course  except  at 
the  bends  where  the  same  conditions  exist.  Now,  the  effect  of  riffles 
placed  normal  to  the  current  of  a  sluice  (the  same  being  applicable 
to  streams)  causes  a  uniform  settlement  of  the  transported  gold,  but 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  77,  p.  108. 

a  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18  Ann.  Rept.,  Ft.  3,  pp.  360,  361,  1896. 


292  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

on  changing  the  direction  of  the  riffles  with  respect  to  the  current 
it  is  found  that  there  is  a  deflection  of  the  sorted  material, 
which  occurs  on  the  side  of  the  larger  or  obtuse  angle.  It  is  evident 
then  that  on  approaching  such  a  bend,  with  the  current,  the  pay 
streak  of  gravel  beginning  on  the  left  hand  side  approaches  the 
middle  of  the  stream  at  the  bend,  after  which  it  shifts  to  the  right 
side  and  ultimately  hugs  the  bank  only  to  be  again  thrown  across  the 
stream  by  a  reverse  bend.1  With  streams  of  variable  cross-section 
the  above-described  method  of  deposition  of  gold  may  be  somewhat 
modified. 

The  bed-rock  may  be  soft  and  decomposed,  or  hard,  as  granite  and 
slate,  but  in  nearly  all  cases  it  is  usually  uneven  and  full  of  crevices 
which  form  the  riffles  that  have  caught  and  held  the  gold.  In  most 
of  the  largest  and  most  prominent  camps  the  richest  spots  are 
generally  those  on  hard  rough  bottoms,  where  the  gold  has  been 
picked  out  by  hand  from  the  crevices  and  with  small  tools,  as  knives 
and  spoons.  Montana  Bar,  Confederate  Gulch,  near  Helena, 
Montana,  is  said  to  have  yielded  four  men  $1,200,000  from  three- 
quarters  of  an  acre  in  100  days,  the  bed-rock  being  tough,  hard  and 
ragged. 2 

The  extensive  distribution  of  gravels  in  benches  on  hill  and  moun- 
tain sides  may  be  partially  due  to  river  action  but  not  entirely  so  in 
some  cases  at  least.  Where  there  are  evidences  of  recent  submer- 
gence, as  in  Alaska,  it  is  probable  that  the  origin  of  the  deposits  of 
gravel  is  marine,  or  that  they  have  been  redistributed  by  marine 
action.  However,  the  lower  terraces  or  benches  are  probably 
remnants  of  older  river-beds  left  by  the  down-cutting  of  the 
present  streams. 

The  Summit  Diggings  of  the  Mo jave  desert  have  derived  their  gold 
from  the  flat  mesa  lands,  the  concentration  having  been  effected  by 
winds,  and  as  might  be  expected  the  surface  sands  are  richer  than 
those  at  a  depth. 

Placers  have  also  been  formed  by  slides  which,  however,  come 
from  older  gravel  beds  and  must,  therefore,  be  considered  to  have 
a  water  origin.  An  excellent  example  of  such  an  occurrence  was 
observed  at  Morris  Ravine,  where  a  mass  of  auriferous  material 
several  miles  in  extent  was  found  to  be  gradually  moving  forward 
into  the  workings  as  hydraulicing  proceeded  from  below,  clearing 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  68,  p.  165. 

3  Min.  and-  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  79,  p.  60,  and  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  3, 
pp.  375  and  376,  1896-97. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  293 

away  the  deposit  to  bed-rock.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  land- 
slides contribute  in  many  instances  to  the  accumulation  of  auriferous 
materials  and  possibly  to  a  much  greater  extent  than  is  usually 
suspected. 

As  a  rule  gold  occurs  on  or  close  to  bed-rock.  However,  many 
large  bodies  of  gravel  have  been  found  in  which  the  gold  has  been 
uniformly  distributed  from  surface  to  bed-rock.  The  coarser  gold 
is  usually  found  in  the  lower  portion  of  the  deposit  unless  the  stream 
has  built  up  from  a  lower  base-level  with  comparatively  long  inter- 
vals of  activity  followed  by  others  of  inactivity  when  no  change  in 
level  occurred.  Under  such  circumstances  different  levels  or  zones 
of  gravels  can  readily  be  traced  out,  in  which  considerable  variation 
in  size  of  gold  grains  is  noted  and  there  may  be  several  successive 
layers  of  coarse  gold  with  quite  a  distance,  vertically,  intervening. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  concentration  of  gold,  iron  sands  and  other 
heavy  minerals  is  also  brought  about  by  gravity  —  "  thus  effecting  a 
concentration  variously  perfect  in  different  places,  and  that  in  this  pro- 
cess the  passage  of  the  gold  particles  is  mechanical." l  However,  with- 
out some  movement,  although  comparatively  slight,  such  action  could 
not  take  place.  In  ordinary  placers  the  only  cause  for  such  move- 
ment would  be  the  circulation  of  drainage  water  which  in  itself  would 
be  slight  and  probably  accounts  for  the  imperfect  concentration 
noted,  but  in  regions,  as  Alaska  and  Siberia,  where  alternating 
freezing  and  thawing  is  of  daily  occurrence  the  resulting  expansion 
and  contraction  would  suffice  to  produce  a  decided  downward 
movement  of  the  gold  grains.  The  retention  and  concentration  of 
the  gold  at  the  bottom  of  the  gravel  or  on  the  bed-rock  would  then 
depend  upon  the  existing  conditions  —  if  rough,  it  would  tend  to 
remain  at  or  near  the  point  where  it  came  in  contact  with  the  bed-rock, 
if  smooth  it  might  travel  for  some  distance  before  coming  to  rest. 
It  is  evident  then  that  in  the  former  case  the  tendency  would  be  to 
form  a  fairly  uniform  deposit  on  the  bed-rock,  while  in  the  latter 
case  the  distribution  would  be  very  irregular,  but  exceedingly 
rich. 

The  occurrence  of  gold  in  gravel  deposits  may  be  still  further 
complicated  by  the  crossing  of  rivers,  the  gravel  deposits  formerly 
built  up  being  washed  out  and  redistributed  by  the  subsequent 
action  of  another  river  running  in  a  somewhat  different  direction, 
which  action  may  be  repeated  a  number  of  times,  with  added  con- 
fusion as  to  pccurrence  of  gold-content  and  thickness  and  character 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18  Ann.  Rept.,  Ft.  3,  pp.  375-377,  1896-97. 


294  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

of  the  gravel  deposit.  Again  the  course  of  a  stream  may  be  changed 
or  it  may  be  split  up  into  two  or  more  parts  by  landslides,  glacial 
action,  flows  of  lava  and  the  choking  up  of  the  channel  owing  to 
excessive  wash  from  above  without  sufficient  grade  to  bear  the  debris 
away  and  thus  preventing  its  accumulation.  The  splitting  up  or 
spreading  of  rivers  brought  about  by  the  accumulation  of  debris  in 
the  channels  may  result  in  the  formation  of  a  gravel  deposit  extend- 
ing over  large  areas,  in  which  case  they  resemble  to  a  marked  degree 
lacustrine  deposits. 

The  cemented  gravels  commonly  known  as  "  cement  gravel  " 
may  consist  of  volcanic  materials  of  brecciated  or  conglomerated 
character  or  may  be  a  quartz  conglomerate  cemented  by  ferrous 
oxide  or  iron  pyrite,  lime  or  siliceous  materials,  but  is  a  term  of 
variable  signification. 

Ferrous  oxide  results  from  the  oxidation  of  pyrite  through  contact 
with  a  continuous  flow  of  surface  waters  percolating  through  the 
deposits  —  blue  is  the  characteristic  color.  With  an  intermittent 
movement  of  the  surface  water  and  where  oxidation  is  rendered  more 
complete  by  the  action  of  atmospheric  agencies,  ferric  oxides  result 
which  are  seldom  effective  bonds  — such  gravels  are  red.  The 
so-called  "  pyritic  cementation  "  is  probably  produced  by  uprising 
sub-surface  currents,  while  siliceous  and  calcareous  cementation  is 
caused  by  surface  waters.  Here  too  cementation  is  seldom  complete, 
the  deposits  being  an  agglomerate  rather  than  a  conglomerate  —  the 
distinction  if  any  being  that  the  first  distintegrates  into  its  original 
-constituents,  while  the  latter  does  not.1 

Pipe  clay,  a  more  or  less  indurated  clay,  is  usually  a  characteristic 
formation  accompanying  gravel  deposits  and  especially  the  "  deep  " 
gravel. 

The  deep  gravels  are  usually  composed  of  layers  of  gravel,  sand, 
volcanic  ash  or  clay  and  lava  usually  in  the  order  given  from  the 
bottom  up.  About  the  only  regularity  in  occurrence  is  in  the  posi- 
tion of  the  gravel  and  lava,  the  former  being  at  the  bottom  and  the 
latter  at  the  top  of  the  deposit.  The  layers  of  sand  and  ash  are  flat 
and  lenticular,  varying  in  thickness  from  6  to  8  and  12  yards,  while 
their  lateral  extent  is  considerably  greater.  The  volcanic  materials 
consist  of  scoria,  sand,  mud  or  basalt,  and  owing  to  their  extreme 
hardness  have  resisted  wear  —  they  now  stand  as  mesas.  The  lava 
may  have  flowed  into  the  river  channels  or  been  washed  in  as  rounded, 
water-worn  boulders.  The  most  common  form  of  material  coines 
1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press  Vol.  84,  p.  59. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD   AND  SILVER.  295 

from  the  consolidation  of  volcanic  mud  and  ash  and  occurs  in  light- 
colored,  fine-grained,  homogeneous  beds.  Occasionally  lava  occurs 
interstratified  with  the  gravel.1 

The  minerals  and  metals  occurring  in  gravel  deposits  naturally 
consist  of  those  found  in  the  rock  traversed  by  the  streams  forming 
the  placers,  but  there  are  certain  minerals  almost  always  present 
and  as.  an  illustration  those  found  in  the  California  auriferous 
deposits  are  given;  zircon,  magnetic  iron-sand  and  garnets  are  the 
most  common,  while  platinum,  iridosmine,  rutile,  epidote,  chlorite, 
topaz,  cassiterite,  diamonds,  etc.,  are  often  present. 

Gold  is  found  varying  in  size  from  the  smallest  particles  to  large 
nuggets.  That  of  the  size  of  flax  and  melon  seed  being  considered 
coarse,  while  all  under  that  is  fine. 

The  top  gravels  usually  carry  fine  gold  of  high-grade,  the  coarser 
being  nearer  bed-rock  as  previously  indicated.  The  gold  grains  are 
usually  more  or  less  flattened  with  rounded  edges,  but  at  times 
rough  and  showing  but  little  evidence  of  abrasion  —  they  often 
occur  attached  to  the  original  matrix  thus  showing  their  proximity 
to  the  parent  vein.  The  gold  of  the  upper  gravels  often  has  a 
crystalline  form.  Occasionally  placer  gold  resists  amalgamation 
owing  to  a  coating  of  silica  and  sesquioxide  of  iron  covering  the 
grains,  when  it  is  saved  by  its  specific  gravity  alone.2 

The  difference  in  character  of  gold  according  to  its  position  with 
respect  to  bed-rock  is  shown  to  good  advantage  in  the  River  Cauca 
of  Colombia,  Central  America,  although  the  usual  order  as  to  value 
is  reversed.  The  deposit  is  some  20  feet  thick  and  contains  gold 
varying  in  size  from  dust  to  nuggets  the  size  of  pigeon  eggs.  Near 
the  surface  or  the  "  playa  "  the  composition  is  gold,  67.06;  silver, 
32.94.  Ten  feet  below  the  surface  the  composition  is  gold,  75.97; 
silver,  24.03.  While  the  composition  on  bed-rock  is  gold,  78.70; 
to  90.40;  silver  9.60  to  21.30.3 

Ocean  placers  or  beach  gravels  occur  along  the  Pacific  coast  at 
various  points  extending  from  Klamath  County,  California,  north- 
ward into  Oregon.     There  are  several  theories  as  to  the  origin  of  the 
gold  in  the  sands,  of  which  the  following  have  been   given    some* 
prominence: 

1.  Sub-ocean  quartz  ledges  may  furnish,  the  gold.  In  fact  it  is 
well  known  that  a  gold-bearing  formation  exists,  and  extends  beneath 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  p.  20,  1899. 
1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  p.  24. 
8  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  53,  p.  151. 


296  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

the  ocean  from  Point  San  Pedro  to  Point  Reyes.     However,  the 
theory  is  hardly  tenable. 

2.  The  gold  may  be  brought  down  with  the  silt  as  a  deposit  from 
the  waters  of  the  Sacramento  River,  which  are  subject  to  redistribu- 
tion by  the  tidal  currents. 

3.  That  the  source  of  the  gold  is  the  adjacent  bluffs,  which  are 
known  to   contain   gold,   and  further  the   beaches   are   noticeably 
enriched  after  a  storm  that  has  broken  away  large  masses  of  the 
bluffs.     However,  it  is  rather  odd  that  less  coarse  gold  is  found  with 
the  source  so  near  at  hand,  yet  the  bluffs  themselves  may  have  been 
built  up  from  similar  materials.1 

4.  Deposition  of  gold  from  solution  in  the  sea  water  has  been 
suggested,  especially  in  connection  with  the  beach  gravels  of  Cape 
Nome,  Alaska.2 

Alabama.  —  There  are  three  general  forms  of  placer  deposits  that 
have  been  worked  in  the  Southern  states,  namely:  1,  ordinary 
stream  deposits;  2,  hill-side  and  gulch  deposits  produced  by  the 
action  of  gravity  and  frost,  and,  3,  the  decomposed  but  not  disturbed 
country-rocks  commonly  known  as  "  saprolites, "  The  character 
of  these  three  forms  of  deposits  are  very  dissimilar,  the  first  being 
a  true  gravel  deposit  with  rounded  water- worn  pebbles;  the  second 
consists  of  angular  fragments,  the  deposits  varying  from  a  few  inches 
to  several  feet  in  thickness,  while  the  third  is  in  no  sense  gravel, 
being  the  decomposed  rock  in  place,  its  gold-content  having 
been  derived  from  the  quartz-veins.3  Although  the  above  charac- 
teristics are  especially  applicable  to  the  South  Mountain  gold  belt 
yet  they  will  apply  fully  as  well  to  the  whole  gold-bearing  region 
of  the  South. 

In  the  early  days  placer-mining  was  carried  on  rather  extensively 
about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  southwest  of  Arbacoochee  and  prin- 
cipally in  the  Clear  Creek  valley.  Fully  100  acres  of  auriferous 
gravel  was  found  at  this  point. 

The  only  hydraulic-mining  done  in  the  state  prior  to  1900 
was  conducted  by  the  Arbacoochee  Hydraulic  Company  near 
Arbacoochee.  A  deficient  water  supply  and  poor  management 
caused  the  abandonment  of  the  enterprise.4 

As   late    as    1904    quite    extensive    preparations   were    made    to 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  37,  p.  210. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Feb.  10,  1906,  p.  89. 

3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  673,  1895. 

*  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  pp.  64  and  65,  1895. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  297 

hydraulic  gravels  at  Kemp  Creek  post  office,  Cleburne  County, 
which  if  successful  will  probably  lead  to  the  establishment  of  other 
similar  plants  in  the  state.1 

Gold  is  obtained  both  from  gravel  deposits  and  zones  of  decayed 
rock  or  saprolite.2 

Alaska.  —  There  are  four  forms  of  gravel  deposits  in  Alaska, 
namely:  gulch  diggings,  bar  diggings,  ancient  and  fossil  placers,  and 
old  lake  beds,  of  which  the  first  two-  mentioned  have  up  to  the 
present  time  proven  of  the  most  importance.  These  conditions 
obtain  especially  along  the  Yukon. 

Placer  gold  has  a  very  wide  distribution  in  Alaska,  having  been 
found  as  far  south  as  the  southern  boundary  and  at  various  points 
northward  to  the  60th  parallel  and  westward  to  Bering  Strait.  The 
area  of  workable  gravels  has  a  width  of  about  200  to  300  miles  and 
trends  in  a  northwest  and  southeast  direction,  beginning  at  the 
south  Pacific  coast  Cunning  thence  north  and  west  to  the  Strait. 

The  source  of  the  gold  is  mainly  quartz-veins  and  stringers 
traversing  the  metamorphic  rocks  consisting  of  schists,  phyllites, 
limestones,  quartzites  and  altered  igneous  rocks.  Gold,  however, 
occurs  in  the  country-rocks  of  the  mineralized  zone.  It  is  evident 
from  the  appearance  of  the  gold  and  its  associations  that  it  has  not 
traveled  far  from  its  source,  which  is  usually  within  the  basin  in 
which  it  is  found.  Change  in  drainage  areas  may  in  some  cases 
have  brought  about  an  interchange  of  products  from  different 
basins.  It  is  very  likely,  however,  that  the  rich  placers  have  been 
produced  by  secondary  concentration  —  erosion  acting  on  placers 
and  causing  a  redistribution.  It  is  evident  that  under  anything 
like  favorable  conditions  the  perfection  of  concentration  increases 
with  the  frequency  of  sorting,  but  with  a  decided  tendency  toward 
irregular  distribution.  Further,  the  repeated  sorting  effected  on  the 
coastal  plains  has  produced  marvelously  rich  placers,  as  at  Nome.3 

Probably  the  richest  placers,  as  a  rule,  are  the  gulch  and  bar 
placers  of  the  interior.  Low-grade  deposits  occur  at  higher  eleva- 
tions, especially  in  the  Klondike,  having  an  elevation  of  300  feet  or 
more  at  Dawson  —  these  are  known  as  "bench  gravels."  Bench 
gravels  have  been  found  elsewhere  in  Alaska  but  have  not  been 
worked  to  such  an  extent  as  in  the  Klondike.4 

1  The  Mineral  Resources  of  Alabama,  1904,  p.  56. 

2  Index  to  the  Mineral  Resources  of  Ala.,  Geol.  Survey  of  Ala.,  p.  54,  1904. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull  213,  p.  41. 

4  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.  76,  p.  807. 


298  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  Forty  Mile  placer  district  in  the  Yukon  gold  region  contains 
gulches  which  drain  into  Forty  Mile  Creek  and  Sixty  Mile  Creek; 
however,  the  line  of  the  international  boundary  traverses  the  dis- 
trict, so  dividing  it  as  to  throw  several  of  the  gulches  of  Sixty  Mile 
Creek,  as  the  Miller  and  Glacier  into  British  territory;  nevertheless 
the  greater  part  of  the  district  is  American.1 

The  bar-diggings  are  productive  of  comparatively  fine  gold  only, 
or  that  which  is  light  enough  to  be  transported  to  considerable 
distance  by  the  rather  rapid  gulch  streams;  however,  owing  to  the 
rather  high  grade  of  these  tributary  streams  some  of  the  gold  grains 
are  of  fair  size.  "  Most  of  these  accumulations  of  gold  are  extremely 
recent,  as  is  shown  by  their  coincidence  with  the  channel  of  the 
present  stream  and  their  evident  relation  to  the  present  currents. 
Moreover,  the  gold-bearing  gravel  is  nearly  always  confined  to  the 
actual  surface  and  varies  in  thickness  from  20  inches  to ,  half  an 
inch." 2  It  is  found  that  after  the  lapse  of  a  number  of  years  these 
bars  can  be  reworked,  showing  that  there  is  a  gradual  enrichment 
in  progress. 

Besides  the  gulch  and  bar-deposits  are  many  others  of  much 
earlier  age  occurring  at  various  heights  above  the  level  of  the  present 
streams.  They  are  even  found  covering  large  areas  on  plateaus. 
An  extensive  study  of  these  deposits  has  led  to  the  conclusion  that 
their  formation  cannot  be  attributed  entirely  to  river  action,  but 
that  they  have  been  formed  wholly  or  in  part  by  marine  action.  In 
some  cases  it  is  evident  that  there  has  been  simply  a  redistribution 
of  river  gravels,  while  the  deposits  occupying  the  lower  terraces 
were  undoubtedly  formed  by  the  down-cutting  of  the  present 
streams.  So  far  these  deposits  have  not  been  exploited  to  any 
great  extent.3 

Deep  or  fossil  gravels  are  found  especially  on  Napoleon  Creek  and 
along  the  Koyukuk,  and  consist  of  a  coarse  basal  conglomerate 
made  up  of  fragments  of  quartzite,  vein-quartz,  gray  and  green  slate, 
aplite,  porphyry,  and  other  rock  derived  from  the  country-rock 
of  the  adjacent  regidn.  From  the  occurrence  of  gold  in  the  streams 
it  is  evident  that  it  has  come  from  this  conglomerate.4 

The  remarkably  uniform  and  practically  horizontal  deposits  of 
gravels  consisting  of  schists,  gneissefe,  granite  and  vein-quartz  as 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  317,  1896-97. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  3,  pp.  360,  363,  1896-97. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  364. 

4  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  365,  1896-97. 


OCCURRENCE   OF   GOLD   AND   SILVER.  299 

observed  in  the  broad  valley  of  Crooked  Creek  seem  to  indicate 
the  presence  of  a  large  body  of  water  such  as  a  lake  in  which  this 
accumulation  took  place.1 

That  portion  of  the  Yukon  region  which  lies  in  American  territory 
is  divided  into  a  number  of  districts,  namely :  the  Forty  Mile,  Mission 
Creek,  Birch  Creek,  etc.  Tributary  to  these  are  a  large  number  of 
gulches  which  make  up  the  districts. 

In  southern  Alaska  gold-bearing  beach  sands  are  especially 
abundant  from  Lituya  Bay  to  Yakutat  Bay.  These  sands  do  not 
occur  in  masses  but  in  patches  varying  from  one  inch  in  thickness  to  a 
mere  trace,  and  when  such  patches  are  found  they  are  collected  and 
carried  out  of  reach  of  the  waves.  The  Kadiak  sands  consist  of 
magnetite,  garnet,  slate,  serpentinoid  material  and  very  light,  scaly 
gold,  which  tends  to  float  and  does  not  amalgamate  well.2 

Placers  have  been  found  on  Turnagain  Arm  at  the  head  of  Cook 
Inlet  along  Resurrection,  Bear  and  Six-mile  creeks.  The  pebbles 
are  mostly  diorite  and  the  gold  is  usually  in  flattened  but  coarse  and 
somewhat  worn  grains  —  its  color  is  light.3 

In  Silver  Bow  Basin  the  lake-beds  are  gold-bearing  and  often  to  a 
considerable  extent.  The  deposit  consists  of  a  fine  muddy  sand  of 
about  a  foot  in  thickness,  upon  which  is  a  few  inches  of  vegetable 
mold  and  upon  that  in  turn  large  boulders  ranging  up  to  two  and  three 
yards  in  diameter,  with  which  are  sands  and  gravel.  Many  of  the 
pebbles  are  gold-bearing  quartz.  In  the  locality  are  considerable 
areas  of  decomposed  rock  or  saprolite,  similar  to  the  occurrences  in 
the  southern  Appalachians,  which  is  gold-bearing  and  has  for  some 
reason  escaped  destruction  by  glaciation.  It  is  probably  the  wash 
from  such  deposits  that  has  filled  the  lake-beds.4 

Placers  also  occur  on  Douglas  Island  and  it  was  while  working  one 
such  that  the  low-grade  quartz  deposit  of  the  Alaska-Treadwell 
mine  was  laid  bare. 

Gold-bearing  gravels  are  found  in  the  Ketchikan  district  on  the 
Kassan  Penninsula  but  they  are  not  extensive  and  do  not  form  an 
important  source  of  gold. 

Cape  Nome  is  a  point  of  the  southwest  coast  of  the  Seward  Penin- 
sula which  is  the  western  extremity  of  northern  Alaska.  Extending 
inland  from  Nome  is  a  gently  sloping  tundra  which  at  a  distance  of 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  343,  1896-97. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  85. 
»  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  81. 

4  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  pp.  71  and  72,  1896-97. 


300  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

203  miles  breaks  abruptly  into  hills  with  an  elevation  of  1000  feet, 
being  totally  void  of  any  vegetation  except  a  covering  of  moss  and 
Arctic  shrubs.  Anvil  Creek,  upon  which  gold  was  originally  found, 
rises  in  these  hills  and  probably  has  been  most  productive;  however, 
gold  in  considerable  quantities  has  been  obtained  from  Glacier, 
Dexter  and  Dry  creeks.  The  supply  of  gold  in  the  beach-sands 
has  been  largely  exhausted  although  portions  of  it  have  been  reworked 
at  least  three  times,  the  gold-content  apparently  renewing  itself. 

Beyond  the  Nome  district  but  still  in  the  Seward  Peninsula  gold 
occurs  in  the  Bluff  district,  on  Daniels  Creek,  the  Solomon  River 
and  at  Topkok  beach.  Ophir  Creek,  in  the  Council  district  and 
Dahl  Creek,  in  the  Kougruk  district  have  both  yielded  consider- 
able gold.  Further,  gold  has  been  found  still  to  the  northeast  in 
streams  flowing  into  the  head  of  Kotzebue  Sound  among  which  are 
the  Inmachuk  River,  the  Kewalik  River  and  its  tributaries,  Candle 
and  Shumnak  creeks.  Gold  also  occurs  in  the  streams  of  Cape 
York,  the  western  point  of  Seward  Peninsula.  Anvil,  Ophir  and 
Daniels  creeks  stand  first  in  production  in  the  Seward  Peninsula.1 

Beach-mining  has  been  carried  on  in  the  Bering  Sea  by  digging 
through  the  ice  where  the  water  was  shallow  and  freezing  took  place 
to  the  sea  bottom.  In  certain  localities  such  mining  was  possible 
for  a  distance  of  one-quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  shore.  There  is  no 
water  to  contend  with  in  this  work.? 

Prospecting  by  bore-hole  and  shafts  in  the  tundra  lying  between 
the  Bering  Sea  and  the  inlying  hills,  has  revealed  the  character  of 
these  deposits.  It  is  claimed  that  the  results  obtained  were  very 
satisfactory  and  have  proven  the  presence  of  layers  or  zones  of  pay 
gravel  varying  in  thickness  from  six  inches  to  three  feet,  and  in  a  few 
instances  of  30  feet.  The  shafts  sunk  have  seldom  exceeded  a 
depth  of  over  120  feet,  the  average  being  between  60  and  75  feet. 
However,  owing  to  the  irregularity  of  distribution  and  the  distance 
apart  of  the  shafts  no  definite  idea  as  to  occurrence  of  the  gravel  or 
its  gold-content  could  be  arrived  at,  only  local  conditions  being 
shown.  The  deposits  of  gravel  and  clay  alternate  one  with  the  other 
and  often  with  layers  of  beach-sand  between.  It  is  thus  evident 
that  the  action  of  the  sea  has  been  the  cause  of  concentration  and 
that  the  same  conditions  now  prevail  on  the  beaches.3 

Ground  frozen  to  a  depth  of  150  feet  is  reported  from  Siberia,  but 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  76,  pp.  852  and  853. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  83,  p.  51. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  86,  p.  132. 


OCCURRENCE   OF   GOLD  AND   SILVER.  301 

it  is  doubtful  if,  except  in  extreme  cases,  frozen  ground  occurs  to 
that  depth  in  Alaska;  however,  shafts  have  been  sunk  in  gravel 
deposits  frozen  for  a  depth  of  65  and  even  100  feet,  and  that  frost 
may  be  found  at  greater  depths  is  not  unlikely.  Contrary  to  the 
generally  accepted  idea,  these  deposits  have  not  been  frozen  from 
the  surface  downward,  but  rather  from  the  bottom  upward,  or 
the  reverse  from  the  usual  order  of  things.  The  facts  are  that  in 
those  localities  favorable  for  the  accumulation  of  debris  and  wash 
by  slides  and  freshets,  comparatively  great  depths  of  frozen  ground 
are  observed,  while  in  other  localities  not  so  situated  the  ground  is 
frozen  only  to  moderate  depth,  i.e.,  only  a  few  feet.  It  is  therefore 
evident  that  each  year,  during  the  winter  months,  the  accumula- 
tions of  the  preceding  summer  are  frozen,  which  are  covered  by 
slides  and  sediments  during  the  following  spring  and  summer  from 
the  higher  ground,  and  that,  too,  before  the  ground  is  thawed  very 
deep,  and  this  is  frozen  during  the  next  winter;  thus  year  by  year  the 
accumulation  grows,  a  frozen  layer  of  deposit  being  added  each  year 
—  in  other  words,  the  deposits  freeze  as  they  form.  Further,  there 
is  little  doubt  but  that  periods  of  subsidences  and  elevations  added 
to  and  increased  the  importance  of  such  action.1 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  the  tundra  is  not  frozen,  or  if  so,  to 
slight  depth  only  in  the  neighborhood  of  growing  trees,  especially 
willows.2 

High  benches  were  discovered  in  the  Nome  district  in  1900,  which 
are  situated  on  the  divide  between  ^nvil  and  Dexter  creeks.  The 
following  locations  are  among  the  more  important:  Bowery,  Molas- 
ses, Honey,  Sugar,  Snow  Flake,  Mattie  F.,  Daisy  and  Madeleine.3 

The  principal  creeks  in  the  Fairbanks  placer  district  are:  Pedro, 
deary,  Chatham  and  Wolf,  all  of  which  are  tributaries  of  the  Tanana 
River.  In  1905,  the  Cleary,  Pedro  and  Fairbanks  creeks  were  prob- 
ably of  the  most  importance.4 

Arizona.  —  Extensive  auriferous  gravel  deposits  are  found  in 
various  parts  of  the  state,  but  especially  east  of  La  Paz,  and  on 
both  banks  of  the  Gila  River  in  the  vicinity  of  Gila  City,  Las  Flores 
and  Oroville.  As  a  usual  thing  the  gravel  is  composed  largely  of 
slates  and  often  contains  some  earthy  material.  The  rock  frag- 
ments show  but  little  wear,  being  rather  angular  and  sharp.  The 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  79,  p.  379. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  86,  p.  132. 
8  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  86,  p.  182. 

4  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  78,  p.  216,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  80,  p.  1013. 


302  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

deposits  are  found  in  ravines  or  gulches,  and  are  usually  continuous 
to  the  open  mesas  above.  As  a  rule  the  gold  is  very  pure,  averaging 
probably  $19.75  per  ounce.  Owing  to  the  lack  of  water  practically 
all  the  gold  obtained  comes  from  dry-washing,  and  therefore  only 
the  coarse  gold  is  saved.  The  Papago  Indians  for  years  sold  gold 
to  the  merchants  of  Tucson. 

Probably  the  best  placers  were  found  in  Yavapai  County,  about 
1863.  Large  quantities  of  gold  were  taken  from  the  upper  Has- 
sayampa,  Lynx  and  Big  Bug  creeks,  but  it  differed  quite  materially 
from  that  of  the  Gila.  It  is  considerably  finer,  and  not  so  pure, 
ranging  in  value  from  $15  to  $17  per  ounce.  The  placers  of  Ehren- 
burg,  Yuma  County,  cover  an  area  of  40  miles  long  by  15  miles 
wide.  Nuggets  ranging  in  value  from  $2  to  $10  have  been  taken 
from  the  gravels.  The  Mexican  system  of  dry-washing  is  that 
usually  practiced.1 

Gold  was  obtained  for  a  time  from  the  small  streams  of  the  Brad- 
shaw  Range,  but  they  were  soon  worked  out,  and  the  search  for 
veins  began.  In  1894  two  steam  shovels  and  washers  were  in 
operation. 

California.  —  The  detrital  deposits  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  are  not 
only  of  considerable  extent  both  vertically  and  laterally,  but  are 
also  of  great  interest,  and  are  probably  of  more  importance  than 
any  other  similar  deposits  in  North  America.  Their  formation  has 
occupied  a  geological  period  of  considerable  length,  even  extending 
into  recent  or  post-Tertiary  times.  They  consist  largely  of  vol- 
canic and  derived  materials,  and  are  usually  sufficiently  auriferous 
to  warrant  working.  The  bed-rock  is  granitic  and  metamorphic, 
and  as  a  comparatively  large  part  has  a  slaty  structure,  the  term 
"  auriferous  slate  series  "  has  been  applied  to  it.  However,  the 
"  auriferous  slates  "  or  non-granitic  rocks  are  only  slightly  gold- 
bearing,  but  bear  the  gold  quartz-veins,  the  disintegration  and  demoli- 
tion of  which  has  freed  the  gold  found  in  the  gravels.  Superimposed 
upon  this  mass  of  detrital  material  is  a  covering  of  volcanic  materials, 
which  with  the  gravels  constitute  the  superficial  covering  of  the 
western  slope  of  the  Sierras. 

Those  portions  of  the  Mother  lode  composed  of  dolomitic  and 
magnesitic  materials  disintegrate  readily,  forming  a  loose  ferruginous 
mass  or  gossan  traversed  by  a  network  of  quartz-veins  and  stringers 
together  with  slate  and  clay  bands,  the  whole  mass  often  being 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  11,  p.  58  and  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extrac- 
tion, A.  G.  Lock,  pp.  128  and  129. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  303 

auriferous.  The  quartz-veins  are  probably  the  source  of  the  gold 
found  in  the  enclosing  materials.  Such  decayed  materials  resemble 
somewhat  the  saprolites  of  the  southern  Appalachians. 

Besides  the  auriferous  gravel  deposits  of  the  western  slope  of  the 
Sierras  other  extensive  deposits  are  found  in  the  Coast  Ranges,  but 
have  been  worked  only  to  a  limited  extent. 

Gold-bearing  gravels  are  also  found  in  the  northern  and  southern 
parts  of  the  state  and  in  the  canons  and  valleys  of  the  San  Gabriel 
and  San  Bernardino  mountains. 

Of  the  auriferous  gravel  deposits  lying  on  the  western  slope  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada  Mountains  only  certain  portions  are  of  sufficient  rich- 
ness to  be  profitably  worked,  the  richer  portions  being  identified 
with  the  "  auriferous  slates."  Beginning  with  the  northern  part 
of  the  productive  area  and  proceeding  southward,  the  principal 
deposits  lie  within  and  between  the  following  counties.  Tuolumne 
to  Calaveras  and  thence  to  Amador,  of  which  El  Dorado,  Placer, 
Nevada  and  Sierra  are  of  the  most  importance,  while  Butte  and 
Plumas  counties  are  of  somewhat  less  importance.1 

The  original  source  of  the  gold  was  the  auriferous  slates  or  the  meta- 
morphic  rocks,  either  from  the  enclosed  quartz-veins  alone  or  both 
the  veins  and  the  slaty  rock.  According  to  Whitney  the  gold  might 
readily  have  been  derived  from  the  country-rock  as  the  occurrence 
of  gold  is  widespread  throughout  these  rocks.  However,  the  quartz- 
veins  themselves  would  be  amply  sufficient  .to  furnish  the  gold  for 
the  placers.  Whitney  further  considers  that  the  materials  from 
which  the  older  gravel  beds  were  formed  were  richer  in  gold  than  the 
source  of  the  recent  gravels.2 

The  westerly  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  at  the  beginning  of  the 
formation  of  the  gravel  beds  was  a  broad,  gently  undulating  and 

1  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  A.  G.  Lock,  pp.  135-137,  1882. 

2  That  the  gold  found  in  the  gravel  was  derived  from  the  disintegration  of 
auriferous  veins  was  held  to  be  the  only  logical  explanation  by  the   two   emi- 
nent authorities  —  Professors  J.  D.  Dana  and  W.  P.  Blake. 

Professor  Blake  gives  the  following  classification  of  the  auriferous  deposits: 
"  First.     We  find  great  boulder  like  drifts,  the  result  of  great  abrasion  and 

powerful  currents  in  a  great  body  of  water. 

Second.   A  river  drift,  or  coarse  alluvium,  ancient  and  modern. 

Third.   Alluvial  deposits  on  flats  and  over  broad  surfaces.     Not  confined  to 

river  channels. 

Fourth.   Lacustrine  deposits  —  at  the  bottom  of  former  ponds  or  lakes." 
Notes  on  California,  Silliman's  Journal,  Vol.  7,  1849,  and  Twelve  years  in  the 

mines  of  California,  pp.  57-60,  1862. 


304  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

moderately  hilly  country  having  a  slope  not  unlike  that  which  exists 
to-day,  the  average  pitch  being  from  100  to  130  feet  per  mile.  Streams 
having  their  source  among  the  peaks  several  thousand  feet  above  the 
sea  level  found  their  way  to  the  valley  below,  traversing  considerable 
areas  before  finally  debouching  into  the  plains  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountains.  The  greater  the  distance  traversed  by  these  streams, 
the  greater  would  be  the  accumulations  of  debris  and  the  greater 
the  area  covered  by  the  same.  Very  probably  this  condition  of 
affairs  continued  until  the  advent  of  the  volcanic  era,  when  the  whole 
western  slope  of  the  Sierras  was  covered  by  overflows  of  lava  and 
showers  of  volcanic  ash,  thus  entirely  changing  the  appearance  and 
condition  of  the  surface  of  the  country.  Not  only  were  the  streams 
obliterated  but  the  rocks  from  which  the  gold  was  derived  were 
buried,  thus  effectively  bringing  to  an  end  the  first  great  gravel- 
producing  period.1 

At  the  close  of  the  volcanic  period  new  streams  began  to  form 
and  work  their  way  seaward.  At  first  they  ran  more  or  less  at 
random  over  the  comparatively  smooth  plains  of  volcanic  materials, 
often  hard  and  resisting  but  probably  more  often  loose.  How- 
ever, their  general  course  was  in  a  southwesterly  direction,  and  it 
was  not  long  before  they  began  to  cut  channels.  In  the  course  of 
time  channels  were  cut  deep  enough  to  restrain  the  largest  floods, 
and  thus  concentrated  the  down-cutting  action  to  the  course  of  the 
stream.  Subject  always  to  heavy  floods  and  confined  to  deep 
V-shaped  canons  of  steep  grade  coupled  with  the  intensified  cut- 
ting action  of  rapidly  moving  debris,  the  rapidity  with  which  these 
streams  cut  through  the  overlying  lavas,  then  through  the  gravels, 
and  lastly  into  the  bed-rock,  is  astounding,  and  would  scarcely  be 
believable  if  evidence  of  such  were  not  present  in  the  form  of  can- 
ons ranging  from  1500  to  2000  feet  deep,  of  which  depth  from 
two-thirds  to  three-fourths  and  even  more  is  in  solid  bed-rock  be- 
neath the  gravel. 

At  points  where  the  volcanic  cap  was  thin  or  had  been  worn 
away,  the  hydraulic  mines  operated,  while  where  considerable  thick- 
ness of  cover  still  remains  were  located  the  drift  mines.2 

The  following  interesting  summary  of  the  events  incident  to  the 
formation  of  the  gravel  deposits  has  been  given: 

1.  The  Pliocene  or  ancient  eroding  period,  during  which  the  deep 
"  dead  "  river  channels  were  cut  into  the  bed-rock. 

1  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  A.  G.  Lock,  pp.  139  and  140,  1882". 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  28,  p.  300. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  305 

2.  The  Pliocene  channels  filling  up  with  gravel,  or  the  choking  or 
damming  period. 

3.  The   active   volcanic   period  of  the  Sierra,  when  the  gravels 
were  capped  with  lava  and  volcanic  ash. 

4.  The   cold   or  glacial  period,  when  the  mountain  slopes  were 
covered  with  living,  moving  glaciers. 

5.  The  modern  erosive,  or  recent,  period  during  which  the  present 
river   channels   were  formed,  crossing  the  old  channels  at  various 
angles. 

The  filling  of  the  ancient  river  channels  with  gravel  may  have 
been  produced  by  several  conditions,  such  as:  1,  change  in  quantity 
of  rainfall,  and  2,  change  in  gradient  of  rivers.  It  is  not  probable, 
however,  that  there  was  any  material  change  in  gradient,  as  the 
course  of  the  present  rivers  corresponds  closely  with  the  ancient  or 
buried  channels. 

It  is  not  difficult  then  to  imagine  how  the  gold-bearing  gravel 
deposits  were  formed,  having  some  idea  of  the  vast  geological  periods 
during  which  erosion  acted  prior  and  subsequent  to  the  volcanic 
periods  which  intervened,  the  amount  of  debris  which  filled  the 
channels  of  the  rivers,  and  the  character  of  the  formations  which 
contributed  to  the  formation  of  the  gravel  beds.1 

The  thickness  of  gravel  deposits  in  the  state  varies  considerably 
with  the  location;  the  following  figures  give  a  general  idea: 2 

Clinton  mine,  Grizzly  Canon 20  feet. 

Todds'  Valley 35 

Smiths'  Point 50 

Vaughns'  claim,  Wisconsin  Hill 55 

Gopher  Hill 240 

Magara,  Slate  Creek 300 

Indiana  Hill 400 

Cherokee  Flat 430 

Gold  Run,  Blue  gravel 150 

Blue  Tent       650 

Many  and  varied  have  been  the  theories  as  to  the  "  blue  lead," 
the  one  most  persistently  held  to  being  that  the  blue  gravels  filled  the 
channel  of  an  extinct  river  of  great  size,  but  with  the  development 
of  the  gravel  deposits  it  was  found  that  blue  gravels  were  widely 
and  irregularly  distributed,  and  therefore  could  not  have  been  de- 
posited by  a  single  river.  Ideas  as  to  its  origin  then  began  to  change, 
until  now  it  is  generally  conceded  that  blue  gravel  may  occur  in 
any  deposit,  provided  that  the  conditions  are  favorable.  It  usually 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  26,  p.  56. 
3  Min,  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  60,  p.  264. 


306  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

occurs  near  or  next  to  bed-rock,  and  is  composed  of  boulders  of 
serpentine  rock,  talcose  slate  (in  fact  all  metamorphic  rocks),  quartz 
boulders,  gravel  and  sand,  all  more  or  less  associated  with  clay,  the 
latter  usually  being  considered  a  good  sign  as  to  richness.  The 
color  varies  from  blackish  green  to  indigo  blue;  even  the  quartz  has 
a  bluish  tinge,  which  resists  both  washing  and  exposure. 

The  blue  lead  varies  in  thickness  from  a  few  inches  to  100  feet, 
and  is  generally  considered  to  be  not  only  the  richest  but  the  most 
important  and  reliable  gold-bearing  gravel  deposit  in  the  state. 
As  a -rule  the  blue  lead  deposits  are  readily  worked,  seldom  being 
cemented;  however,  exceedingly  hard  blue  cement  gravel  is  occa- 
sionally encountered,  and  has  to  be  drilled  and  blasted  and  milled 
similar  to  gold-quartz.  With  such  occurrences  hydraulicing  serves 
simply  to  clear  away  the  over-burden,  and  prepare  the  way  for  work 
upon  the  hard  cement  below.  Further,  the  blue  cement  is  usually 
very  rich.  Next  above  the  blue  lead  comes  a  deposit  of  yellowish 
or  reddish  gravel  ranging  from  5  to  25  feet  in  thickness,  which  is 
readily  worked  by  hydraulicing.  It  is  composed  of  "  rotten  boul- 
ders "  of  quartz  and  clay-slate.  The  upper  gravels  occupy  a  position 
directly  above  the  yellowish  gravels  and  decayed  boulders,  and  consist 
of  deposits  of  quartz,  gravel  and  sand  of  considerable  thickness  and 
extent.  This  last  layer  of  gravel  contains  the  greater  part  of  the  fine 
or  flour  gold,  often  in  such  quantities  as  to  make  it  profitable  to 
work. 

Great  bodies  of  quicksand  occur  on  the  bed-rock  which,  when 
charged  with  water,  constitute  one  of  the  most  serious  obstacles 
to  development.  The  presence  of  iron  cement  and  pipe-clay  are  also 
characteristic  occurrences  of  the  dead  river  gravels.  The  former 
occurs  in  thin  layers  of  very  hard,  brownish  cement  of  one  to  two 
inches  in  thickness  separating  the  different  deposits  of  gravel.  Pipe 
clay  is  found  in  all  deep  gravels,  usually  occurring  near  the  bed-rock, 
and  is  in  reality  a  mud  deposit.  It  also  becomes  quick  under  the 
influence  of  water,  turning  into  a  muck.1 

Springs  are  usually  considered  good  indications  of  deep  channels 
or  basins,  especially  when  found  within  the  rim-rock.  Such  chan- 
nels are  usually  difficult  and  expensive  to  mine,  owing  to  the  large 
quantities  of  water  encountered.  The  Old  Woman's  Gulch  channel 
of  Indian  Gulch,  south  of  the  Mokelumne  Hill  is  one  such,  and 
contains  "  blue  lead  "  gravel. 

The  character  of  the  lava  capping  of  the  deep  gravels  differs 
1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  29,  p.  369. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  307 

widely  in  various  localities.  Some  deposits  consist  of  snow-white 
rhyolite,  above  which  may  be  a  breccia  of  andesitic  materials,  or  the 
first  covering  may  be  volcanic  mud  upon  which  lie  tufa  and  breccia. 
Occasionally  a  capping  of  black  basalt  is  found,  although  it  is  usually 
hornblende  or  augite-andesite.  The  covering  may  have  been  de- 
posited as  an  overflow,  as  a  shower  of  ash  or  deposited  by  water  as  a 
wash.  The  material  deposited  other  than  by  overflows  of  lava 
may  be  loose  or  consolidated  into  a  hard  mass,  while  the  lavas  are 
often  of  columnar  structure.1 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  there  are  a  number  of  gravel-filled 
channels  paralleling,  intersecting  (usually  at  small  angles)  and  often 
superimposed  one  upon  the  other.  In  those  localities  where  the  erosion 
of  a  river  has  exposed  the  deposit  of  a  former  river,  the  gravel  may 
be  deposited  upon  the  earlier  deposits;  thus  different  layers  or 
zones  of  pay  gravel  are  found,  the  upper  being  designated  as  the 
"  upper  lead."  The  same  conditions  may  obtain  from  a  river 
following  in  the  channel  of  an  older  course,  a  not  uncommon  occur- 
rence, especially  when  the  rims  of  the  older  river  channel  are 
prominent  —  both  upper  and  lower  leads  are  then  found  within  the 
rims  of  the  superimposed  channels.2 

Where  the  capping  of  volcanic  materials  is  of  such  a  thickness  and 
character  as  not  to  warrant  removing  it  preparatory  to  working  the 
underlying  gravels,  various  systems  of  underground  workings  are 
resorted  to,  the  most  common  being  drift-mining.  The  area  in  the 
state  in  which  drift-mining  has  proved  practicable  and  profitable 
lies  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  extending  from  Mari- 
posa  to  Siskiyou  counties.  The  richest  ground  is  probably  found  in 
Nevada,  Placer  and  Sierra  counties,  although  extensive  operations 
have  been  carried  on  in  Plumas,  Butte,  El  Dorado,  Amador,  Cala- 
veras  and  Tuolumne  counties.3 

The  ocean  beaches  of  California  which  have  proved  profitable  to 
work  are  situated  between  Ocean  Side  House  and  Point  San  Pedro. 
On  digging  through  the  sands  the  deposits  are  found  to  be  composed 
of  alternating  layers  of  black  and  white  sands,  which  vary  in  thick- 
ness from  a  knife-edge  to  three  and  six  inches,  while  at  a  depth  of  two- 
to  four  feet  hard-pan  is  reached.  The  gold  is  fine  or  "  float  "  and  in 
some  cases  may  have  been  carried  some  distance  by  the  waves  and 
currents.  The  maximum  and  minimum  sizes  of  the  beach  gold  are, 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  79,  p.  544. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  78,  p.  290. 
8  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  69,  p.  34. 


308  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

,0065  to  .0070  and  .0030  to  .0035  inches  respectively.1  Other  beach 
deposits  have  been  found,  but  have  proven  of  little  value. 

In  the  preceding  pages  an  attempt  has  been  made  to  give  a 
general,  but  brief  and  concise  account  of  the  character  and  occur- 
rence of  the  gravel  deposits  of  the  state.  No  exhaustive  descrip- 
tion of  the  various  deposits  is  given  in  this  connection  as  it  would 
be  a  tedious  narrative,  and  of  little  profit  in  a  work  of  this  character. 
However,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  following  works  for  a  more 
detailed  account:  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  and  The 
Auriferous  Gravels  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  of  California. 

A  few  typical  cases  of  the  occurrence  of  gold  in  gravels  are  given 
to  illustrate  certain  phases  of  the  general  statements  made. 

The  Red  Point  drift  mine  yielded  the  largest  and  richest  portion 
of  the  gold  from  the  gravels  directly  upon  the  bed-rock,  and  in  many 
cases  directly  from  the  bed-rock  itself.  The  gold  was  found  in 
joints  and  cleavage  planes  in  the  bed-rock  and  around  quartz- 
veins  cutting  the  bed-rock.  Such  crevices  and  other  depressions 
yielded  gold  to  such  an  extent  that  often  a  foot  or  more  of 
the  bed-rock  could  be  removed  with  profit.  The  greater  part  of 
the  gold  was  found  to  lie  on  the  sides  of  the  channel,  only  coarse 
gold  and  comparatively  little  of  that  occurring  in  the  deepest  por- 
tion of  the  channel.  Gold  was  also  found  in  abundance  on  the 
down-stream  side  of  islands  and  boulders.2 

The  ancient  river  gravels  of  Nevada  County  have  a  depth  of  200 
feet  in  places  with  from  300  to  400  feet  of  volcanic  material  as  a 
covering.  The  bed-rock  is  granite,  but  soft  and  decomposed  and 
contains  hard  boulders  varying  in  size  from  a  few  feet  up  to  40  and 
50  feet  in  diameter.  Drift-mining  is  employed  here,  in  which  opera- 
tion only  the  gravel  lying  upon  the  bed-rock  is  taken.  The  gravel 
is  usually  loose  and  readily  disintegrates  in  sluicing,  but  occasionally 
a  hard  cemented  gravel  is  encountered  which  is  difficult  to  work 
with  profit. 

High-grade  gravel  ranging  in  value  from  $2.50  to  $13  per  ton  is 
found  in  the  channel  proper.  The  gold  occurs  in  coarse  grains 
which  imbed  themselves  in  the  soft  bed-rock.  The  usual  thickness 
of  the  workable  gravel  is  two  to  five  feet. 

In  Placer  and  El  Dorado  counties  the  bed-rock  of  the  gravel  de- 
posits is  often  very  rough  as  at  Iowa  Hill  and  the  Morning  Star  mine, 
at  Startown,  while  it  is  very  smooth  and  much  water-worn  at  Nahor's 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  26,  p.  279,  and  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  37,  p.  210. 
3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  68,  p.  165. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  309 

Claim,  in  Green  Valley  Gorge  and  near  Damascus.  Between  these 
two  extremes  there  are  many  variations.  At  Indiana  Hill  and 
Smith's  Point  furrows  and  channels  have  been  cut  in  the  bed-rock. 
Pot-holes  occasionally  occur,  and  in  some  cases  yield  considerable 
gold.  Crevices  also  occur  in  the  bed-rock,  and  are  usually  rich  in 
gold,  even  more  so  than  the  gravels.  The  gravels  are  both  cemented 
and  uncemented,  and  are  often  interstratified  with  sands  and  pipe 
clay.  The  quartz  gravel  and  boulders  are  quite  variable  in  amount, 
the  latter  often  attaining  considerable  size  and  usually  near  bed-rock. 
Occurrences  of  lenticular  masses  of  clay,  more  or  less  consolidated, 
and  of  a  chocolate-brown  color,  and  varying  from  nothing  to  five  feet 
in  thickness,  are  occasionally  met  in  the  gravels,  being  locally  known 
as  "  chocolate."  The  finer  gravels  or  pebbles  consist  of  quartz 
and  metamorphic  rocks,  while  angular  fragments  of  igneous  rocks 
often  lie  on  or  close  to  bed-rock.  The  thickness  of  the  volcanic 
capping  ranges  from  a  few  hundred  to  a  thousand  feet,  and  consists 
of  black  and  white  lava  and  volcanic  ash  and  breccia.  The  channels 
vary  in  width  from  a  few  feet  up  to  100  and  occasionally  to  600 
feet.1 

At  Mokelumne  Hill,  Calaveras  County,  the  gravels  are  thin,  but 
very  rich.  They  have  a  capping  of  some  200  feet  of  sedimentary 
volcanic  material.  The  gravel  is  fine-grained  and  homogeneous, 
but  somewhat  variable  in  character.  Above  the  gravel  is  a  layer 
of  angular  andesitic  boulders.2 

The  gravel  deposit  of  Dutch  Flat,  Tuolumne  County,  consists  of 
coarse  gravel  with  many  boulders  five  to  six  feet  in  diameter.  The 
lower  gravel  is  usually  blue,  owing,  it  is  claimed,  to  the  big  slate 
boulders.  Above  the  blue  gravel  is  a  red  gravel  consisting 
largely  of  red  and  white  quartz.  The  gold  in  the  blue  is  coarser 
than  that  in  the  red  gravel,  the  latter  being  flat  and  scaly  and  often 
fine.3 

The  so-called  seam-diggings  consist  of  decomposed  bed-rock  filled 
with  seams  and  stringers  of  gold.  Such  deposits  occur  at  the 
Illinois  Canon,  Georgia  Slide,  Young's  Dry  Diggings,  the  Spanish 
Dry  Diggings,  etc.  This  material  is  not  unlike  the  saprolite  of  the 
Southern  Appalachian  gold  fields,  and  similar  occurrences  in  Alaska. 
The  country-rock  is  slate  and  sandstone  which  in  some  cases,  as  in 
the  Spanish  Dry  Diggings,  is  filled  with  pyrites  and  traversed  by 

1  Auriferous  Gravels  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  of  California,  pp.  89-112. 
a  Ibid.,  p.  128. 
8  Ibid.,  p.  151. 


310  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

numerous  quartz-seams.  Occasionally  the  deposits  are  very  pockety 
pinching  out  when  the  quartz-seams  run  into  hard  rock.1 

Colorado.  —  In  Colorado,  as  elsewhere,  auriferous  gravels  were  the 
first  form  of  mines  worked,  and  through  their  exploitation  many 'of 
the  veins  were  discovered.  Among  the  first  placers  discovered  and 
worked  were  those  on  Chicago  Creek,  just  above  the  junction  of 
Clear  Creek.  These  deposits  were  known  as  the  "  Dead  wood  Dig- 
gings "  and  yielded  considerable  gold.  Further,  the  decomposed 
rock  or  surface  ores  of  veins  (which  might  possibly  be  called  sapro- 
lite)  were  sluiced  to  some  extent.  These  placers  were  worked  to 
the  best  advantage  and  profitably  between  1859  and  1863. 

In  the  Idaho  Springs  district,  as  elsewhere  in  the  state,  aurifer- 
ous gravels  may  be  grouped  into  three  classes,  namely:  River  bars, 
stream  gravels  and  bench  deposits.  The  river  gravels  and  bars  lie 
in  or  adjacent  to  the  stream  beds  and  consist  of  gravels,  sands  and 
boulders  lying  on  the  bed-rock  and  forming  the  bed  of  the  streams. 
The  bench  deposits  are  in  most  cases  remnants  of  ancient  river  beds, 
and  have  probably  been  added  to  by  wash  and  slides  from  the  moun- 
tain sides  above.  They  have  for  convenience  been  divided  into 
three  classes:  first,  those  25  feet  above  the  present  stream  level 
consisting  largely  of  glacial  material  worked  over  by  the  present 
stream;  second,  gravel  terraces  situated  some  55  feet  above  the 
beds  of  the  creeks  and,  as  has  been  suggested,  are  possibly  of  pre- 
glacial  origin;  and  third,  other  deposits  fully  180  feet  above  the 
stream  channels,  being  composed  of  indurated  river  gravels  probably 
of  late  Tertiary  origin.  The  elevations  given  here  are  for  the  Idaho 
Springs  deposits,  and  will  vary  somewhat  with  other  locations. 

These  deposits  were  in  certain  places  remarkably  rich,  the  best 
values  being  found  either  in  the  deep  gravels  in  the  channels  or 
directly  on  bed-rock.  Mining  was  carried  on  here  by  tunnels  and 
shafts,  in  this  respect  following  the  California  practice.2 

On  the  south  side  of  Hahns  Peak  gravel  bars  have  been  worked 
in  two  places,  namely;  Ways  Gulch  and  Poverty  Bar.  These 
gravels  are  probably  reconcentrations  from  the  conglomerate  under- 
lying the  Red  Beds,  which  are  loosely  consolidated.3 

The  placer  deposits  of  Leadville  furnished  the  bulk  of  the  gold  and 
were  the  principal  source  of  the  precious  metals  prior  to  the  dis- 

1  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  A.  G.  Lock,  pp.  142-144  and  Auri- 
ferous Gravels  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  of  California  p.  115. 

2  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bui.  285,  p.  36. 
s  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  285,  p.  31. 


OCCURRENCE  OF   GOLD   AND  SILVER.  311 

covery  of  silver.  California  Gulch  was  probably  of  the  most  import- 
ance, while  the  Iowa  and  Evans  gulches  adjoining  it  on  either  side 
and  containing  more  extensive  deposits  have  yielded  comparatively 
little  gold.  The  bend  of  the  California  Gulch  below  Oro,  at  the 
Mouth  of  Nugget  Gulch,  was  probably  the  richest  portion,  the  next 
in  point  of  yield  was  the  bend  at  the  La  Plata  mine,  while  the  next 
in  importance  was  below  Graham  Gulch.  The  gulch  gold  varied 
from  $17  to  $19  in  value  per  ounce,  while  that  from  the  veins  aver- 
aged about  $15.1 

The  Fourmile  placers  are  situated  about  75  miles  south  of  Rawlins  in 
Routt  County,  Colorado,  and  Carbon  counties,  Wyoming,  on  the  Snake 
River.  They  cover  an  area  of  some  1200  square  miles  and  range 
from  2  to  20  feet  thick,  average  probably  nine  feet.  The  gravels  occur 
on  the  uplands  or  mesas,  the  bed-rock  having  an  elevation  of  100  to 
150  feet  above  the  valley.  As  a  rule  the  gravel  is  free  from  cement, 
pipe  clay  or  boulders  and  is  readily  broken  down  and  washed.  The 
gold  is  quite  uniformly  distributed  throughout  the  gravel  and  is 
easily  saved.  It  is  claimed  that  the  yield  of  the  gravel  is  20  cents 
and  upwards  per  cubic  yard.  The  principal  creeks  in  the  district 
which  yield  gold  are :  Fourmile,  Timberlake,  Thornburgh,  Dry  Gulch, 
Scandinavian  and  Big  Hole.  Gold  is  also  found  for  a  distance  of  ten 
miles  along  the  Snake  River,  beginning  south  of  Big  Hole  Creek.2 

At  Fairplay  and  for  some  distance  below,  the  bed-rock  in  places 
is  fully  35  feet  below  the  stream  bed,  showing  a  depth  of  deposit  of 
100  feet.  About  ten  miles  from  Fairplay  are  the  Alma  placer 
workings.  Here  the  bed-rock  is  a  coarse  sandstone  known  as 
Weber-grit,  upon  and  in  the  crevices  of  which  most  of  the  gold 
occurs.  To  save  the  gold  often  several  feet  of  bed-rock  are  removed. 
The  gravels  vary  from  50  to  75  feet  in  thickness  being  made  up  of 
sand,  gravel  and  boulders,  the  latter  of  porphyry  and  of  a  considerable 
range  in  size.  Besides  the  porphyry,  granite  and  quartzites  are 
present  in  varying  quantities.  The  gold  varies  in  size  from  dust  to 
quite  coarse  grains  and  nuggets,  the  former  extending  even  to  the 
grass-roots.3 

On  Swan  River  are  the  Fuller  placer  mines.  There  are  three 
forks  of  the  Swan  River,  namely;  the  North,  South  and  Middle 
forks  —  the  South  Fork  is  in  a  country  of  porphyritic  overflow  and 
carries  gold,  while  the  Middle  and  North  forks  are  barren  of  gold, 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Monograph  No.  12,  p.  515. 
8  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  60,  p.  102. 
8  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  21,  p.  128. 


312  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

the  former  lying  wholly  in  slates  and  sandstones,  the  latter  has  its 
source  in  a  granite-country.  The  gold-bearing  gulches  of  this 
district  are:  the  Georgia,  Brewery,  Brown,  French,  Mayo,  Illinois, 
Boston,  Dry  and  Negro.  The  first  or  Georgia  Gulch  was  worked  as 
early  as  1859. 

Some  placer-mining  has  been  done  at  Cripple  Creek  and  vicinity, 
but  owing  to  the  peculiar  condition  of  the  gold  which  has  been 
derived  from  the  oxidation  of  tellurides,  being  light  and  powdery 
or  spongy,  no  very  rich  placers  have  been  formed.  Limited  opera- 
tions have  been  conducted  at  Hull  City,  along  Beaver  Creek,  in 
Squaw  Gulch,  Arequa  Gulch  and  on  Wilson  Creek.  Gophering  has 
been  attempted  on  the  southern  slope  of  Mineral  Hill,  the  gravels 
being  washed  in  rockers,  and  dry-washing  has  also  been  tried.1 

The  Carolinas.  —  There  are  two  gold-bearing  districts  or  belts 
in  the  Carolinas  and  Georgia,  namely:  the  western  goldfield  of 
North  and  South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  and  the  field  of  central 
North  Carolina  and  Georgia.  The  former  being  close  to  the  Blue 
Ridge  lies  in  the  highlands  where  the  valleys  are  deep.  The 
gravels  being  nearer  their  source  are  coarser  and,  as  a  rule,  the 
deposits  are  more  abundant  and  thicker  than  in  the  central  field. 

The  following  streams  cross  the  gold-belt  in  their  downward 
course  from  the  Blue  Ridge;  the  Catawba,  Etowah,  Chestatee, 
Yahoola  and  Cane  Creeks.  These  streams  and  their  branches  are 
auriferous  and  as  they  have  cut  downward  have  left  hill-deposits 
and  old  channels  filled  with  gravel.2 

The  character  of  the  auriferous  deposits  which  are  worked  as 
placers  in  these  states  are  similar  to  those  of  Alabama,  consisting  of 
gravels  and  saprolites.3  (See  Alabama).  Small  scale  placer-mining 
has  been  carried  on  in  various  parts  of  North  Carolina.  At  the 
Portis  mine,  Franklin  County,  auriferous  saprolites  are  worked  by 
surface-sluicing  and  hydraulicing  to  a  depth  of  15  to  30  feet.  The 
country-rock  is  diorite  which  is  intersected  by  quartz-stringers. 
The  Sam  Christian  mine  near  Troy  is  a  gravel  deposit  varying  in 
thickness  from  one  to  three  feet.  The  gold  was  mostly  coarse  and 
many  nuggets  weighing  from  5  to  1000  pennyweight  were  obtained. 
The  Crawford  mine,  Stanley  County,  is  a  true  gravel  deposit  in  which 
the  gold  is  coarse  and  nuggety.  The  bed-rock  is  slate  upon  which 
lie  angular  fragments  of  quartz  and  country-rock  in  a  clay  matrix, 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Professional  Paper  No.  54,  p.  152,  1906. 

*  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  798,  1895. 

8  U.  S.  G.  S.  16th  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  3,  pp.  289-293,  1894-95. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD   AND   SILVER.  313 

and  is  often  spoken  of  as  cement.  The  nuggets  show  but  little  wear, 
being  rough  and  irregular.  Hydraulicing  has  been  carried  on  at  the 
Parker  mine,  at  New  London,  for  a  number  of  years.  The  gold  is 
coarse  and  nuggety.  Auriferous  saprolites  are  also  worked  here  by 
a  combination  sluicing  and  milling  process.  Placer-mining  has 
also  been  the  principal  source  of  the  gold  from  Burke,  McDowell 
and  Rutherford  counties.1 

The  auriferous  gravel  deposits  are  often  spoken  of  as  grits  being 
composed  of  loose  beds  of  disintegrated  veins,  the  gravel  being  both 
rounded  and  angular.  The  origin  of  these  deposits  is  recent  time, 
even  the  present.  They  vary  in  thickness  from  a  few  inches  to  many 
feet  and  vary  fully  as  much  in  richness  as  in  thickness.2 

Small  scale  placer  workings  have  been  carried  on  at  various  points 
throughout  the  state  and  the  first  work  done  at  the  Haile  mine  con- 
sisted of  branch  washing,  later  changing  to  open-cutting  and  still 
later  to  underground  mining.  The  gold  from  Spartanburg,  Green- 
ville, and  Pickens  counties  comes  largely  from  placers.3 

According  to  Tuomey  the  gold  occurs  in  South  Carolina  in  "  de- 
posit "  or  "  branch  "  and  "  vein  "  mines;  the  former  having  been 
formed  at  two  different  times  or  periods.  The  first  constitute  the 
most  extensive  mines  of  the  state  and  consist  of  much  worn 
pebbles  and  gravel  none  of  which  is  much  larger  than  six  inches  in 
diameter  and  has  undoubtedly  been  transported  from  a  great  distance 
as  it  cannot  be  traced  to  its  source.  Such  deposits  are  found  in  the 
Tomassic  Valley,  on  the  Tyger  near  the  summit  of  Blue  Ridge,  at  the 
foot  of  Poor  Mountain  and  at  Rankin's,  on  Little  River.  The  second 
and  more  recent  deposits  consist  largely  of  angular  fragments  of 
quartz  which  can  be  readily  traced  to  their  source  in  the  veins  in  the 
neighborhood.  In  fact  most  of  the  veins  were  found  by  following 
up  the  placer  deposits.  Such  deposits  have  proved  remunerative 
at  Estatoe,  in  Abbeville;  on  Lawson's  Fork,  in  Spartanburg;  and 
in  Cherokee  Valley.  The  gold,  especially  the  larger  pieces,  is  some- 
what water- worn  and  is  purer  than  the  vein-gold.4 

Georgia.  —  (For  distribution  of  gold-fields  see  the  Carolinas.) 
Surface  washing  of  gold  began  in  Georgia  and  North  Carolina  in  1829, 
and  extended  from  the  Rappahannock  River,  in  Virginia,  to  the 
Coosa,  in  Alabama.  Gold  occurs  in  this  state  as  elsewhere  in  the 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  pp.  693-717  and  Ibid.  Vol.  25,  p.  728. 

2  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  A.  G.  Lock,  p.  155,  1882. 
8  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  pp.  717-718. 

4  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  A.  G.  Lock,  pp.  154-159,  1882. 


314  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

South  in  two  general  forms  of  deposits,  namely:  true  placers  and 
deposits  of  decomposed  auriferous  rock  in  situ  or  saprolite.  In  this 
decomposed  material  the  gold  is  free-milling,  the  pyrite  of  the  veins 
and  country-rocks  having  been  altered  to  limonite  and  the  gold  re- 
leased. Further,  the  deposit  being  loose  can  be  worked  in  a  manner 
similar  to  a  deep  placer.  The  gold  found  in  the  deposits  of  saprolite 
is  rough,  occasionally  in  the  form  of  wires  and  often  in  masses  as  at 
the  Loud  mine,  north  of  Dahlonega.  Probably  the  most  extensive 
deposits  of  stream  or  "  branch  "  gravels  are  on  Duke's  Creek,  near 
Nacooche,  also  on  Yahoolah  Creek,  at  Dahlonega,  while  smaller  ones 
are  found  near  Brindletown.1 

The  Loud  deposit  of  Loudville  is  one  of  the  most  celebrated  and 
extensive  in  the  southern  gold  region.  The  gravel  deposit  occurs  in 
a  basin-like  area  and  consists  of  water- worn  quartz  fragments.  The 
gold  is  semi-crystalline  and  is  remarkably  free  from  evidences  of 
attrition,  from  which  it  is  judged  that  its  source  is  not  far  distant. 
This  deposit  has  been  worked  over  a  number  of  times  with  fair  results. 
Unfortunately  owing  to  their  location  and  lack  of  extensiveness  the 
high  deposits  scarcely  warrant  an  attempt  at  hydraulicing. 

The  placers  of  White  County  have  yielded  considerable  gold  in 
the  form  of  nuggets  weighing  several  ounces,  which  are  usually  much 
worn  by  stream-action. 

The  "  Pigeon-Roost  Streak  "  is  a  peculiar  lode  deposit  near  Dahl- 
onega, consisting  of  micaceous  schists  or  slates  in  which  quartz- 
veins  occur,  but  owing  to  their  extreme  smallness  (usually  not  over 
one-eighth  inch,  or  two  to  three  millimeters  in  thickness)  and  their 
occurrence  interleaved  with  the  micaceous  layers,  it  is  often  next  to 
impossible  to  distinguish  them.  This  assemblage  of  "  knife-blade  " 
veins  has  suffered  considerable  alteration  by  the  decomposition  of  the 
included  pyrite  and  has  been  worked  by  sluicing  like  the  saprolite  de- 
posits; with  depth  auriferous  pyrites  associated  with  tellurium  occur.2 

The  placer  deposits  have  been  gone  over  so  many  times  that  profit- 
able working  by  ordinary  methods  is  next  to  impossible;  however, 
river  dredging  is  still  profitably  carried  on.  Placer-working  with  an 
hydraulic  elevator  was  carried  on  in  the  bottom-land  of  Duke's  Creek 
in  1895.  Old  gravel  piles  were  also  being  worked  by  a  giant.  Wire- 
gold  is  found  at  this  locality.  Small  placer-workings  have  been  the 
main  source  of  gold  in  Forsythe  County. 

1  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  23,  p.  493  and  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18th  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  3, 
p.  289. 

3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  pp.  800-^802,  1895. 


OCCURRENCE   OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


315 


Some  ten  miles  south  of  Dahlonega,  gravels  varying  from  nothing 
to  four  feet  in  thickness  are  found.  As  a  rule  they  are  covered  with 
a  layer  from  2  to  20  feet  of  dirt  which  carries  no  gold.  Coarse  gold, 
often  crystallized  and  arborescent,  is  found  here.1  In  many  cases, 
gold  is  found  uniformly  distributed  throughout  the  soil  and  drift  on 
hills  and  hillsides,  also  in  the  dry  ravines  and  bottoms  of  Lumpkin 
County. 

Idaho.  —  Profitable  placers  have  been  found  in  practically  every 
county  in  the  state.  The  gold  is  usually  very  fine  and  is  associated 


UTA  H 
Snake  River  Gold  Fields,  Idaho  (1899). 

with  black  sands.  Many  of  the  auriferous  gravel  deposits  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  are  glacial  overwash  or  both  overwash  and  moraines 
together.  The  former  are  often  of  considerable  importance  espe- 
cially in  Idaho  and  neighboring  states.  In  Idaho  overwash  glacial 
deposits  are  found  in  the  Boise  Basin,  Warren  Meadows,  Red  River 
Meadows,  at  Bull  of  the  Woods,  and  near  Leesburg.  Occasionally 
the  overwash  was  deposited  in  lakes.  South  of  Elk  City  a  gravel  plain 
1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  26,  p.  243. 


316  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  wide  and  Seven  miles  long  and  often  80  feet 
deep  extends  from  the  valley  of  Red  Horse  River  over  hills  fully 
100  feet  high;  the  American  Hill  placer  is  a  part  of  this  system.  The 
materials  of  this  deposit  are  very  much  water-worn  and  rounded,  while 
the  bed-rock  is  also  smooth  and  polished,  yet  is  quite  uneven.  De- 
pressions and  pot-holes  with  a  depth  of  five  feet  are  common.  From 
appearances  it  would  seem  that  a  river  of  slow  current  had  traversed 
a  glacier  which  had  become  covered  with  vegetation  like  the  Alaskian 
glaciers.1 

The  source  of  the  Snake  River  gold  seems  to  be  the  Caribou,  Snake 
River  and  Pierre's  Hole  mountains.  The  gold  is  very  fine,  and  has 
its  source  in  quartz-veins.  Some  of  the  bars  carry  an  average  value 
of  30  cents  per  cubic  yard  for  a  depth  of  ten  feet,  while  compara- 
tively large  areas  yield  but  5  to  15  cents  per  cubic  yard,  and  are 
especially  adapted  to  dredging.  Above  the  mouth  of  the  Boise 
River  it  takes  1200  colors,  on  an  average,  to  make  a  cent,  while 
below,  there  are  about  900  colors  to  a  cent.2 

Rich  gravels  were  worked  near  Centerville,  Idaho  City,  Placer- 
ville  and  Granite  Creek  as  early  as  1862.  The  deposits  occur  with 
an  extreme  range  from  two  to  six  feet  in  depth,  and  contain  sand, 
cobbles  and  boulders  of  granite,  porphyry  and  quartz.  As  a  rule 
the  boulders  are  small,  seldom  exceeding  eight  inches  in  diameter 
and  the  greater  part  less  than  four  inches.  At  an  elevation  of  10  to 
60  feet  above  the  stream  are  bench  gravels  varying  but  little  in 
character.  It  is  not  unusual  to  find  a  number  of  these  benches 
occurring  one  above  the  other.  There  is  a  remarkable  uniformity 
in  richness  in  the  gravels. 

The  bed-rock  of  the  stream  gravels  is  usually  granite,  although  on 
Moore  Creek,  extending  for  some  distance  below  Idaho  City  the 
bed-rock  is  a  mixture  of  sand  and  clay  called  "  false  bed-rock." 
Little  or  no  gold  is  found  in  the  false  bed-rock. 

Monazite  sand  occurs  with  the  gold  in  the  gravels,  and  is  caught 
with  it  in  the  sluices.  The  source  of  the  gold  is  numerous  small 
quartz-veins.  An  ample  water  supply  together  with  the  absence  of 
clay  and  large  boulders  and  a  soft  and  easily  cleaned  bed-rock 
render  the  district  especially  adapted  to  dredging.3 

The  gravel  deposits  of  the  Warren  district  have  a  depth  of  about 

1  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  20,  p.  494. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.  Vol.  73,  p.  241;  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  81,  p.  610, 
and  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  20,  p.  57. 

8  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  81,  p.  400  and  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  68,  p.  395. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  317 

18  feet  in  the  Valley  of  Meadow  Creek.  Overlying  the  gravel  and 
sand  a  black  loamy  soil  is  usually  found.  Subangular  pebbles  and 
cobbles  of  quartz  and  granite  form  the  main  portion  of  the  deposit. 
The  bed-rock  is  granite,  somewhat  decomposed.  The  gold  is  fairly 
coarse  and  occurs  in  streaks,  usually  on  the  concave  side  of  the 
streams.  There  is  a  gold-bearing  area  lying  between  Warren  and 
Florence  extending  from  the  northeast  to  the  southwest;  in  fact, 
all  the  streams  rising  in  the  Grouse  Mountains  are  more  or  less  auri- 
ferous. Beside  the  present  stream  gravels  there  are  lake-bed  de- 
posits and  others  which  are  subordinate  gravels  lying  on  the  dis- 
turbed surfaces  of  the  auriferous  fluviatile  gravels.  It  is  doubtful 
whether  these  latter  deposits  could  have  been  formed  by  the  com- 
paratively small  streams  of  the  present  time.1 

In  the  Florence  Basin  many  of  the  creeks  contain  rich  gravel  de- 
posits. These  gravels  have  no  great  thickness,  but  are  remarkably 
rich  in  places.  The  gravel  is  subangular  as  is  much  of  the  gold. 
Magnetite  and  ilmenite  are  associated  with  the  gold  together  with 
considerable  zircon,  commonly  known  as  "  white  sand."  Baboon 
Creek  has  probably  been  the  most  productive.2 

The  placers  of  Silver  City  and  the  De  Lamar  district  are  neither 
extensive  nor  deep,  and  have  been  practically  exhausted  for  some 
years,  which  is  especially  true  of  Jordan  Creek,  it  having  been  worked 
from  below  De  Lamar  to  its  head.  The  northern  slope  of  Florida 
Mountain  near  Silver  City,  has  produced  some  rather  extensive 
workings,  the  principal  workings  being  in  Long,  Blue  and  Jacobs 
gulches.  The  gravels  in  Jacobs  Gulch  were  in  placers  30  feet  thick, 
while  Blue  Creek  yielded  many  nuggets.3 

The  Ramey  mine  on  Silver  Creek  in  the  Thunder  Mountain  dis- 
trict is  noteworthy  on  account  of  the  low-grade  gold  found  in  the 
gravels.  The  value  of  the  gold  is  about  $12  per  ounce,  but  the 
placers  on  Panther  Creek,  two  miles  distant,  yield  $18  gold.4 

Robinson  bar  at  the  mouth  of  Warm  Creek,  in  Custer  County,  is 
an  extremely  rich  placer.  Mining  by  drifting  into  the  high  bars  and 
back  channels,  and  wing-dam  stream  work  was  done  with  good 
results. 

Auriferous  gravels  yielding  from  15  to  70  cents  per  cubic  yard 
.and  having  a  depth  of  15  to  17  feet  have  been  worked  on  Sheep 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20th  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  240. 
a  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20th  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  234. 

•  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20th  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.,  3,  p.  163. 

*  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  84,  p.  62. 


318  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Creek.  The  values  are  uniformly  distributed  from  top  to  bottom 
of  the  deposits.1 

Fairly  rich  placers  are  also  found  at  Salmon  Falls  and  Gibbons- 
ville;  in  the  latter  the  gold  is  fairly  coarse  and  nuggets  ranging  in 
value  from  $3  to  $10  have  been  found. 

Illinois.  —  According  to  the  reports  of  the  Geological  Survey: 
11  In  a  few  instances  minute  particles  of  gold  have  been  found  in  the 
drift,  and  sometimes  charlatans,  professing  to  be  geologists,  have 
availed  themselves  of  this  fact  to  proclaim  to  the  world  wonderful 
and  valuable  discoveries  of  gold  and  silver." 

Indiana.  —  Gold  occurs  in  the  glacial  drift  and  occasionally  small 
particles  are  washed  from  the  creeks  and  rivers;  however,  its  source 
is  in  all  cases  the  glacial  debris  brought  down  from  the  north.  Gold 
has  been  found  in  Brown,  Franklin,  Jennings,  Morgan,  Northing- 
ton  and  Warren  counties.  It  is  reported  that  $2,900  worth  of  gold 
was  taken  from  Beanblosssom  Creek.  Gold  was  also  found  in  the 
bed  of  the  Muscatatuck  River.2 

Iowa.  —  According  to  White,  of  the  Geological  Survey  of  Iowa, 
"  whatever  gold  may  be  found  in  the  glacial  drift  of  Iowa  may  be 
supposed  to  have  originated  in  northern  Minnesota.  There  is  no 
reason  to  hope  it  will  be  found  in  paying  quantities."3  W.  J.  McGee 
in  the  Pleistocene  History  of  Northeastern  Iowa  says:  "  An  ele- 
ment of  the  glacial  drift,  generally  throughout  the  entire  basin, 
which  is  almost  insignificant  in  volume,  but  sometimes  important  in 
value,  is  triturated  gold.  This  element  occurs  in  Iowa,  as  else- 
where, commonly  in  exceedingly  small  quantities;  but  there  is  a 
considerable  area  in  which  the  local  conditions  of  deposition  of  the 
upper  till  have  led  to  such  concentration  that  it  may  prove  of  eco- 
momic  value.  .  .  .  About,  Fayette,  at  Maynard,  and  elsewhere  in 
in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  basin,  indeed,  more  or  less  gold  has 
been  found,  and  even  in  the  gap  cut  by  the  Volga  in  the  basin  rimr 
at  Wadena,  gold  has  been  obtained  in  nearly  paying  quantities." 4 

Isthmus  of  Panama.  —  The  auriferous  gravels  of  this  region  are 
shallow,  limited  in  extent  and  of  moderate  richness,  although  that 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  69,  p.  441  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  68,  p.  395. 

3  First  Ann.  Kept.  State  Geologist  of  Indiana,  Folio  190,  1869;  Sixth  Ann. 
Kept.,  Folio  107,  1875;  Seventh  Ann.  Kept.,  1876;  Eight,  Ninth  and  Tenth 
Repts.;  Thirteenth  Ann.  Rept.,  1883,  and  Trans.  Lake  Superior  Inst.  Min. 
Engrs.,  Vol.  5,  pp.  51  and  52. 

3  Geological  Survey  of  Iowa,  Vol.  1,  p.  97,  1870. 

4  The  Pleistocene  History  of  Northeastern  Iowa,  11  Ann.  Rept.  Director,  TJ. 
S.  G.  S.,  p.  486,  1891. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  319 

lying  next  to  bed-rock  may  carry  from  $20  to  $40  per  cubic  yard  in 
gold.  Associated  with  the  gold  are  found  amalgam,  native  quick- 
silver and  cinnabar.  Unsuccessful  attempts  to  hydraulic  the  gulches 
have  been  made.1 

Kansas.  —  No  gold  has  been  found  in  the  state  except  in  exceed- 
ingly small  quantities  in  the  glacial  drift  and  wash  from  the  Rocky 
Mountains  and  traces  in  the  shales  of  Grove,  Trego  and  Ellis  counties. 

Minnesota.  —  Gold  has  been  found  in  various  localities  in  the  state 
in  the  Glacial  drift,  reported  finds  from  the  following  counties  having 
been  made:  in  Fillmore  County,  at  Spring  Valley  and  Jordan;  in 
Olmsted  County,  near  the  Zumbro  River  and  extending  from  Roches- 
ter to  the  Wabasha  County  line;  and  in  Scott,  Kandiyohi,  Itasca 
and  Saint  Louis  counties.  Of  these  localities  Olmsted  probably 
stands  first  and  Itasca  and  Saint  Louis  are  next  in  importance; 
however,  none  of  them  yield  gold  in  commercial  quantities.2 

Mississippi.  —  "  Unmistakable  signs  "  of  gold  were  reported  from 
Jackson  County  in  1854.  If  gold  is  found  in  the  state  its  source  will 
have  been  the  glacial  drift  distributed  along  the  course  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi River.3 

Missouri.  —  According  to  C.  P.  Williams  glacial  drift  covers  a 
large  area  extending  from  the  Iowa  line  into  Macon  County.  It  is 
exposed  along  the  great  Chariton  River.  It  was  also  found  at 
Kirksville  in  Adair  County.  The  gold  occurs  in  fine  particles  in  the 
drift,  which  is  composed  of  three  layers  of  gravel  all  panning  colors. 
Boulders  of  granite,  syenite,  hornblende,  greenstone,  trap  and 
quartz  occur  intimately  mixed  together  and  forming  a  bed  some  64 
feet  thick.4 

Montana.  —  This  state  has  been  a  large  producer  of  gold,  es- 
pecially from  placers  during  the  sixties.  When  the  principal  gulches 
such  as  the  Last  Chance,  Grizzly  and  Prickley  Pear  were  exhausted 
placer-mining  began  to  lose  its  prestige.  The  principal  diggings 
were  in  the  vicinity  of  Helena,  and  the  yield  per  cubic  yard  seldom 
fell  below  20  cents,  usually  being  considerably  more.  The  Mon- 
tana Central,  the  Penn  and  Cataract  placers  of  Jefferson  County 
yielded  about  50  cents  per  cubic  yard.  The  usual  thickness  of  the 
deposits  is  12  to  50  feet.  The  bed-rock  is  decomposed  granite,  the 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  34,  p.  173,  1882. 

3  Trans.  Lake  Superior  Inst.  of  Min.  Engrs.,  Vol.  5,  p.  55  and  Geology  of 
Minnesota,  1st  Ann.  Rept.,  1866. 

3  Rept.  on  the  Agriculture  and  Geology  of  Mississippi,  Wailes,  1854. 

4  Min.  and  Sci.  Press.  Vol.  31,  p.  338. 


320  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

upper  six  to  eight  inches  being  gold-bearing.  As  a  rule  the  gravels 
are  fine  with  occasional  patches  of  cement.1 

A  placer  deposit  in  the  form  of  a  lake  bed  is  situated  some  ten 
miles  south  of  Drummond,  on  Flint  Creek.  It  consists  largely  of 
clay  and  marl,  and  has  a  thickness  of  150  feet;  upon  this  is  a  deposit 
of  gravel  with  a  depth  of  about  75  feet  in  which  the  gold  is  found. 
The  gold-content  is  about  2  cents  per  cubic  yard,  and  it  is  only 
owing  to  the  particularly  favorable  conditions  of  operation  that  it  is 
possible  to  work  the  deposit  with  profit.  The  gold  is  very  fine,  but 
is  caught  readily  by  block  riffles.  Nuggets  worth  50  cents  and  less 
are  occasionally  found.2 

The  Bannack  placers  of  Beaver  Head  County  were  discovered  in  the 
sixties  and  produced  over  $20,000,000  in  gold,  and  that  too  by  simple 
methods  of  washing.  Gold  was  obtained  from  bars.  Hillside  placers 
were  worked  in  Deer  Lodge  County,  but  were  soon  exhausted.3 

Other  placers  which  have  produced  large  amounts  of  gold  are: 
the  Alder  Gulch,  Madison  County;  Bear  Gulch,  Granite  County; 
and  Cedar  Creek,  in  Missoula  County.  The  Cedar  Creek  placers 
have  a  bed-rock  of  shaly  slate  which  is  easily  cleaned.  The  gravels 
yield  about  50  cents  per  cubic  yard.4 

The  quartz  ledges  of  Butte  were  located  subsequent  to  the  work- 
ing of  the  placer  deposits  in  the  Missoula  Gulch. 

Nebraska.  —  Gold  has  been  'found  from  time  to  time  in  the  glacial 
drift  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  state,  and  the  drift  or  wash 
from  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  westward.  An  occasional  quartz 
pebble  is  found  to  show  traces  of  gold.  The  centers  of  the  excite- 
ments over  the  finding  of  gold  were  Seward,  Stanton  and  Franklin 
counties.  Gold  has  actually  been  obtained  from  the  gravels  at 
Milford  and  Crete,  and  it  is  claimed  that  the  high  terraces  of  the 
Platte,  especially  at  Scott's  Bluff,  contain  gold.5 

The  Milford  gold  was  obtained  from  a  decomposed  ferruginous 
granite,  found  in  the  drift  along  the  Blue  River.6 

Nevada.  —  In  the  early  days  some  placer-mining  was  done  in  the 
state  and  the  operation  on  Carson  River,  in  Gold  Canon,  led  to  the 
discovery  of  the  Comstock  lode,  but  the  magnitude  of  the  lode  mines 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.  Vol.  44,  p.  167. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.  Vol.  68,  p.  575. 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  83,  p.  183,  and  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extrac- 
tion, A.  G.  Lock,  p.  172,  1882. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.  Vol.  67,  p.  143. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.  Vol.,  67,  p.  408. 

Trans.  Lake  Superior,  Inst.  Min.  Engrs.  Vol.  5,  p.  57. 


OCCURRENCE  OF   GOLD  AND  SILVER.  321 

so  overshadowed  the  comparatively  small  and  superficial  deposits 
of  auriferous  gravel  that  little  work  has  been  done  upon  them,  and 
practically  nothing  has  been  written  regarding  such  operations. 

New  Mexico.  —  According  to  Dr.  Wislizenus  there  were  two  local- 
ities in  the  Territory  where  gold  was  obtained  from  gravels  in  1846 
and  1847.  The  "  Old  Placer  "  was  situated  27  miles  from  Santa  Fe, 
the  "  New  Placer  "  some  nine  miles  distant.  It  is  claimed  by  the 
same  authority  that  both  the  washings  and  mines  had  at  various 
times  yielded  from  $30,000  to  $250,000  per  annum.1 

Auriferous  gravels  are  found  on  both  the  east  and  the  west 
sides  of  the  Rio  Grande  in  Sierra  County.  Those  on  the  west 
bank  were  not  found  to  be  rich  enough  to  work  with  profit. 
In  1904  the  deposits  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  were  discovered 
and  are  being  worked.  Cemented  gravel  occurs  here  and  occasion- 
ally has  a  thickness  of  200  feet,  which  thickness  is  exposed.  The 
bottom  is  composed  of  sand  and  boulders  and  contains  gold  for  a 
distance  of  14  feet.  Gold  is  found  on  the  surface  of  the  cemented 
gravels.  In  working  these  deposits  the  boulders  are  picked  out  after 
which  the  top  layers  of  gravel  and  sand  are  removed,  that  next  to 
the  bed-rock  being  carefully  brushed  back  and  collected  from  the 
hard  cement.  It  is  finally  panned  and  blown  until  all  of  the  sand 
is  removed  and  the  gold  remains.  So  far  the  cement  has  not  been 
found  to  be  of  sufficient  value  to  warrant  working.2 

Ohio.  —  Gold  is  found  in  this  state,  as  in  most  of  the  states  of 
the  Mississippi  Valley,  in  the  glacial  drift.  "  In  1868,  $17  worth 
of  gold  were  taken  from  Boling  Green  township,  1  mile  north  of 
Brownville,  from  glacial  drift;  the  largest  pieces  were  the  size  of 
grains  of  wheat.  In  Licking  County,  Prof.  Andrews  reports  the 
quantity  of  gold  small,  but  in  my  experiments  nearly  every  panful 
showed  the  color.  There  is  a  range  of  terraces  about  50  feet  above 
the  bed  of  Licking  River.  They  are  cut  through  by  small  streams 
from  the  south  and  in  the  narrow  ravines  gold  is  obtained  from  the 
sands  and  clay.  A  jeweler  in  Newark  found  gold  in  small  fragments 
in  quartz."  Gold  is  also  found  in  Clermont  County  of  which  occur- 
rence Professor  Orton  says:  "  This  formation  should  be  called  the 
drift  gold-field  rather  than  the  Clermont  gold-field."  3  The  gold  is 
usually  found  in  the  boulder-clay  and  gravels. 

1  Memoir  of  a  Tour  to  Northern  Mexico  1846-7  published  by  Congress,  p.  24S 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  88,  p.  61. 

3  Geol.  Rept.  of  Ohio,  Vol.  1,  Folio,  462,  Ibid.,  Folio,  70,  1874,  and  Folio,  71, 
and  Ibid.,  Vol.  3,  p.  314,  1878. 


322  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Oregon.  —  The  auriferous  gravels  of  this  state  are  often  exten- 
sive and  are  confined  to  the  areas  of  the  older  rocks,  at  least  they 
have  been  the  source  of  the  gold.  In  southwestern  Oregon  the 
formations  are  pre-Tertiary  while  in  the  Blue  Mountain  district 
they  are  pre-Jurassic.  The  absence  of  auriferous  gravels  in  the 
areas  known  to  be  gold-bearing  is  accounted  for  by  the  compara- 
tively slight  erosion  of  the  country.  While  in  those  districts  where 
lavas  and  tuffs  predominate  the  accumulation  of  such  materials 
exceeded  in  amount  that  lost  through  wear  by  erosion,  thus  many 
at  least  of  the  gold-bearing  veins  were  covered  up  and  protected 
against  disintegration  and  transportation  to  the  water  courses.  How- 
ever, in  the  Blue,  Klamath  and  part  of  the  Rogue  River  mountains, 
in  Oregon,  and  the  Salmon  and  Trinity,  in  California,  there  has  been 
excessive  erosion  since  the  deposition  of  the  ores,  thus  forming 
auriferous  gravel  deposits  in  the  streams.  In  the  Blue  Mountains 
the  wear  of  the  disturbed  pre-Jurassic  rock  has  probably  been 
several  thousand  feet  in  vertical  height,  while  the  wear  in  the 
Klamath  Mountains  has  evidently  been  fully  as  great.  The  gold 
freed  by  this  erosion  has  in  most  cases  been  deposited  and  concen- 
trated at  no  great  distance  from  its  source.1 

The  gold  is  usually  close  to  bed-rock  in  the  Blue  Mountains, 
although  occasionally  gravel  beds  in  which  the  gold  is  distributed 
evenly  throughout  a  height  of  10  to  20  feet  are  found  —  the  Nelson 
placers  of  Pocahontas,  are  examples.  The  Burnt  River  gravels 
yield  pay  gravel  in  the  two  or  three  feet  adjacent  to  the  bed-rock, 
the  upper  portion  being  practically  barren.  However,  the  average  of 
the  whole  bank  is  between  10  and  35  cents  per  cubic  yard.  Large 
scale  operation  can  handle  gravels  averaging  2  cents,  although  5 
cents  is  usually  considered  the  lower  limit.  Gravels  yielding  from 
2  to  7  cents  per  cubic  yard  can  be  worked  with  profit  by  dredges. 
The  size  of  the  gold  varies  between  wide  limits:  the  finest  grains 
(colors)  require  several  thousand  to  make  a  cent,  while  many  slugs 
and  small  nuggets  have  been  found. 

The  placer-mining  districts  of  the  Blue  Mountains  are  as  follows; 
bars  on  the  Snake  River;  Eagle  Creek  Mountains;  Sparta;  and  an 
area  extending  from  Connor  Creek  by  Weatherby,  Chicken  Creek,  Rye 
Valley,  Humbolt,  Clark's  Creek  and  Malheur;  the  camps  of  Auburn, 
Pocahontas  and  Minersville,  west  of  Baker  City;  and  the  head- 
'  waters  of  Powder  and  Burnt  rivers  and  Granite  Creek,  which 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  88,  p.  299. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  .GOLD  AND  SILVER.  323 

include  the  districts  of  Sumpter,  Granite,  Robinsville,  Bonanza  and 
Gimlet.1 

In  the  Susan ville  district  in  Elk  Creek  the  gold  occurs  in  two  or 
three  channels  or  gutters  which  have  a  depth  of  one  to  three  feet, 
the  channel  proper  being  nearly  level  and  fully  100  feet  wide.2 

In  Josephine  County  placer-mining  was  inaugurated  shortly 
after  similar  work  was  begun  in  California.  The  principal  localities 
being  on  the  Applegate,  Illinois,  Josephine  and  Galice  rivers.  Here 
as  in  California,  the  richest  deposits  occur  in  the  dead  river  channels. 
As  late  as  1902  there  were  150  hydraulicing  operations  in  the  county. 
The  gold  is  fairly  coarse  and  numerous  nuggets  ranging  in  value 
from  $1  to  $50  have  been  obtained.  Waldo,  Althouse,  Galice  and 
Grave,  areas  in  the  four  corners  of  the  county,  have  proven  most 
productive.3 

The  gravel  deposits  of  the  old  river  channels  in  southern  Oregon, 
and  especially  in  Josephine  County,  lie  in  channels  varying  from 
one-half  to  one  mile  in  width  and  have  a  depth  of  10  to  230  feet.  All 
of  such  gravels  carry  gold,  the  coarsest  occurring  next  to  bed-rock, 
thence  decreasing  in  size  to  the  top  of  the  deposits.  Boulders  and 
coarse  sand  and  gravel  lie  on  bed-rock  above  which  is  a  layer  of 
pipe  clay  and  above  that  in  turn  is  a  capping  of  red  clay.  The  red 
clay  yields  flour  gold  which  is  largely  caught  in  the  undercurrents 
placed  along  the  sluices.  The  gravel  carries  from  6  to  8  cents  per 
cubic  yard  in  gold.4 

The  beach  mines  of  the  state,  especially  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rogue 
River,  were  at  one  time  among  the  richest  of  all  the  placers.  The 
mouth  of  the  Coquille  River  in  southwestern  Oregon  also  produced 
auriferous  deposits.  The  sands  were  well  and  distinctly  stratified 
and  contained  many  remains  of  trees.  Both  gold  and  platinum 
were  found  in  the  black  sands  which  had  a  depth  of  a  few  inches  up 
to  12  feet.  The  gold  occurred  in  scales  and  flakes  often  too  fine  to 
be  saved,  and  on  an  average  it  took  600  colors  to  make  a  cent. 
The  yield  of  the  gravel  was  50  to  57  cents  per  ton.5 

Pennsylvania.  —  The  only  occurrence  of  gold  in  the  state  is  that 
reported  from  Philadelphia  where  gold  was  found  in  a  stratum  or 
bed  of  clay  some  three  square  miles  in  superficial  area  and  about  15 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  2,  pp.  634,  636  and  637,  1901. 

2  U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  2,  p.  708,  1901. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  74,  p.  582. 
*  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  81,  p  216. 

5  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  88,  p.  299,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  71.  p.  121. 


324  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

feet  in  thickness.  Assays  made  by  Eckfeldt,  principal  assayer  of  the 
Philadelphia  Mint,  in  1861,  gave  a  value  of  3  cents  in  gold  per  cubic 
foot  of  clay.1  As  this  deposit  of  clay  lies  beneath  the  streets  of  the 
city  and  especially  owing  to  its  poorness  in  value,  no  attempt  toward 
extracting  the  gold  has  been  seriously  considered. 

Philippines.  —  Gold-bearing  gravels  often  of  considerable  extent 
are  found  on  practically  every  large  island  in  the  Philippine  Arch- 
apelago.  The  placers  of  Camarines,  Bulacan,  Pigholugan,  Arroroy 
and  Pigtao  have  yielded  considerable  gold  in  times  past.  Dredging 
operations  are  to  be  begun  in  the  gravels  of  Camarines,  Masbate 
and  Mindanao.2 

Porto  Rico.  —  Official  statistics  show  that  as  early  as  1509,  and  up 
to  1536,  2,700  pounds  of  gold  were  sent  to  Spain,  which  probably 
represents  only  one-fifth  of  the  total  output.  This  was  obtained 
largely  or  wholly  from  placer-mining  operations  as  there  are  no 
evidences,  of  vein-mining  to  be  found.  Further,  Fray  Inigo  Abad3 
describing  the  effects  of  the  great  hurricane  of  1530  says:  "  They 
turned  their  eyes  to  the  mines,  but  found  them  all  submerged  by 
the  overflow  of  the  rivers." 

One  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Mameyes,  the  Anon,  has  been  worked, 
the  auriferous  alluvia  yielding  from  one  to  two  pounds  of  fine  gold 
per  day.  Alluvial  deposits  occur  over  large  areas  of  the  middle 
and  lower  parts  of  watershed  of  the  Mameyes  River  and  are  composed 
of  clay,  sand  and  boulders.  In  the  valley  of  the  Anon  these  de- 
posits have  a  depth  of  20  to  26  feet.  Other  auriferous  deposits 
occur  in  the  watersheds  of  the  Corozal,  Negros,  Congos,  Cibuco, 
Mavilla,  and  Manati  rivers. 

Numerous  nuggets  of  pure  gold  and  gold  with  quartz  attached 
have  been  found  on  the  Congos  River.  Operations  on  the  Corozal 
have  yielded  $2.17  to  $4.30  per  ton  of  sand  treated.  A  nugget  worth 
$200  was  found  on  the  Corozal. 

Gold  placers  also  occur  in  Mayaguez,  San  German,  Yanco  and 
Coamo,  where  nuggets  of  a  value  of  $2  to  $3  have  been  found. 

Native  "  lavadores,"  washmen,  work  irregularly  and  collect  small 
quantities  of  gold  by  means  of  a  batea  locally  called  a  "  gaveta."  4 

1  Sci.  American,  U.  S.  V.  247,  and  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction, 
A.  G.  Lock,  1882,  p.  181. 

3  Ann.  Kept.  Min.  Bureau,  Philippines,  1904. 

3  History  of  Porto  Rico,  Fray,  Ifiigo  Abad,  1788 

4  Special  Kept.  Census  Office,  Mines  and  Quarries,  1902,  pp.  1075-1076,  and 
Second  Ann.  Reptr  of  Governor  of  Port  Rico  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  325 

South  Dakota.  —  There  are  two  classes  of  auriferous  gravel  deposits, 
those  of  the  Quaternary  period  and  the  ancient  placers  at  the  base 
of  the  Potsdam.  The  former  yields  gold  but  in  small  quantities  up 
to  the  present  time,  although  the  richest  part  as  Deadwood  Gulch 
has  been  practically  exhausted. 

The  "  cement  deposits "  are  undoubtedly  gold-bearing  gravel 
deposits  which  have  been  consolidated  and  cemented  into  conglome- 
rates. They  are  easy  to  mine  and  yield  rich  ore.  The  principal 
mines  are  situated  near  Central  City.  In  some  of  the  mines  "  ledge- 
matter  "  consisting  of  gold-bearing  slates  and  quartz  occur  in  place. 
These  mines  were  first  worked  for  the  "  cement/'  which  lies  uncon- 
formably  upon  the  bed-rock  slates,  but  on  removing  the  slates  it 
was  discovered  that  the  bed-rock  carried  gold.1  « 

At  French  Creek  in  the  southern  hills  the  deposits  show  a  higher 
range  of  values  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  bed-rock  than  at  points 
some  distance  from  the  rim-rock.  Further,  the  pay  streaks  are 
usually  10  to  20  inches  above  the  bed-rock,  and  form  the  upper 
surface  of  a  layer  of  compact  clay  and  gravel  intermixed.  Frag- 
ments of  decomposed  bed-rock,  rich  in  gold,  also  occur  at  this  point. 
The  gold  is  in  small  scales  and  grains  fairly  uniform  in  size  and 
occurs  with  a  small  amount  of  fine  dust  and  little  or  no  magnetic  sand. 

At  Spring  Creek  a  streak  of  pay-gravel,  35  feet  in  width  was 
found  to  cross  the  stream  and  extend  into  the  bank  on  either  side. 
This  proved  to  be  a  stratum  of  decomposed  soft  clay-slate  in  the 
bed-rock  which  acting  as  a  riffle  had  caught  and  held  the  gold.  In 
this  zone  occurs  a  compact  gravel  composed  to  a  large  extent  of 
small  red  garnet  crystals  quite  rich  in  gold. 

Other  localities  where  gold  has  been  found  in  paying  quantities 
are;  Whiskey  Creek,  Castle  Creek,  Rapid  Creek,  Box  Elder  and 
Elk  creeks,  Spearfish  and  Bear  Butte  creeks,  Bear  Lodge,  etc. 

Auriferous  gravels  also  occur  in  the  foot-hills,  resting  on  the  Red 
beds  near  the  edge  of  the  plains.  These  gravels  are  apparently 
river  deposits  although  often  found  on  hills  fully  300  feet  high,  and 
the  widest  divides  have  the  thickest  deposits.  It  is  believed  that 
these  gravels  have  been  formed  since  the  elevation  of  the  Black 
Hills.  The  gravel  consists  of  limestone  and  sandstone  resulting  from 
the  erosion  of  the  Potsdam,  Carboniferous  and  Red  Beds,  together 
with  pebbles  and  boulders  of  granite,  trachyte,  schist,  slate,  quart- 
zite  and  quartz.2 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  17,  p.  571  and  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.  Vol.  30,  p.  4. 

2  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  A.  G.  Lock,  pp.  163-168,  1882. 


326  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Tennessee.  —  The  only  source  of  gold  in  this  state  is  the  placer 
mines  and  they  have  been  of  practically  no  economic  importance. 
(See  Tennessee  under  heading  Occurrence  and  Association  of  ores.) 

Texas.  —  Where  there  are  gold-bearing  rocks  there  must  occur 
deposits  of  auriferous  gravel  and  therefore  such  deposits  must  exist 
in  this  state  as  it  contains  gold  veins.  However,  owing  to  the 
comparative  scarcity  of  gold-bearing  lodes  and  their  low-values  it 
is  not  surprising  that  no  placers  of  importance  have  been  located. 

Utah.  —  Mining  began  in  Bingham  Canon  about  1866  on  the  dis- 
covery of  free-gold  in  the  stream  gravels.  Placer-mining  was 
actively  carried  on  until  1871;  since  then  there  has  been  a  steady 
decline  in  the  output  of  placer  gold.  Hydraulicing  was  done  in  the 
Argonaut  at  the  mouth  of  Carr  Fork  as  late  as  1898.  Auriferous 
gravels  of  various  ages  are  found  in  the  Bingham  Canon  as  is  shown 
by  their  position,  deposits  occurring  at  points  from  bed-rock  to 
several  hundred  feet  above  on  the  slopes.  The  down-cutting  and 
widening  of  the  channels  have  evidently  removed  the  larger  part 
of  previously  formed  deposits,  thus  the  gravel-covered  terraces  mark 
the  successive  stages  in  the  cutting  of  the  streams  to  their  present 
level.  The  gravels  of  Bingham  Canon  have  yielded  18  to  20  cents 
per  cubic  yard,  while  those  of  West  Mountain  are  reported  to  carry 
8  to  10  cents  per  pan,  which  is  probably  considerably  above  the 
average.  The  Argonaut  cut,  showed  on  sampling,  6  cents  for  the 
lower  30  feet,  and  18  cents  per  cubic  yard  for  the  lowest  six  feet.  As 
a  rule  the  gold  is  coarse  ranging  in  weight  from  one-half  an  ounce 
downward.1 

The  placers  of  Bear  Gulch  yielded  large  returns  during  the  late 
sixties  and  early  seventies,  —  the  deposits  being  found  in  extinct 
waterways.2 

Vermont.  —  Washings  of  a  small  body  of  gravel  at  Plymouth  Five 
•Corners  are  said  to  have  yielded  from  $9,000  to  $13,000.  Aside  from 
this  no  other  workable  gravel  deposits  have  been  located.3 

Virginia.  —  Both  lode  and  placer-mining  operations  are  carried  on 
in  this  state,  but  at  present  little  work  of  importance  is  being  done. 
Considerable  placer-mining  has  been  done  in  the  past,  especially  in 
Spottsylvania  and  Louisa  counties.  Placers  were  worked  at  Pigeon 
Run  in  the  former  county  and  at  the  Tinder  Flats  in  the  latter;  both 
of  these  localities  have  produced  considerable  gold.  Other  localities 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  213,  p.  119. 

2  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  19,  p.  377. 

3  Kept.  Vermont  State  Geologist,  G.  H.  Perkins,  1903-4,  pp.  56-57. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  327 

in  which  gravel  deposits  have  been  worked  are:  the  Rattle  Snake 
mine  in  Stafford  County,  and  various  points  in  Fluvanna  and  Gooch- 
land  counties.1  The  alluvium  at  certain  localities  in  Spottsylvania 
County  is  20  feet  thick,  carrying  gold  in  coarse  grains  and  nuggets. 
One  worth  $35  was  found  in  1868  and  many  others  ranging  from 
$1  to  $3  have  been  found.2 

Washington.  —  Placer  gold  has  been  found  at  quite  a  number  of 
points  in  the  state,  but  no  very  extensive  operations  have  been  begun. 

In  Kittitas  County  on  Peshastin  Creek  a  little  gold  was  produced 
in  1862.  Placers  were  also  worked  on  Swauk,  William  and  Baker 
creeks,  for  fully  20  years,  but  in  a  very  desultory  fashion.  From 
reports  the  Black  Bigny  and  Delig  are  among  the  most  important 
locations.  The  gold  is  usually  rather  coarse  and  is  often  found  in 
nuggets  of  14  ounces  or  more,  50  and  75  cent  pieces  are  common.3 

Wisconsin.  —  Gold  is  found  in  the  glacial  drift  at  a  number  of 
points.  There  was  a  fairly  large  basin  in  the  bed  of  the  St.  Croix 
River  extending  from  St.  Croix  Falls  upstream  for  a  distance  of  three  or 
four  miles  prior  to  the  erosion  of  the  intersecting  trap-ridge.  The  bed 
rock  of  this  basin  is  Potsdam  shale  of  a  sandy  character.  The  river 
has  cut  through  this  shale,  now  forming  the  banks  on  either  side, 
which  have  a  covering  of  drift  ranging  from  10  to  25  feet  in  thickness 
at  the  river  and  thinning  out  toward  the  trap-ridges.  The  river 
bed  is  now  trap  upon  which  the  concentration  of  the  gold  in  the 
gravel  has  taken  place.  During  periods  of  low-water  considerable 
gold  has  been  obtained  from  the  cracks  in  the  trap.  The  gold  occurs 
mainly  as  flakes  and  scales,  but  can  be  quite  readily  saved  by  ordinary 
means.4 

Native  silver  has  also  been  found  in  small  quantities  in  the  drift, 
but  is  found  by  mere  chance  only,  and  not  by  systematic  search. 

Wyoming.  —  Placer-mining  never  has  been  carried  on  very  exten- 
sively in  the  state,  and  it  is  doubtful  that  it  ever  will  be,  although  in 
certain  localities  the  yield  may  be  considerable.  In  the  southern 
part  of  Wyoming  and  northern  Colorado,  on  Douglas  Creek,  some 
placer-mining  has  been  done.  The  gold  is  coarse  and  jagged  and 
often  attached  to  the  vein-quartz.  Nuggets  weighing  from  15  to  68 
pennyweight  are  found.  The  gravels  range  from  three  to  ten  feet  in 
thickness,  and  are  free  from  clay  and  cement.  The  bed-rock  is  a 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.  Vol.  25,  pp.  689-693,  1895. 
*  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  6,  p.  377. 
8  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  54,  p.  608. 
4  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  74,  248,  1902. 


328  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

decomposed  granite  and  very  uneven,  upon  which  the  gold  is  usually 
found.  Diggings  on  Lake  Creek,  just  below  the  mouth  of  Ingalls 
Gulch,  and  just  above  the  mouth  of  Douglas  Gulch,  yield  $1  and  $2 
respectively  per  cubic  yard.1 

Gravel  on  Spring  Creek  is  reported  to  average  $1  per  cubic  yard. 

An  attempt  has  been  made  in  recent  years  to  work  the  dry  placers 
in  several  localities  by  steam  shovels. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  60,  p.  539. 


CHAPTER    IV. 
THE   GEOLOGICAL  DISTRIBUTION  OF   GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Introductory  Remarks. 

IN  the  preceding  pages  the  geological  occurrence  and  geographical 
distribution  of  gold  and  silver  deposits  have  been  given  in  considerable 
detail.  However,  a  discussion  of  the  geological  distribution  of  the 
precious  metals  with  respect  to  the  time  of  their  origin  in  geological 
periods  involves  to  a  certain  extent  the  consideration  of  their  occur- 
rence and  distribution  and,  therefore,  in  order  to  simplify  matters,  a 
table  has  been  prepared  (see  table  of  Geological  Occurrence  of  Gold 
and  Silver),  by  means  of  which  the  importance  of  the  various  periods 
as  precious  metal  producers  and  their  relation  to  the  different  dis- 
tricts can  more  readily  be  seen. 

After  an  exhaustive  study  of  the  mineral  deposits  of  the  West, 
Clarence  King  deduced  the  following  interesting  generalization: 

"  The  Pacific  Coast  ranges  upon  the  west  carry  quicksilver,  tin, 
and  chromic  iron.  The  next  belt  is  that  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  and 
Oregon  Cascades,  which,  upon  their  west  slope,  bear  two  zones,  a 
foot-hill  chain  of  copper  mines,  and  a  middle  line  of  gold  deposits. 
These  gold  veins,  and  the  resultant  placer  mines  extend  far  into 
Alaska,  characterized  by  the  occurrence  of  gold  in  quartz,  by  a  small 
amount  of  that  metal  which  is  entangled  in  iron  sulphurets,  and  by 
occupying  splits  in  the  upturned  metamorphic  strata  of  the  Jurassic 
age.  Lying  to  the  east  of  this  zone,  along  the  east  base  of  the  Sierras, 
and  stretching  southward  into  Mexico,  is  a  chain  of  silver  mines, 
containing  comparatively  little  base  metal,  and  frequently  included 
in  volcanic  rocks.  Through  Middle  Mexico,  Arizona,  Middle 
Nevada,  and  Central  Idaho  is  another  line  of  silver  mines,  miner- 
alized with  complicated  association  of  the  base  metals,  and  more 
often  occurring  in  older  rocks.  Through  New  Mexico,  Utah,  and 
Western  Montana  lies  another  zone  of  argentiferous  galena  lodes. 
To  the  east,  again,  the  New  Mexico,  Colorado,  Wyoming,  and  Mon- 
tana gold  belt  is  an  extremely  well-defined  and  continuous  chain  of 
deposits."  1 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  vol.  1,  p.  33. 


330 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


That  this  classification  is  correct  in  every  detail  or  complete  is 
open  to  question,  but  is  valuable  as  an  outline  of  the  general  occur- 
rence, of  the  mineral  deposits,  and  can  be  further  elaborated  by 
adding  to  it  on  the  east,  the  slightly  argentiferous  zone  of  galena  of 
the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  the  gold  belt  of  the  Southern  and  Eastern 
states,  besides  which  are  the  zones  of  iron  ores,  both  magnetites 
and  hematites,  and  the  extensive  coal  measures. 

As  early  as  1859  Sir  Roderick  Murchison  said,  in  the  third  edition 
of  "  Siluria,"  "  My  chief  article  of  belief  has  now  proved  to  be  true  — 
that  is,  that  the  rocks  which  are  most  auriferous  are  of  Silurian  age." 
And  again,  "  The  Paleozoic  accumulations  —  particularly  the  Lower 
Silurian  —  are  the  chief  source  whence  gold  has  been  or  is  derived."  l 
Nor  was  this  wholly  without  corroborative  evidence  as  gold  had 
been  discovered  in  considerable  quantities  in  both  the  Ural  Moun- 
tains and  in  Australia;  however,  it  was  the  former  which  led  him  to 
propound  the  theory  in  the  first  place. 

In  1864  the  work  of  the  Geological  Survey  of  California,  con- 
ducted by  Whitney,  disproved  once  for  all  the  theory  that  the  Silu- 
rian was  pre-eminently  the  gold-bearing  formation,  and  since  that 
time  similar  evidence  from  other  districts  has  been  accumulating. 
According  to  Rickard:  "  The  following  tabulated  statement  shows 
at  a  glance  that  the  chief  gold  fields  of  the  world  are  scattered  through 
the  entire  sequence  of  geological  strata,  from  the  Archean  to  the 
Tertiary : 


GEOLOGICAL    DISTRIBUTION    OF    GOLD    AS    ILLUSTRATED    BY    THE    PRIN- 
CIPAL   MINING    DISTRICTS    OF    THE   WORLD. 


Period. 

Rock. 

District. 

Region. 

Quaternary 

Andesite 

Monte  Cristo 

\Vashinsrton 

Tertiary               .  .  . 

Eruptive  

Cripple  Creek 

Colorado 

Cretaceous        .... 

Sandstone  

Verespatak 

Transylvania 

Jurassic  .              ... 

Amphibolite  Schist 

Mariposa  .  .  . 

California 

Triassic  

Limestone  

Raibl  '     . 

Carinthia 

Permian  

Conglomerate  

Stupna  .  . 

Bohemia 

Carboniferous  .  . 

Shale  

Gympie  . 

Queensland 

Devonian  

Conglomerate  

Witwatersrand  . 

Transvaal 

Silurian 

Slate  and  Sandstone 

Bendigo 

Victoria 

Cambrian  
Algonkian 

Slate  and  Quartzite  .  . 
Schist  

Waverley  
Homestake 

Nova  Scotia. 
South  Dakota 

Archean  

Granite  and  Schist  .  .  . 

Lake  of  the  Wood 

Ontario 

1  "Siluria,"  3rd  Edition,  p.  474. 


GEOLOGICAL    DISTRIBUTION    OF    GOLD    AND    SILVER     331 

"The  Lower  Silurian  of  the  Urals  is  now  scarcely  worth  mentioning, 
the  gold  production  of  that  region  having  dwindled  to  insignificance. 
Since  Murchison's  day  the  geographical  center  of  Russia's  gold  pro- 
duction has  shifted  steadily  eastward.  It  was  once  at  Ekaterin- 
burg, in  the  Urals;  it  passed  to  the  Yenesei,  and  then  to  the 
Olekma.  To-day  the  chief  gold  region  is  that  drained  by  the  Amoor 
and  its  tributaries.  The  gold  fields  of  Victoria,  in  Australia,  also  re- 
fuse, now,  to  be  indentified  any  longer  with  Murchison's  blunder, 
several  of  the  best  districts  in  that  colony  having  been  developed  in 
the  Upper  Silurian,  as  distinguished  from  the  prevailing  Lower  Silu- 
rian of  the  first  discovered  gold-veins  at  Ballarat  and  Bendigo. 
Newer  mining  regions,  scattered  all  over  the  globe,  afford  testimony 
which  denies  the  supposed  relation  between  gold-deposits  and  the 
age  of  the  rocks  enclosing  them.  Although  numerous  rich  districts 
occur  in  igneous  formations  of  the  Tertiary  period,  no  important 
gold  field  of  the  present  day  is  indentified  with  sedimentary  rocks 
later  than  the  Cretaceous;  nevertheless  to  make  the  testimony 
complete,  it  can  be  stated  that  a  conglomerate  (the  San  Miguel  for- 
mation of  the  Telluride  district)  of  undoubted  Tertiary  age,  cover- 
ing an  extensive  area  in  southwestern  Colorado  contains  gold- 
veins,  which  have  been  mined  at  a  profit.  If  eruptive  rocks  be 
included,  we  have  the  testimony  of  J.  E.  Spurr  that  the  gold  veins 
of  Monte  Cristo,  in  the  State  of  Washington,  occur  in  andesite  and 
tonalite  of  Pleistocene  or  Quaternary  age,1  and  at  Steamboat  Springs, 
Nevada,  gold  has  been  detected  in  cracks  traversing  the  sinter 
around  a  thermal  vent;  this  rock  can  therefore  be  labeled  Recent. 
The  Laurentian  granitoid  gneiss  of  western  Ontario  is  traversed  by 
important  gold-bearing  lodes.  Therefore,  the  record  of  the  rocks, 
in  regard  to  their  association  with  the  occurrence  of  gold,  is  un- 
broken throughout %the  main  divisions  of  geological  time.2 

"  Deposits  of  gold  ore  occur  in  rocks  of  every  age,  and  in  rock  of 
every  kind.  The  metal  was  deposited  later  than  the  encasing  rock 
and  it  is  likely  that  since  it  was  so  deposited  it  has  been  subject  to 
constant  solution  and  precipitation,  by  which  it  has  been  redistrib- 
uted and  concentrated.  The  first  deposition,  the  time  when  it 
was  brought  from  below  the  zone  of  rock  fracture  to  the  place  of 
precipitation,  was  associated  with  a  thermal  activity  following  upon 
regional  movements  and  volcanic  eruptions;  that  time  of  first  for- 

1  The  Ore  Deposits  of  Monte  Cristo,  Washington,  1902,  U.  S.  G.  S.  22  Ann. 
Rept.,  Pt.  2,  p.  864. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  93,  pp.  477-478. 


332  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

mation  may  have  been  late  or  early,  in  the  Cambrian  or  the  Creta- 
ceous of  geological  history.  But  once  so  deposited,  it  became  at 
once  the  sport  of  the  chemical  waters  that  find  a  passage  both  from 
the  surface  and  from  the  deep.  These  may  have  effected  no  note- 
worthy redistribution  of  the  gold  along  the  rock-fractures  where  the 
ore  lies.1  .  .  . 

"  Gold  bearing  veins  cluster  in  certain  localities.  A  critical 
examination  will  reveal  the  fact  that  many  vein-systems  are  massed 
about  the  contacts  of  intrusive  masses,  which  consolidated  far  be- 
low the  original  surface  of  the  earth  at  the  time  of  the  igneous  activ- 
ity, and  which  have  been  exposed  by  subsequent  erosion.  Most 
commonly,  perhaps,  these  intrusive  rocks  are  diorite,  monzonite, 
quartz-monzonite,  granodiorite,  or  their  porphyries,  more  rarely 
typical  granites.  Under  favorable  conditions  it  can  often  be  proved, 
and  in  other  cases  established  with  probability,  that  the  upper  part 
of  the  vein  has  been  removed  by  the  same  erosion  which  laid  bare  the 
intruded  rock  masses.  In  other  words  the  top  of  the  vein  has  been 
removed,  the  root  remains.  .  .  .  The  age  of  these  veins  must,  in 
general,  be  considerable,  for  the  great  erosion  involved  has  usually 
required  a  long  time-interval. 

"Another  large  class  of  vein-systems  cut  the  recent  or  com- 
paratively recent  lavas,  which  cover  the  surface  of  the  older,  eroded 
rocks  in  the  form  of  successive  volcanic  flows.  Frequently  the  age 
of  these  lavas  may  be  established  with  accuracy." 2  When  it  is 
possible  to  determine  approximately  the  position  of  the  earth's  sur- 
face at  the  time  of  an  eruption  or  flow  of  lava,  any  vein  cutting 
the  formations  may  be  said  to  have  a  certain  age,  assuming  that 
the  vein-deposition  was  coincident  with  the  lava  flow,  and  that  the 
portion  of  the  vein  near  the  original  surface  may  be  considered  as 
the  true  apex  of  the  vein. 

By  far  the  larger  number  of  gold-bearing  districts  of  the  United 
States  occur  in  or  contiguous  to  igneous  rock  either  in  the  form  of 
dikes  or  intruded  masses.  Further,  probably  the  majority  of  the 
intrusions  did  not  reach  the  surface  at  the  time  of  the  volcanic  flow, 
but  formed  bodies  of  consolidated,  granular  or  coarsely  porphy- 
ritic  rocks,  which  were  laid  bare  by  subsequent  erosion. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  gold-bearing  fissure-veins  have  been 
formed  throughout  the  geological  history  of  the  continent.  "  Cam- 
brian conglomerates  bear  witness  to  pre-Cambrian  gold-veins,  and 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  93,  p.  480. 
3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  794,  1903. 


GEOLOGICAL    DISTRIBUTION    OF    GOLD    AND    SILVER.      333 

very  recent  thermal  deposits  at  Steamboat  Springs,  Nevada  (accord- 
ing to  Becker),  and  at  Boulder,  Montana  (according  to  Weed), 
prove  that  gold  is  deposited  by  thermal  waters  to-day.  But  the 
process  has  evidently  not  been  a  continuous  one.  Cambrian,  Silu- 
rian, Devonian  and  Carboniferous  gold-deposits  are  not  definitely 
known  to  exist  in  North  America.  Continuous  sedimentation, 
absence  of  dynamic  movements  and  relatively  slight  igneous  activity 
characterized  these  periods."  1 

"  The  great  eruptions  of  the  Cordilleran  belt  of  North  America 
began  during  the  Triassic  period  of  the  Mesozoic  age,  and  igneous 
activity  has  continued  almost  without  interruption  from  that  date 
to  recent  time.  Each  eruption  has  probably  been  accompanied  by 
more  or  less  extensive  deposition  of  gold  in  fractures  near  the  igneous 
focus.  On  the  Pacific  coast  the  eruptions  began  at  an  earlier  date 
than  in  the  region  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  and,  likewise,  many  of 
the  gold-deposits  of  the  Pacific  coast  antedate  those  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  In  the  latter  province  the  igneous  rocks  began  to  break 
out  at  the  close  of  the  Cretaceous  period,  and  have  continued  at 
least  up  to  the  beginning  of  the  Pleistocene.  Certain  periods  of 
deposition,  however,  stand  out  prominently,  and  we  may,  with  good 
reason  separate  the  distinctly  Cretaceous  or  late  Mesozoic  gold-belt 
of  the  Sierra  Nevada  and  the  Pacific  coast  in  general  from. the  Ter- 
tiary, mostly  post-Miocene,  veins  so  extensively  developed  in  Mexico, 
Nevada  and  Colorado.  The  former  are  genetically  connected  with 
great  intrusions  of  granitic  and  dioritic  rocks,  the  latter  with  big 
flows  of  surface-lavas  which  erosion  has  not,  as  yet,  removed.  But 
both  in  the  Great  Basin  and  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  there  are  also 
many  deposits  of  late  Cretaceous  or  early  Tertiary  age  genetically 
connected  with  intrusions  of  granitic  rocks  and  very  commonly, 
porphyries.  In  very  many  cases  the  age  of  these  deposits  is  doubt- 
ful. If  erosion  has  been  exceptionally  active  in  the  particular  dis- 
trict in  which  they  occur,  they  may  well,  though  occurring  in 
connection  with  deep-seated  intrusions,  be  of  Tertiary  age.  To  this 
class  of  doubtful  age  belong,  for  instance,  many  of  the  gold-veins 
of  Montana.  Miocene  and  later  igneous  rocks  are  often  lacking  in 
this  region,  so  that  an  accurate  determination  of  age  becomes  very 
difficult. 

"  Still  another  complication  to  be  borne  in  mind  consists  in  possible, 
though  probably  rarely  occurring,  reopening  of  veins  and  super- 
imposition  of  deposits  of  two  or  several  epochs.  All  this  being 
1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.  Vol.  33,  p.  795,  1903. 


334  COLD  AND  SILVER. 

admitted,  there  still  exists,  in  my  opinion,  sufficient  reason  for 
attempting  a  division  of  the  deposits  according  to  age.1 

"  Looking  over  the  field,  it  is  undeniable  that  within  many  belts 
of  gold-deposits  of  contemporaneous  origin  the  veins  are  very  similar 
in  mineral  composition  and  metasomatic  development.  The  Appa- 
lachian belt  of  gold-quartz  veins  contains  deposits  striking  simi- 
larity from  one  end  to  the  other.  The  Mesozoic  gold-quartz  veins 
of  the  Pacific  coast  are  practically  identical  in  character  from 
Lower  California  to  Alaska,  and,  moreover,  closely  related  in  char- 
acter to  the  far  older  Appalachian  belt.  ...  On  the  other  hand, 
scarcely  one  of  the  veins,  which  in  so  many  parts  of  the  Cordilleran 
region  cut  volcanic  flows  of  Tertiary  age,  can  be  classed  as  identi- 
cal with  the  Pacific  coast  type  of  gold-quartz  veins.  While  it  isr 
perhaps,  not  permissible  to  say  that  they  represent  one  type,  yet 
most  of  them  have  certain  common,  peculiar  features,  constituting 
a  relationship.2 

"  In  conclusion,  it  may  be  said  that  gold-veins  of  the  same  age  and 
province  usually  have  the  same  characteristics.  Belts  of  different 
age  may  differ  greatly  in  general  features.  This  is  probably  due  to 
varying  composition  of  the  mineral  waters  following  different  periods 
of  eruption."  3 

That  -class  of  mineral  occurrences  known  as  contact  metamorphic 
deposits  are  found  in  the  United  States,  British  Columbia  and 
Mexico.  The  principal  ore-bearing  minerals  are  copper  sulphides 
and  magnetite,  which  may,  however,  occasionally  carry  gold  in  small 
quantities.  This  is  especially  true  of  the  United  States  and  British 
Columbia,  while  in  Mexico  these  deposits  are  much  more  common 
and  valuable. 

In  the  following  pages  a  brief  summary  is  given  of  the  distribution 
of  gold  and  silver  in  rock  of  the  different  geological  periods. 

The  Older  Crystalline  Rocks.  —  The  crystalline  formations  of  the 
Appalachians  contain  gold-bearing  veins  in  an  area  extending  from 
Maine  on  the  north,  to  Georgia  on  the  south.  Where  erosion  and 
glaciation  have  not  removed  the  decomposed  surface  rocks,  gold  is 
often  found  in  paying  quantities  either  in  gossans  or  placers.  The 
country-rocks  are  usually  schistose  or  foliated,  the  gold  occurring  in 
lenses  of  quartz  and  pyrites.  Dikes  or  igneous  rocks  seem  to  have 
exerted  considerable  influence  in  effecting  a  concentration  of  the 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  796,  1903. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  797,  1903. 

3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  798,  1903- 


GEOLOGICAL    DISTRIBUTION    OF    GOLD    AND    SILVER.      335 

values.  The  gold-bearing  formations  probably  belong  to  some  of  the 
Algonkian  series. 

The  principal  localities  in  which  gold-bearing  veins  occur  in  the 
older  rocks  are:  the  Carolinas,  Georgia,  Maryland,  Tennessee  and 
Virginia.  Poorer  deposits  of  similar  character  are  found  to  the 
northward  close  to  the  Canadian  line,  while  still  further  to  the  north, 
in  Ontario,  Quebec  and  Nova  Scotia  quite  rich  gold-veins  occur.1 

The  Huronian  rocks  of  Lake  Superior  yield  both  gold  and  silver  in 
small  amounts,  especially  when  associated  with  igneous  formations. 
Silver  occurs  in  larger  quantities  here  than  in  the  Appalachians. 

The  crystalline  rocks  of  the  Black  Hills,  Colorado  and  Wyoming 
and  the  granites  of  Idaho,  Montana  and  Nevada  have  yielded  a  large 
proportion  of  the  precious  metals  of  the  older  rocks.  The  Black  Hills 
are  Algonkian,  while  the  rocks  of  Wyoming  and  Colorado  are  usually 
considered  as  Archiean,  although  according  to  Rickard  the  eruptive 
rocks  of  Colorado  are  early  Tertiary.2  Here  too  the  deposits  are 
associated  with  igneous  rocks. 

In  the  northern  Rocky  Mountain  region  the  age  of  the  granites  is 
probably  largely  pre-Cambrian. 

The  granite  is  eruptive  and  is  traversed  by  dikes  of  later  igneous 
material. 

The  unaltered  deposits  of  the  districts  outlined  are  largely  quartz- 
veins  yielding  free-gold  and  auriferous  sulphides.  According  to 
available  evidence  the  veins  are  probably  pre-Cambrian,  and  may, 
therefore,  be  considered  as  being  the  oldest  deposits  of  the  North 
American  continent.  The  following  facts  are  corroborative  of  such 
a  conclusion:  "  The  Triassic  sandstones  of  the  Atlantic  coast  contain 
no  placer  gold;  no  important  gold  deposits  are  found  in  the  Paleozoic 
rocks  of  the  Appalachian  region;  Carboniferous  conglomerates  in 
Nova  Scotia  are  said  to  contain  water- worn  gold  of  older  veins;  in 
the  -Black  Hills  the  Cambrian  conglomerates  yield  placers  of  the 
precious  metal."  3 

Of  all  the  pre-Cambrian  gold-bearing  deposits  in  North  America, 
those  of  the  Black  Hills,  South  Dakota,  are  undoubtedly  of  the  most 
economic  importance. 

So  extensive  has  erosion  acted  upon  these  veins  that  it  may  be 
said  that  in  most  cases,  only  the  lower  portions  or  roots  remain. 

Paleozoic  Rocks. —  Silver-bearing  deposits  in  sedimentary  rocks 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  800,  1903. 
3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  93,  p.  478. 
8  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  800,  1903. 


336  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

of  the  Paleozoic  formations  are  of  more  common  occurrence  and  of 
greater  value  than  the  gold  deposits. 

In  the  eastern  part  of  the  United  States  and  Canada  no  valuable 
deposits  of  the  precious  metals  have  been  found  in  the  rocks  of  this 
formation,  unless  some  of  the  gold-bearing  schists  and  the  rocks  of 
Nova  Scotia  prove  to  be  Cambrian. 

In  the  Western  States  the  Paleozoic  formations  are  of  considerable 
importance  in  the  production  of  gold  and  silver,  but  usually  are  most 
productive  when  associated  with  eruptive  rocks.  Important  deposits 
of  silver  ores  are  found  in  Paleozoic  rocks  at  Eureka,  Nevada,  where 
about  one-third  the  value  of  the  ores  was  gold;  at  Leadville,  Aspen 
and  various  districts,  where  the  values  are  mainly  silver  in  carbonifer- 
ous limestones;  and  in  several  districts  in  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  Utah, 
Montana,  Idaho  and  Nevada  where  silver  and  lead  ores  are  found  in 
Paleozoic  limestones.  The  Carboniferous  quartzites  of  Ontario;  the 
Wahsatch  Mountains,  at  Bingham;  the  Oquirrh  Mountains  of  Utah, 
are  all  important  producers  of  silver  ore,  also  some  lead  ores, 
but  little  or  no  values  in  gold.  On  the  other  hand  the  Cambrian 
sandstones  below  the  silver-bearing  limestones  are  often  gold-bearing. 
A  few  gold-bearing  deposits  occur  in  siliceous  rocks  in  California, 
which  have  been  considered  as  Carboniferous  or  earlier  formations, 
but  are  probably  Mesozoic. 

Mesozoic  Rocks.  —  The  East  has  no  deposits  of  the  precious  metals 
in  the  Mesozoic  sedimentaries.  In  the  West  these  rocks  have  yielded 
the  greatest  part  of  the  gold  output,  and  in  certain  localities  con- 
siderable silver.  The  western  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  consists 
of  both  Paleozoic  and  Mesozoic  rock,  but  the  gold-bearing  veins 
probably  predominate  in  the  latter,  which  are  considered  as  Jurassic 
and  early  Cretaceous.  Numerous  intrusive  masses  and  dikes  of 
diabase  and  diorite  occur  in  these  formations,  which  have  suffered 
excessive  dislocation,  being  upturned  and  are  covered  by  uncom- 
formable  beds  of  late  Cretaceous.  These  latter  strata  are  nearly 
horizontal,  and  carry  some  detrital  gold,  but  are  free  from  gold  veins. 

Here,  too,  so  excessive  has  been  the  erosive  action  that  only  the 
lower  portion  of  the  veins  remains.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that 
thousands  of  feet  of  the  country-rock  have  been  .removed  since  the 
veins  were  formed. 

"  Beginning  in  Lower  California,  Mexico,  a  hundred  miles  or  more 
south  of  the  boundary  line,  this  great  belt  continues  through  San 
Diego,  Los  Angeles  and  Kern  counties;  through  the  central  part  of 
California,  where  it  is  developed  in  great  strength;  then  on  to  North- 


GEOLOGICAL  DISTRIBUTION   OF   GOLD  AND  SILVER.       337 

ern  California,  southwestern  and  northwestern  Oregon  and  Idaho. 
In  the  latter  states  it  is  modified  by  the  appearance  of  many  silver- 
gold  deposits,  and  veins  carrying  auriferous  sulphides  without  free- 
gold.  Covered  for  a  distance  by  the  lava-flows  of  the  Cascades,  it 
again  appears  in  southern  British  Columbia  on  Vancouver  Island, 
among  other  places.  Strong  development  is  again  attained  in  the 
Cariboo  district,  in  Central  British  Columbia,  and  it  continues 
through  the  Omenica,  Cassiar  and  Atlin  districts  to  the  Klondike 
region.  Thence,  bending  westward,  it  follows  the  Yukon  to  the 
western  end  of  the  continent  at  Nome,  on  the  Seward  Peninsula. 

"  The  Cretaceous  age  of  this  belt  is  clearly  established  in  California. 
In  Oregon  and  Idaho  a  late  Mesozoic  age  is  extremely  probable.  In 
British  Columbia  and  Alaska  the  evidence  is  not  positive,  and  the 
deposits  may  possibly,  in  part,  be  older."  l 

In  California,  Oregon,  and  Alaska  the  veins  are  often  characterized 
by  their  smallness  and  irregularity  in  occurrence  of  values,  but  owing 
to  the  excessive  erosive  action  to  which  they  have  been  subjected, 
immense  and  widely  distributed  auriferous  detrital  deposits  have 
resulted,  and  from  which  a  large  part  of  the  gold  product  has  been 
derived. 

High-grade  silver-bearing  rocks  of  Triassic  age  occur  in  Western 
Nevada,  while  in  Utah  the  silver  sandstones  are  probably  of  the  same 
age.  No  intrusives  are  found  in  connection  with  these  deposits. 
Gold  and  silver  ores  occur  in  Cretaceous  rock,  the  veins  being  closely 
associated  with  eruptive  rock  of  various  types.  Gold-bearing  veins 
are  found  in  igneous  rocks  at  Leadville,  in  which  native  gold  occa- 
sionally occurs  with  galena  ores. 

In  the  central  and  eastern  part  of  the  Cordilleran  region  is  an 
extensive  area  which  contains  numerous  gold-bearing  deposits.  It 
is  not  definitely  known  to  which  geological  age  these  veins  belong, 
but  it  is  probable  that  many  of  them  were  formed  subsequent  to  the 
California  quartz-veins,  therefore  at  the  close  of  the  Cretaceous  or  in 
the  early  Tertiary  period. 

This  area  may  be  traced  from  the  states  of  Sonora  and  Sinaloa, 
Mexico,  in  which  many  gold  deposits  occur  in  pre-Cretaceous  sedi- 
mentary rocks,  crystalline  schists  and  granites,  through  the  south- 
western part  of  Arizona,  and  probably  further  northward. 

In  Utah  the  gold-deposits  of  the  Mercur  district  occur  in  limestone, 
in  close  proximity  to  intrusions  of  igneous  rock  which  are  probably 
Cretaceous  porphyries. 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  801-2,  1903. 


338  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

At  Leadville,  Colorado,  the  gold-bearing  formations  are  sedimen- 
tary rocks  and  porphyry  of  the  Paleozoic  age,  containing  deposits  of 
Cretaceous  origin.  The  same  is  true  of  many  of  the  gold-veins  of 
Idaho  and  Montana,  being  connected  with  the  intrusion  of  granites 
of  the  Cretaceous  period.1 

Tertiary  Rocks.  No  gold  or  silver  deposits  have  been  found  in 
workable  quantities  in  the  sedimentary  rocks  of  the  United  States. 
However  the  igneous  rocks  of  the  Tertiary  age  as  they  occur  in  the 
West,  excepting  granites,  yield  large  deposits  of  rich  gold  and 
silver  ores,  and  probably  those  deposits  occurring  in  earlier 
eruptives  did  not  receive  their  precious  metal  content  until  Tertiary 
times. 

The  veins  of  the  Tertiary  lavas  are  so  common  and  persistent  in 
certain  characteristics  that  they  are  usually  known  as  propylitic 
veins,  which  refers  to  the  peculiar  alteration  of  the  adjacent  rock 
associated  with  them.  These  veins  carry  both  gold  and  silver  usually 
in  about  equal  proportions,  although  occasionally  either  metal  may 
occur  alone,  a  more  usual  occurrence  for  silver  than  for  gold.  The 
ores  are  largely  siliceous. 

To  these  deposits  and  the  occurrence  of  very  rich  ore-bodies  within 
them  the  term  "  bonanza  "  has  been  applied.  The  bonanzas  of  the 
Comstock  lode  are  types. 

Although  not  all  of  these  veins  are  distinctly  propylitic,  but  vary 
considerably  from  the  characteristic  veins  of  that  type,  yet  they  are 
markedly  different  from  those  of  the  Pacific  coast  —  the  typical  gold- 
quartz  veins. 

The  great  silver  veins,  also  gold-bearing  to  a  certain  extent,  of  the 
central  plateau  belong  to  the  Tertiary  period.  The  gold-silver 
veins  in  the  andesites  of  the  western  slope  of  the  Sierra  Madre  in 
Chihuahua,  Zacatecas  and  Sinaloa  have  proven  to  be  of  great  extent 
and  value. 

In  Arizona  and  Nev;  Mexico  both  Tertiary  and  Cretaceous  veins 
occur,  and  it  is  not  always  easy  to  distinguish  between  them.  As  an 
illustration  of  a  Tertiary  vein  the  Commonwealth  mine  of  Cochise 
County,  Arizona,  may  be  cited.  It  occurs  in  rhyolite  and  carries 
about  one-third ^of  its  value  in  gold  and  the  remainder  in  silver. 

Tertiary  veins  occur  in  Oregon,  especially  in  the  Bohemia  district 
of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  where  the  gold-bearing  veins  are  found 
in  igneous  rocks.  The  veins  of  Monte  Cristo,  Washington,  occur  in 
diorite  and  andesite. 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  802  and  803,  1903. 


GEOLOGICAL  DISTRIBUTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.        339 

The  Apollo  mine  of  Alaska,  Unga  Island,  is  in  andesite,  and  other 
similar  occurrences  are  met  with  in  the  Alaskan  peninsula.1 

The  Comstock  lode  is  the  most  important  of  these  deposits,  carrying 
both  gold  and  silver,  about  40  per  cent  of  the  bullion  being  gold. 

The  ore-deposits  of  Tuscarora,  Eureka,  Tonopah  and  the  De  Lamar 
districts  are  propylitic  in  character  and  all  except  the  last  mentioned 
occur  in  igneous  rocks. 

A  large  part  of  the  silver  product  of  San  Bernardino  County,  Cali- 
fornia, comes  from  rhyolites  of  the  Tertiary  age.  Further,  the  rich 
silver  deposits  of  western  Nevada,  eastern  Oregon  and  Idaho  are 
found  in  granites  which  are  so  intimately  associated  with  intrusions  of 
rhyolite,  that  they  are  in  reality  of  Tertiary  age.  The  Horn  Silver 
mine  of  Utah  is  a  contact  deposit  between  limestone  and  recent 
igneous  rocks.  In  Colorado  the  silver  veins  of  the  San  Juan  region, 
also  of  Creede  and  Cripple  Creek  are  in  eruptives  probably  of  Ter- 
tiary age.2 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  804  to  806,  1903. 

3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E..  Vol.  22,  pp.  87-92,  1893,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  33,  p.  808,  903. 


CHAPTER   V. 
MINING  GOLD   AND   SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS. 

GOLD  and  silver  are  won  from  gravels  and  veins  and  the  methods 
employed  in  their  extraction  have  through  common  usage  been 
designated  as  placer-mining  and  lode  or  quartz-mining.  Var- 
ious other  terms  are  employed  in  designating  the  modifications 
of  these  two  general  methods  of  mining  found  to  be  both 
necessary  and  desirable  owing  to  varying  conditions  and  previous 
experience. 

A  classification  of  mines  from  the  physical  standpoint  may  be 
given  as  follows:  Gravel  mining,  which  according  to  the  method  of 
working  is.  hydraulic-,  drift-,  branch-  and  river-mining,  booming, 
shovel-sluicing,  and  dry  washing.  Lode-  or  deep-mining  may  in  like 
manner  be  subdivided  into  open-cut  work  and  tunnel-  or  shaft- 
mining.  The  latter  may  be  resolved  into  methods  of  stoping  and 
support  of  excavations.  Such  terms  as  the  "  Glory  Hole  "  and 
"  square-set-mining  "  are  now  commonly  employed  in  connection 
with  two  kinds  of  lode-mining,  namely,  open-cut  and  stoping.  Fur- 
ther, a  classification  of  mines  may  be  made,  based  upon  the  character 
of  ores  extracted  rather  than  upon  the  methods  of  extraction;  as 
mines  of  free-gold,  with  or  without  small  quantities  of  silver;  mines  of 
silver,  containing  only  traces  of  gold;  mines  of  gold  and  silver,  both 
occurring  in  paying  quantities;  and  mines  yielding  base  bullion  from 
smelting  ores,  in  which  the  precious  metals  are  associated  with  con- 
siderable quantities  of  copper,  lead  and  zinc.1 

No  attempt  is  made  in  this  connection  to  give  an  exhaustive  dis- 
cussion of  the  methods  of  mining  employed,  but  rather  to  consider 
mining  historically  and  practically,  showing  the  process  of  evolution 
from  the  simpler  methods  of  small  output  and  high  costs  with  the 
modern  complicated,  but  highly  perfected  and  efficient  methods, 
involving  large  outputs  at  low  working  costs. 

Historical  Sketch  of  Development  of  Mining  Industry.  One  of  the 
earliest  accounts  of  collecting  gold  within  the  present  confines  of  the 
United  States  is  found  in  Lemoyne's  Brevis  Narratio  of  the  journey 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  44,  p.  216. 
340 


MINING   GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.         341 

made  by  Laudonniere  in  1564.1  Speaking  of  the  Indians  he  says 
"  That  chief  sent  me  a  sheet  of  copper  dug  from  those  mountains 
(Appalachian),  from  the  base  of  which  flows  a  torrent  rich  in  gold, 
or,  as  the  Indians  think,  in  copper;  for  from  this  stream  they  draw  up 
sand  in  a  hollow  cane-like  reed  until  it  is  full,  then  by  shaking  and 
jarring  it  they  find  grains  of  silver  and  copper  mingled  with  the 
sand."  A  drawing  accompanies  the  description  and  bears  a  legend 
which  reads  as  follows:  "  Manner  of  gathering  gold  in  the  rivers 
flowing  from  the  Apalatcy  Mountains."  He  then  speaks  of  three 
great  rivers  which  have  their  source  in  the  mountains  and  which  bear 
down  gold,  silver  and  copper,  and  then  continues:  "  On  this  account 
the  inhabitants  of  the  region  dig  pits  in  the  river  so  that  the  sand 
swept  along  by  the  water  may  fall  into  them  by  gravity.  This,  dili- 
gently extracted,  is  carried  to  a  certain  spot,  and  after  some  time, 
having  removed  the  sand  which  had  again  fallen  into  the  pits,  they 
collect  it  and  convey  it  in  boats  down  the  great  river,  called  by  us 
the  Mai,  which  empties  into  the  sea.  Now,  the  Spaniards  know  how 
to  convert  to  their  own  use  the  treasures  thence  obtained." 

Commenting  upon  these  statements  Mr.  George  T.  Becker  says  : 
"  The  French  certainly  did  not  see  the  washing  of  gold  in  canes.  It 
is  possible,  as  Mr.  Packard  thinks,  that  the  description  of  the  process 
is  a  distorted  account  of  panning  as  practiced  by  or  learned  from  the 
Spaniards.  It  is  conceivable,  however,  that  separation  of  gold  dust 
should  have  been  carried  on  in  tubes  instead  of  dishes.  While  pan- 
ning is  a  process  known  throughout  the  Eastern  Hemisphere,  with 
minor  modifications,,  and  is  no  doubt  of  pre-historic  origin,  I  have 
met  with  no  clear  and  authoritative  statement  of  the  means  originally 
employed  by  the  American  Indians  in  gathering  gold  from  sands."  2 

As  early  as  the  seventeenth  century  gold  was  obtained  from  gravels 
and  veins  in  that  portion  of  the  United  States  now  bordering  on 
Mexico.  However,  little  is  said  in  the  early  records  regarding  the 
methods  employed,  the  statement  usually  made  being  that  gold  was 
mined.  The  remains  of  underground  workings  such  as  partially  filled 
pits,  windlasses  and  tools  found  in  this  Southwestern  country,  and  in 
the  Southern  states  would  seem  to  indicate  that  mining  by  shafts  was 

1  A  famous  work  published  by  De  Bry  in  1591,  and  U.  S.  G.  S.,  16th  Ann. 
Rept.,  Ft.  3,  p.  254,  1894-95. 

2  U.  S.  G.  S.,  16th  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  256,  1894-95. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  Indians  of  Arizona  worked  the  dry  diggings  of  that 
country  by  winnowing  the  gold  sands  in  moderately  high  wind,  and  that  the 
early  prospectors  learned  from  them. 


342  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

the  method  preferred  by  the  early  Spanish  miners.  Understanding 
the  relation  between  placers  and  veins,  they,  in  their  haste,  sought  the 
store-houses  of  wealth,  rather  than  the  scattered  remnants  of  demol- 
ished treasures.  From  the  scant  records  we  have  it  is  evident  that 
their  efforts  were  well  repaid  and  vast  deposits  of  gold  and  silver 
were  opened  up  in  the  country,  now  lying  within  the  States  and 
Territories  of  California,  Texas,  Arizona  and  New  Mexico.  While 
in  the  Southern  states  much  extremely  arduous  and  useless  labor 
was  expended  in  underground  work,  which  would  have  proven 
much  more  remunerative  had  it  been  employed  in  the  working  of 
gravels. 

The  first  work  of  importance  was  done  in  the  Southern  states  fol- 
lowing the  discovery  of  gold  in  1829.  Very  extensive  operations, 
for  the  times,  were  carried  on  in  the  easily  worked  placers  and  the 
decomposed  outcrops,  the  period  between  1829  and  1836  being  that 
of  greatest  activity.  There  was  then  a  falling  off  in  the  output, 
which  was  followed  in  turn  by  another  period  of  renewed  activity 
from  1839  to  1849,  due  probably  to  more  systematic  development 
of  the  veins.  Here  as  in  practically  all  newly-discovered  gold  fields 
the  first  work  was  done  by  hand  in  pans,  which  was  followed  later 
by  the  simple  and  inexpensive  rocker,  long-torn  and  sluice-box. 
These  devices  are  still  used  in  small  scale  work  by  men  whose  only 
capital  is  their  muscle  and  endurance.  The  following  description 
of  the  gold  saving  devices  which  constitute  the  so-called  placer- 
mining  methods  is  given  in  a  paper  entitled  the  Present  Condition 
of  Gold-Mining  in  the  Southern  Applachian  States : l 

"  The  rockers  in  use  to-day  are  of  two  types.  The  first  is  essen- 
tially a  panning  process,  using  a  minimum  amount  of  water,  the 
operation  being  an  intermittent  one.  This  type  of  rocker  is  closed 
at  both  ends,  the  discharge  being  over  the  side.  .  .  .  The  second  type 
consists  of  a  hollow  segment  of  a  log  closed  at  the  upper  end.  It 
is  set  on  a  slight  inclination,  about  6  inches  in  10  feet,  and  is  pro- 
vided at  the  lower  end  with  grooves  or  strips  that  act  as  mecury- 
pockets  or  riffles.  When  used  on  gravel,  it  is  provided  at  the  upper 
end  with  a  shallow  box  having  around  punched  or  slotted  iron  bottom. 
The  length  of  this  type  of  rocker  is  about  5  feet.  The  gravel  and 
clay  are  thrown  into  the  box,  where  a  constant  stream  of  water, 
together  with  the  rocking  motion  and  stirring  with  fork  or  shovel, 
disintegrates  the  material.  The  pebbles  and  bowlders  are  thrown 
out  with  the  fork,  while  the  fine  portions  are  washed  down  the  bottom. 
1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  pp.  680  and  681,  1895. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.         343 

The  rocking  facilitates  the  settling  and  amalgamation  of  the  gold, 
and  the  discharge  of  the  tailings.  Two  men  work  at  one  rocker. 
One  throws  the  gravel  from  the  pit  into  the  box,  and  the  other  sits 
above  the  rocker  moving  it  with  his  feet,  disintegrating  the  gravel 
with  a  fork,  and  discharging  the  coarse  material.  Rockers  of  a  sim- 
ilar type  are  at  present  in  use  at  several  mills  for  handling  pulp  and 
blanket-washings. 

"  Where  sufficient  flowing  water  is  at  hand,  the  sluice-box  and  long- 
torn  are  used,  as  they  handle  larger  quantities  with  less  labor.  The 
sluice-box,  generally  8  to  10  feet  long,  20  inches  wide  and  12  inches 
deep,  provided  with  riffles  and  a  perforated  charging-plate  at  the 
head,  fulfills  the  same  purpose  as  the  rocker;  being  stationary, 
however,  it  requires  a  large  amount  of  water  to  carry  off  the 
tailings.  " 

In  the  early  days  of  gold-mining  in  the  South,  farming  and  placer- 
mining  went  hand  in  hand,  that  occupation  which  proved  most  re- 
munerative being  most  persistently  followed,  the  other  being  worked 
upon  as  opportunity  afforded.  In  a  report  on  the  Tinder  Flats 
placer,  Louisa  County,  Virginia,  Prof.  Silliman  says:  "Jenkins  is 
in  the  habit  of  substituting  a  fall  working  in  the  gold,  for  which  he 
obtains  $1000  annually,  as  a  compensation  for  his  tobacco  crop, 
which  he  relinquishes  in  favor  of  the  gold."1 

The  long-torn  was  introduced  into  California  from  Georgia,  in 
1848  (I860?),  and  with  it  the  sluice  by  means  of  which  it  was  claimed 
that  two  men  could  wash  from  10  to  20  cubic  yards  of  gravel  daily.2 

There  is  some  doubt  regarding  the  locality  in  the  United  States  in 
which  ground-sluicing  3  was  first  employed. 

According  to  Tuomey,4  the  hillside  deposits,  at  Arbacoochee,  Ala- 
bama, were  ground-sluiced  as  early  as  1854  —  a  ditch  and  a  series  of 

1  Report  to  the  President  and  Directors  of  the  Walton  Mining  Company. 
By  Prof.  B.  Silliman,    Jr.,  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  and  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25, 
p.  681,  1895. 

2  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  18,  p.  539.     Twelve  Years  in  the  Mines  of  Cali- 
fornia, p.  70,  1862. 

3  The  primitive  washing  of  gold  gravels  as  employed  here  in  the  United  States 
was   practiced    by  the   ancients.      Pliny   describes   similar  operations   on   the 
shores  of  the  Mediterranean  —  water  was  ditched,  and  material  was  run  through 
bed-rock  sluices  after  it  had  been  broken  down  from  the  bank.     (Natural  His- 
tory, Bohn's  Edition,  Vol.  vi,  p.  99)     While  in  De  Re  Metallica  Agricola  in  1621 
(p.  270)  the  use  of  pan,  rocker  and  riffles  together  with  ground-sluicing,  are 
shown. 

4  Second  Biennial    Report  on  the  Geology  of  Alabama,  p.  70,  Montgomery, 
1858. 


344  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

trenches  being  employed  into  which  quicksilver  was  poured.  How- 
ever, it  is  claimed  that  ground-sluicing  came  into  general  use  in  1851- 
1852  in  the  "  coyote  "  claims  near  Virginia  City,  Nevada.1 

Low  banks  of  gravel  were  worked  to  advantage  in  the  early  days 
of  placer-mining  in  California  by  ground-sluicing.  Large  areas  of 
ground  could  be  rapidly  worked  over  when  the  lay  of  the  ground 
provided  sufficient  grade  and  when  considerable  water  was  available. 
The  sluices  consisted  of  trenches  cut  in  the  ground  and  lined  with 
rock  walls  or  timber,  the  bottom  being  provided  with  riffles  to  hold 
the  quicksilver  and  catch  the  gold.  The  earth  and  gravel  were  thrown 
into  the  sluice  and  worked  along  by  means  of  a  heavy  stream  of  water. 
This  method  proved  too  slow  for  the  miner  and  was  soon  superseded 
by  the  hydraulic  giant. 

While  working  a  claim  on  American  Hill  in  1853,  E.  E.  Matteson 
conceived  the  idea  of  using  a  nozzle  on  a  hose  to  throw  a  stream 
against  a  bank  of  clayey  gravel  in  order  to  facilitate  its  disintegration 
and  removal.  Danger  to  the  workmen  from  caving  banks  led  him  to 
think  of  it  he  claimed.  It  is  reported  that  a  hose  had  previously 
been  used  in  similar  work  by  A.  Chabot  in  his  claim  at  Buckeye  Hill 
in  1852.  By  the  use  of  the  nozzle  it  was  found  that  one  man  could 
do  the  work  that  formerly  required  several,  and  that  too  with  no  great 
effort  on  his  part.2  There  are  a  number  of  statements  on  record  as 
to  the  construction  of  the  first  nozzle.  According  to  one  authority 
the  hose  was  made  of  raw-hide  with  the  hair  on  the  outside,  and  was 
four  inches  in  diameter.  The  nozzle  was  of  brass,  three-quarters 
of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  inclosed  in  a  wooden  jacket.  For  a 
pressure-box  a  keg  was  placed  on  a  stump,  being  replaced  later  by  a 
pork  barrel.3  According  to  others  the  pressure-box  was  made  of 
two  lengths  of  sluice-boxes  fastened  together  thus  forming  a  box 
which  was  placed  vertically,  water  being  admitted  into  the  upper  end 
and  the  hose  attached  to  the  lower,  while  the  nozzle  is  claimed  to 
have  been  made  entirely  of  wood. 

During  the  same  year  J.  F.  Tabbott  claims  to  have  made  and  used 
a  similar  device  in  his  claim  on  Indiana  Hill.  In  handling  a  hose 
through  which  water  was  running  to  the  bank,  the  end  was  compressed 
thereby  giving  greater  force  to  the  stream  of  water.  He  made  a  taper- 
ing box  of  wood  to  the  larger  end  of  which  he  attached  the  hose,  and 
by  this  improvised  nozzle  was  able  to  double  the  effective  work  pre- 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  p.  266,  1899. 
8  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  p.  266. 
3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  68,  p.  7. 


MINING   GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.         345 

viously  done.     Later  he  had  a  sheet  iron  nozzle  made,  which  was  four 
feet  long  and  had  a  two-inch  discharge  opening.1 

Following  the  introduction  of  hose  and  nozzle  in  placer-mining,  the 
desire  for  greater  service  led  first  of  all  to  an  increase  in  pressure, 
which  in  turn  required  greater  strength  of  material  to  contain  and 
control  the  disintegrating  agent,  namely,  water.  The  limit  of  common 
duck  hose,  made  of  No.  1  and  No.  2  duck,  through  which  the  water 
was  brought  to  the  pit,  and  thence  to  the  bank,  was  soon  reached, 
while  the  sheet  iron  nozzles  although  made  of  two  thicknesses  of  iron 
failed  to  withstand  even  moderate  pressures.  To  reinforce  the  canvas 
and  duck  hose  they  were  placed  within  pipes  made  of  No.  22  sheet 
iron,  securely  riveted  and  the  whole  staked  securely  to  the  ground. 
But  owing  to  the  rapid  decay  of  the  hose  and  the  rusting  of  the  enclos- 
ing pipe,  such  makeshifts  were  soon  found  to  be  inadequate  for  the 
purpose.  Sheet  iron  pipes  without  hose  were  used,  often  having  a 
diameter  of  11  inches  and  were  put  together  in  sections  of  16  feet  in 
length.  They  were  joined  by  slip-joints  which  were  provided  with 
hooks  by  which  they  could  be  wired  together.  Further,  strips  of 
old  hose  were  often  riveted  on  at  the  joints  to  prevent  leakage. 

In  1856,  some  three  years  after  the  introduction  of  water  under 
pressure  into  placer-mining  or  the  beginning  of  hydraulic-mining, 
the  canvas  hose  with  nozzle  attached  was  often  held  and  operated  by 
a  nozzleman  (usually  a  short  stocky  man),  who  stood  from  20  to  30 
feet  from  the  bank  and  directed  the  stream  against  it.  The  hose  was 
attached  to  the  lower  end  of  a  wrought  iron  pipe,  some  eight  inches  in 
diameter,  which  ran  to  the  pit  from  the  pressure-box,  and  to  prevent 
the  hose  bursting  it  was  wrapped  with  three-quarter  inch  manila  rope. 
The  rope-wound  hose  was  usually  tapered  gradually  to  4  inches  at  the 
small  end,  to  which  was  attached  a  rubber-lined  woven  canvas  hose, 
while  at  the  end  of  this  was  placed  a  brass  nozzle.  The  discharge 
opening  in  the  nozzle  was  from  1 J  to  1J  inches  in  diameter,  depending 
upon  the  amount  of  water  to  be  handled. 

The  development  was,  however,  much  more  rapid  in  the  centers  of 
greatest  activity  for  as  early  as  1856  a  few  40-inch  iron  pipes  had  been 
installed,  while  the  first  ditch  for  carrying  large  quantities  of  water 
was  built  in  1850,  and  in  1860,  6,000  miles  of  canals  were  constructed 
at  a  cost  of  $15,000,000.  In  1852  the  first  riffle  was  patented  and  in 
1864  the  goose-neck  nozzle  with  a  flexible  iron  joint  was  introduced. 
About  this  time  the  first  pipe-bridge  was  erected,  and  in  1870  the  first 
inverted  syphon  was  constructed. 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press.,  Vol.  64,  p.  74. 


346  GOLD   AND  SILVER. 

J.  M.  Allenwood  of  Timbuctoo,  Yuba  County,  patented  in  1864, 
the  so-called  "  goose-neck  machine,"  which  had  two  joints,  a  lower 
horizontal  one  and  an  upper  one  made  of  a  short  section  of  hose.  By 
means  of  this  device  the  stream  of  water  could  be  directed  against 
any  portion  of  the  bank  desired,  but  it  was  found  that  the  canvas 
joint  known  as  a  "Dutch  sleeve"  was  apt  to  become  kinked,  when  the 
nozzle  would  fly  around  in  a  circle,  knocking  over  everything  within 
its  reach  —  this  the  miners  called  "  bucking."  J.  W.  Richards  of 
Michigan  Bluff,  Placer  County,  devised  a  double-jointed  machine, 
eliminating  the  hose-joint,  but  it  proved  about  as  unreliable  as 
the  form  with  hose-joint,  and  was  but  little  used.  The  great  diffi- 
culty experienced  with  the  early  forms  of  nozzles  was  to  effect  a 
change  in  direction  of  the  stream  without  bending  the  connecting 
hose.  In  1869  a  single- jointed  ball-and-socket  machine  was  patented 
by  the  Craig  Brothers,  but  it  was  not  until  the  following  year  that  the 
first  successful  double- jointed  machine  was  invented.  This  machine 
was  known  as  the  "  Hydraulic  Chief  "  and  was  devised  by  F.  H. 
Fisher  of  Nevada  City.  The  element  of  success  in  this  machine  was 
the  upper  joint  which  was  pivoted  on  both  sides,  thus  permitting  the 
nozzle  to  be  moved  up  and  down  without  interfering  with  the  passage 
of  the  water.  The  side  motion  was  obtained  through  the  horizontal 
joint.  This  machine  proved  a  great  success  and  was  widely  used, 
which  was  the  immediate  cause  of  the  institution  of  a  number  of  suits 
by  other  manufacturers  claiming  infringement.  Various  interests 
combined  against  Fisher,  among  whom  was  the  Craig  and  Hoskin 
combination,  which  concern  at  once  began  the  manufacture  of  the 
Little  Giant,  a  bold  duplication  of  Fisher's  Hydraulic  Chief.  To  still 
further  drive  out  competition  the  Macy  and  Martin  patent  riffle  was 
purchased  outright,  without  which  no  machine  could  operate,1  and 
suit  was  instituted  against  Fisher  to  prevent  its  use  in  his  machines. 
Suit  followed  suit  interspersed  with  arrests  and  fines  imposed  upon 
the  principals  involved,  until  in  1880  Fisher  reissued  his  patent, 
instituted  a  successful  suit  against  the  Craigs  and  Hoskin,  and  then 
began  the  active  manufacture  of  hydraulic  machines.2  At  various 
times  and  places  the  hydraulic  machines  or  giants  have  been  given 
the  following  names:  "  goose-neck,"  "  globe  monitor,"  "  dictator," 
"  deflector,"  "  knuckle,"  "  joint,"  "  little  giant,"  etc. 

1  The  object  of  the  riffle  which  is  placed  in  the  discharge  pipe,  is  to  prevent  the 
stream  of  water  issuing  from  the  nozzle  from  spreading,  and  thus  becoming  in- 
effective. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  44,  p.  264. 


MINING   GOLD  AND   SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.       347 

From  the  beginning  of  hydraulic  operations  in  1853  to  about  1875, 
when  the  greatest  activity  prevailed,  it  is  estimated  that  an  aggregate 
sum  of  $100,000,000  had  been  invested.  Ditches,  flumes,  pipes  and 
inverted  syphons  with  a  length  of  fully  6,000  miles  were  in  use,  which 
had  been  constructed  over  such  rough  ground  as  to  call  for  great 
ingenuity  and  enterprise  —  the  boldness  and  initiative  exhibited  in 
the  undertaking  and  successful  solution  of  the  stupendous  problems 
which  confronted  the  early  hydraulic-mining  engineer  have  not  been 
excelled  in  any  profession.  By  1880  hydraulic-mining  had  been  put 
nearly  out  of  commission  by  the  injunctions  of  State  and  Federal 
courts,  and  although  many  and  strenuous  efforts  have  been  made  to 
revive  it  by  the  removal  or  limitation  of  adverse  legislation,  the  proper 
conditions  do  not  and  probably  will  never  again  prevail  for  more  than 
a  partial  resumption  of  the  operations.1 

As  the  use  of  the  ditch  and  flume  led  to  the  employment  of  sluices 
and  hydraulic  water  in  mining,  so  the  introduction  of  hydraulic- 
mining  led  to  the  working  of  higher  gravels,  which  opened  up  large 
areas  of  ground  hitherto  unavailable,  owing  to  the  lack  of  water. 
This  was  opportune  as  the  more  available  portions  of  the  river  bars 
and  beds  had  been  pretty  thoroughly  worked  over.  However,  owing 
to  the  change  in  methods  and  location  there  was  a  corresponding 
change  in  the  status  of  the  miners  —  formerly  the  work  was  done 
largely  by  individuals,  but  with  the  change  to  hydraulic-mining  it 
was  of  necessity  confined  to  large  companies. 

From  1850  to  1856  river-mining  was  one  of  the  most  important 
factors  in  the  production  of  gold  in  California,  but  owing  to  the 
necessity  of  turning  the  streams  from  their  courses,  and  the  compara- 
tively short  period  of  operation  possible  the  work  was  both  expensive 
and  uncertain.  Since  the  operations  on  the  Feather  River  at  Oro- 
ville  in  1857  and  1858,  no  extensive  fluming  enterprises  have  been 
undertaken.  This  then  marks  the  decline  of  river-mining.2 

In  1855  the  ancient  river  channels  of  Tuolumne  County,  California, 
were  discovered,  and  later  similar  occurrences  of  gravels  were  found 
at  various  localities  in  the  state.  As  a  usual  thing  these  dead  river 
gravel  deposits  were  located  by  the  following  up  of  rich  surface 
deposits,  which  had  their  origin  in  the  buried  beds.  Probably  the 
largest  and  most  noted  of  such  deposits  is  the  so-called  Blue  lead, 

which  traverses  Sierra  and  Nevada  counties,  and  has  a  width  of  from 

• 

1  Annual  Report,  Chief  of  Engineers,  U.  S.  A.,  1882,  and  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 
Vol.  81,  pp.  939  and  940. 

2  Mineral  Resources  of  the  West,  p.  23,  1867. 


348  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

one  hundred  to  three  hundred  yards  —  its  course  is  at  right  angles  to 
that  of  the  present  streams.1 

After  the  true  nature  of  these  newly  discovered  deposits  of  rich 
auriferous  gravel  became  known,  the  attention  of  mining  men  was 
directed  toward  their  exploitation,  which  was  later  accomplished  by 
means  of  a  system  of  tunnels  and  shafts,  thus  inaugurating  drift- 
mining.  The  first  systematic  attempt  at  drift-mining  was  made  on 
Table  Mountain,  Tuolumne  County. 

As  early  as  the  sixties  (exact  date  not  known)  a  dredging  machine 
was  sent  by  a  New  York  Company  to  dig  for  gold  in  the  Yuba  River. 
It  is  needless  to  say  that  it  was  a  failure,  as  have  been  many  others 
since  that  day.2 

In  1892  two  negroes  occupied  themselves  in  scooping  up  sand  and 
gravel  from  the  bed  of  the  Sacramento  River  at  a  point  about  a  mile 
east  of  Redding.  It  was  slow  and  uncomfortable  work  but  is  said 
to  have  netted  them  from  $18  to  $20  per  week.  During  the  follow- 
ing year  a  crude  home-made  dredge  was  built  and  operated  on  the 
Sacramento,  near  Redding,  the  idea  being  obtained  probably  from 
the  work  of  the  negroes  previously  mentioned.3 

Dredgers  of  the  single-bucket  type  are  supposed  to  have  originated 
in  New  Zealand  in  the  early  sixties,  the  first  built  being  operated  by 
hand.  One  operated  by  steam  was  built  in  1870;  however,  of  188 
used  at  a  later  date  the  majority  were  driven  by  current  wheels.  The 
first  endless  chain  bucket  dredger,  steam  operated,  was  introduced 
there  in  1882,  while  the  first  of  this  type  operated  in  the  United 
States  was  built  at  Grasshopper  Creek,  Montana,  in  1894.  The  first 
modern  dredger  operated  in  California  was  built  in  1897.4 

Following  the  successful  operation  of  dredgers  in  rivers,  auriferous 
deposits  in  valleys  were  next  worked,  which  necessitated  the  flooding 
of  the  valley  sufficient  to  float  the  dredgers  or  they  were  operated  in 
self-made  excavations,  water  being  pumped  in  to  float  the  dredgers. 

Since  Alaska  has  been  discovered  and  rendered  accessible  by  rail- 
ways quite  extensive  hydraulicing  operations  have  been  established 
there,  which  have,  however,  been  handicapped  by  the  shortness  of 
the  season  and  the  difficulty  of  having  to  operate  upon  frozen  ground. 
By  systematic  work  over  a  considerable  area  of  ground,  the  shallow 
placers  are  readily  worked,  but  with  the  deeper  deposits  as  the  tundra, 

1  Mineral  Resources  of  the  West,  ,pp.  24,  25,  1867. 

2  Ibid,  1867,  p.  20. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  66,  p.  308. 
*  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  91,  p.  125. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.         349 

and  certain  other  localities  where  hydraulicing  is  not  possible  or 
.advisable,  the  frozen  gravels  must  be  worked  by  shaft.  At  the 
beginning  of  such  operations  thawing  was  done  by  burning  wood  piled 
against  the  walls  of  the  underground  galleries.  This  method  proved 
both  slow  and  disagreeable,  owing  to  the  small  amount  of  gravel 
thawed,  and  the  smoke  filled  mine.  It  was  not  long,  however,  before 
a  method  of  thawing  the  frozen  sands  and  gravels  by  means  of  steam 
was  devised,  when  practically  all  of  the  disadvantages  of  the  former 
method  were  eliminated. 

The  Dahlonega  or  Georgia  method  of  mining  was  originated  in  1868. 
It  is  in  fact  neither  a  method  of  gravel-mining  nor  vein-mining, 
although  it  is  a  hydraulic  method  applied  to  a  vein  formation.  It 
consists  in  transporting  decomposed  vein  and  country-rock  materials 
(saprolites)  to  a  mill  where  they  are  treated.  The  material  may  be 
loosened  by  hand  and  flushed  to  the  mill,  or  may  be  both  broken 
down  and  washed  to  the  mill  by  water  furnished  by  hydraulicing.1 

The  earliest  records  mention  mining  of  gold  and  silver  by  means  of 
pits  and  shafts,  or  when  possible  by  open-cuts.  Remains  of  such 
operations  have  been  found  in  the  Southern  Appalachian  states,  and 
in  Texas,  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  and  California.  All  of  this  work  was 
undoubtedly  done  by  the  Spaniards  or  carried  on  under  their  super- 
vision, and  was,  therefore,  practically  identical  with  the  present 
methods  of  mining  employed  by  the  natives  in  Mexico. 

Furthermore,  the  same  crude  methods  of  vein  mining  were  em- 
ployed in  the  Southern  Appalachian  states  as  late  as  1854,  where 
after  the  shallow  placers  were  exhausted  quartz-mining  was  begun. 
Both  deep  gravel  deposits  and  quartz-veins  were  worked  by  open-cuts 
for  some  time.  Probably  the  first  incorporated  mining  company 
of  any  kind  was  chartered  in  1709;  this  was  at  the  Simsbury  mines, 
Granby,  Connecticut.  Vein  mining  was  carried  on  in  Montgomery 
County,  North  Carolina,  in  1825,  and  at  the  Tellurium  Mine,  Virginia, 
in  1832.  The  free-milling  brown  ores  of  the  outcrops  were  worked, 
being  broken  down  by  hand  and  raised  by  horse-whim  and  hand- 
windlass,  while  in  certain  instances  portage  was  resorted  to,  the  ore 
being  carried  in  baskets  on  men's  backs.2 

The  present  method  of  mining  employed  in  the  large  and  syste- 
matically worked  mines  consists  in  sinking  shafts  and  driving  levels 
in  or  near  the  vein,  and  then  by  stoping,  removing  the  workable 
portions  of  the  veins  and  adjacent  wall-rocks. 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  742,  1895. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  682,  1895. 


350  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  first  quartz  miners  in  the  west  were  Mexicans,  who  both  mined 
and  treated  the  gold-bearing  quartz  in  a  manner  similar  to  that  in 
common  use  in  their  home  country.  With  such  examples  to  pattern 
after  together  with  the  shallow  mining  necessitated  by  lack  of  equip- 
ment, it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  the  progress  of  gold  mining  in 
the  early  days  following  gravel  mining  was  slow.  However,  the 
American  miner  and  capitalist  did  not  lack  confidence,  with  the 
result  that  many  costly  failures  were  made  in  beginning  extensive 
operations  with  inadequate  knowledge  of  existing  conditions.  After 
making  a  trip  through  the  country  Horace  Greeley  made  the  remark 
that:  "  I  am  confident  that  fully  three  out  of  every  four  quartz  mining 
enterprises  have  proved  failures,  or  have  at  best  achieved  no  positive 
success."  l  This  state  of  affairs  was  soon  to  be  materially  changed 
(although  the  success  of  a  few  is  always  largely  off-set  by  the  failure 
of  the  many)  by  the  remarkably  rich  and  extensive  ore-bodies  dis- 
covered in  the  Comstock  lode  in  1859.  Other  extensive  deposits  of 
the  precious  metals  were  discovered  in  Nevada,  as  in  the  Esmeralda, 
Potosi,  Coso,  and  Humboldt  districts  and  the  Bodie  district,  California. 
However,  the  Comstock  mines  were  the  most  important  and  led  in 
magnitude  and  extent  of  operations  and  workings.  The  Comstock 
lode  has  been  called  the  mining  school  of  the  world  and  so  it  seemed, 
for  the  training  acquired  there  was  considered  a  fitting  equipment  for 
foremen,  superintendents  and  managers,  who  were  called  all  over  the 
world  to  take  charge  of  similar  extensive  operations. 

The  primitive  Mexican  methods  predominated  at  the  Comstock 
lode  for  some  time  after  its  discovery.  Defining  was  a  common  term 
applied  to  the  proving  of  the  lode  and  consisted  in  running  an  open- 
cut  or  trench  across  the  outcrop  and  extending  to  a  depth  of  5  to  20 
feet  (according  to  the  pitch  of  the  land),  thus  showing  the  character 
of  the  vein  and  walls  at  some  distance  below  the  surface.  Following 
this  preliminary  work  an  incline  would  be  driven  in  the  vein,  starting 
on  the  outcrop  or  in  some  instances  the  miner  preferred  to  work  by 
tunneling,  when  work  would  begin  at  a  point  some  distance  below 
the  outcrop  on  the  hillside.  However,  many  such  tunnels  failed  to 
strike  the  lode  owing  to  lack  of  means  and  too  great  distance,  the 
starting  point  having  been  chosen  at  too  low  a  level.  The  idea  was 
to  intersect  the  lode  at  a  depth  of  some  100  to  200  feet.  As  a  general 
rule  tunnels  were  preferred  when  the  lode  was  known  or  supposed  to 
have  a  slight  pitch,  while  shafts  were  often  resorted  to  with  the 
steeper  pitches,  thus  permitting  the  material  to  be  raised  more  readily. 
1  Mineral  Resources  of  the  West,  1867,  p.  22. 


MINING   GOLD  AND   SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.         351 

The  first  shafts  or  pits  sunk  were  of  the  nature  of  wells,  being  small 
and  round,  following  the  example  of  the  early  quartz-mining  practice 
of  California.  Hundreds  of  such  pits  were  sunk  along  the  line  of  the 
lode  and  varied  in  depth  from  20  to  100  feet,  but  such  methods  of 
prospecting  were  usually  abandoned  for  the  simpler,  more  convenient, 
and  less  expensive  method  of  tunneling.  These  tunnels  ranged  from 
40  to  2000  feet  in  length,  and  were  often  connected  with  shafts  reach- 
ing to  the  surface  and  to  greater  depths.  Following  this  early/  and 
to  a  certain  extent  preliminary  and  temporary  work,  the  work  of 
development  became  more  systematic  and  permanent  in  character. 
The  shafts  were  then  made  with  two  compartments,  a  hoisting  and 
pumping  compartment,  and  were  given  some  support  in  the  shape  of 
wooden  linings.  Later  the  number  of  compartments  was  increased 
from  two  to  five,  with  permanent  timber  linings.  The  first  steam 
hoist  was  installed  at  the  Ophir  mine,  and  in  1861  a  requisition 
was  made  by  Superintendent  Deidesheimer,  of  the  Ophir,  for  a  45 
horse-power  engine  and  an  8-inch  pump,  which  unheard  of  extrava- 
gance startled  the  officials  and  brought  forth  the  query  "  if  all  that 
came  out  of  it  was  to  go  for  machinery."  l 

Prior  to  the  proving  of  the  position  and  character  of  the  lode  by 
actual  work,  the  false  pitch  of  the  eastern  wall  and  the  slight  westerly 
pitch  of  several  of  the  ore-bodies  led  to  the  belief  that  the  general  dip 
of  the  lode  was  to  the  west.  However,  development  showed  that 
the  western  or  footwall  had  an  easterly  dip,  and  that  with  depth  the 
eastern  wall  conformed  with  it.  Therefore  those  shafts  sunk  on  the 
outcrop  on  reaching  the  west  wall  at  a  depth  of  some  400  or  500  feet, 
penetrated  the  hard  syenite  below  the  lode,  and  as  these  shafts 
increased  in  depth,  their  divergence  from  the  lode  became  more 
marked.  This  led  to  the  location  of  deep  shafts  some  800  to  1000 
feet  from  the  outcrop,  and  to  the  eastward.  This  plan  was  further 
rendered  advisable,  owing  to  the  weak  and  unstable  condition  of  the 
vein  material.  It  was  first  adopted  by  the  Gould  and  Curry,  and  after- 
ward by  nearly  all  of  the  principal  mines.2  The  depths  attained  by 
these  shafts  varied  from  700  to  1400  feet.  As  work  progressed  and 
greater  depth  was  reached,  other  shafts  were  sunk  at  still  greater 
distances  from  the  outcrop. 

Ultimately  four  lines  of  shafts  were  established,  each  so  placed  that 
it  required  from  600  to  1000  feet  further  sinking  to  reach  the  lode. 
The  fourth  line  was  expected  to  intersect  the  lode  at  depths  varying 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  54,  p.  152. 
3  Mineral  Industry,  1870,  pp.  101  and  102. 


352  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

from  2500  to  3500  feet,  after  which  they  were  to  be  prolonged  as 
inclines  conforming  with  the  pitch  of  the  lode.1 

From  stations  established  in  these  shafts  drifts  or  tunnels  were  run 
for  the  purpose  of  extracting  the  ore  and  for  exploratory  work.  The 
lode  on  being  reached  was  attacked,  the  ore  being  removed  by  an 
overhead  system  of  mining  commonly  known  as  overhand  stoping. 
Owing  to  the  extreme  unstable  character  of  the  lode  material,  the 
excavations  required  immediate  support,  which  was  first  accomplished 
by  timbering,  and  later  by  a  combination  system  of  timbering  and 
filling  with  waste  rock.  However,  extensive  caving  occurred  before 
the  idea  of  rock-filling  was  hit  upon,  and  considerable  ground  was  lost, 
as  well  as  lines  of  development  closed. 

The  almost  insurmountable  difficulties  experienced  in  supporting 
the  large  excavations  in  the  weak  rock  masses,  led  to  the  invention 
of  a  system  of  timbering,  which  at  first  met  with  considerable  oppo- 
sition, owing  to  the  expense,  but  was  ultimately,  generally  adopted  in 
all  of  the  mines  of  the  lode,  and  has  since  found  wide  application  in 
practically  all  kinds  of  metal  mines  the  world  over.  This  method  of 
timbering  is  known  as  square-setting,  owing  to  the  manner  in  which 
the  timbers  are  framed  together  into  square  or  rectangular  sets. 
This  form  of  timber  support  is  said  to  have  been  devised  by  Mr.  P. 
Deidesheimer  of  the  Ophir  mine  in  I860.2 

This  invention  and  the  introduction  of  higher  explosives  and  power 
drills  may  be  said  to  have  revolutionized  the  mining  industry,  and 
made  it  possible  to  work  at  great  depth.3 

In  the  haste  to  get  out  mineral  and  to  reach  a  depth  where  richer 
ore-bodies  were  confidently  expected  to  occur  the  rich  bonanzas  of 
the  upper  levels  were  ruthlessly  gouged  out,  with  little  regard  for 
close  and  clean  work,  and  when  the  best  portions  were  taken,  the  down- 
ward progress  was  again  resumed.  The  idea  of  roughly  sorting  the 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  28,  p.  35. 

2  Mineral  Industry,  1870,  p.  112,  and  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  34,  p.  184. 

It  is  thought  that  the  idea  of  using  the  square-set  form  of  timbers  originated 
in  the  German  mines,  but  if  used  there  was  exceedingly  crude  in  form.  Min. 
and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  62,  p.  377. 

3  According  to  Werner  gunpowder  was  first  employed  in  metal  mines  in  1613, 
although  it  had  previously  been  applied  to  quarrying  and  military  operations. 
It  was  first  used  in  the  mines  of  Hungary  or  Germany  in  1620,  and  during 
the  same  year  was  introduced  into  the  copper  mines  of  Eaton,  Staffordshire. 
Plot,  however,  gives  the  date  of  first  use  in  Staffordshire  as  1686.     Chemical 
Essays,  1781,  Vol.  1,  p.  332;    Natural  History  of  Staffordshire;    and  Eng.  -and 
Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  57,  p.  123. 


MINING  GOLD  AND   SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.        353 

ore  underground,  in  order  that  low-grade  ores  might  be  concen- 
trated to  one-half  or  one-fourth  their  former  bulk,  and  thus  have  their 
values  increased  was  hardly  thought  of,  most  of  it  being  left  behind, 
and  forgotten.1  It  is  claimed  on  good  authority  that  much  good  ore 
still  remains  in  the  solid  ground  above  the  200  and  300  foot  levels, 
especially  in  the  Ophir  and  Mexican  and  California  mines.  Former 
Mexican  miners  evidently  knew  of  such  rich  pickings,  probably  left 
purposely,  when  they  could  return  and  mine  on  their  own  account, 
and  they  have  long  evinced  a  desire  to  return.2 

The  next  event  of  interest  not  only  in  connection  with  the  Comstock 
lode,  but  to  the  mining  world,  was  the  inception  and  building  of  the 
Sutro  tunnel. 

It  had  become  evident  by  1865  that  if  mining  was  to  be  continued 
in  the  Comstock  mines  a  radical  change  in  the  systems  of  drainage 
and  ventilation  would  be  necessary,  and  apparently  the  only  solution 
of  the  problem  lay  in  the  construction  of  a  tunnel,  that  would  lower 
the  water  level  by  a  thousand  or  more  feet. 

In  1866,  July  25,  A.  Sutro  was  granted  by  act  of  Congress  the  right 
of  way  and  other  privileges  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  a  drainage 
and  exploratory  tunnel  to  the  Comstock  lode  in  the  State  of  Nevada. 
On  February  4,  1875,  the  Nevada  legislature  also  granted  Sutro  a 
franchise,  giving  him  the  right  of  way.  Work  was  begun  on  the 
tunnel  on  October  19,  1869.  In  1898  there  were  two  miles  of 
branches  of  the  Sutro  tunnel  along  the  lode,  which  with  its  many 
air  connections  through  shafts  and  winzes  had  established  a  new 
base  of  operations,  at  a  depth  of  1700  feet  below  the  surface 
and  from  which  a  further  depth  of  3000  feet  could  readily  be 
reached.3 

The  general  practice  of  mining  in  the  Comstock  mines  was  also 
employed  in  the  mines  of  the  Mother  lode,  where  similar  conditions 
exist,  while  in  certain  extreme  cases  the  problem  of  support  of 
excavations  is  even  worse. 

The  great  advance  made  in  mining  practice  in  the  mines  of  the 
Comstock  lode  was  by  no  means  local,  but  was  first  made  manifest 
in  the  character  and  extent  of  operations  in  the  California  metal 
mines  and  later  throughout  the  United  States  and  the  world. 
Undoubtedly  greater  progress  was  made  in  mining  in  all  its  depart- 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  40.  p.  278. 

2  Ibid.,  Vol.  41,  p.  98. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  6,  p.  385,  Ibid.,  Vol.  26,  p.  384,  and  Min.  and  Sci. 
Press,  Vol.  76,  p.  155. 


354  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

ments  during  the  period  of  30  years  beginning  with  1860  than  had 
been  made  during  the  preceding  500  years.1 

The  Homestake  mine  has  always  been  worked  by  shafts  and 
stoping  with  square-sets.  However,  in  the  summer  of  1878  it  was 
decided  to  remove  the  large  ore-bodies  lying  close  to  the  surface  by 
means  of  an  open-cut.  This  was  accomplished  by  running  long 
drifts  into  the  deposit  from  the  hillside  and  connecting  them  with 
the  surface  by  raises.  Work  of  breaking  down  the  ore  is  then  begun 
at  the  surface,  the  ore  being  run  down  the  raises,  caught  in  cars  and 
hauled  through  the  drifts  to  the  surface  on  the  drift-level.  When 
the  level  of  the  drifts  is  reached  other  drifts  are  run  at  a  lower  level 
thus  opening  up  a  new  level  or  block  of  ground.  This  system  of 
open-cut  working  is  in  reality  a  milling  method  and  is  practically 
identical  with  the  milling  methods  employed  in  the  iron  mines  of 
Lake  Superior.  The  resulting  open  pits  are  called  "  Glory  Holes."2 

Mining  began  on  Douglas  Island  about  1881  and  as  late  as  1904 
it  was  estimated  that  fully  75  per  cent  of  all  the  ore  mined  had  come 
from  the  open  pits  or  "  Glory  Holes  "  of  the  Tread  well  mines.  One 
such  Glory  Hole  at  the  Alaska-Treadwell  mine  had  reached  a  depth 
of  220  feet  below  the  adit-level  and  about  450  feet  from  the  surface 
with  a  maximum  width  of  420  feet  and  length  of  1,700  feet.  The 
method  of  procedure  here  is  similar  to  that  at  the  Homestake  mine 
and  it  is  in  fact  becoming  the  usual  method  employed  with  the 
proximity  of  large  deposits  to  the  surface.3  A  similar  method  is 
employed  in  the  Mercur  mines,  Utah,4  and  at  the  Combination 
mine,  Goldfield  district,  Esmeralda  County,  Nevada.5 

A  modified  caving  system  was  employed  in  mining  the  gold  ores 
of  Mercur,  Utah,  as  early  as  1897  and  has  been  successfully  operated 
up  to  the  present  time.8  The  peculiar  conditions  obtaining  here  ren- 
ders this  method  applicable,  a  method  that  has  been  used  extensively 
for  many  years  especially  in  the  iron  deposits  of  the  Lake  Superior 
region,  but  was  not,  to  our  knowledge,  applied  to  gold  and  silver 
deposits  prior  to  its  use  in  these  mines. 

In  those  localities  where  there  is  lack  of  water  to  carry  on 
hydraulic-mining  operations  successfully,  also  where  the  grade  is 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  76,  p.  109. 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  90,  pp.  392  and  404. 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  34,  p.  351,  1904. 

Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  25,  p.  3. 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  95,  p.  435. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  68,  p.  755. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.         355 

not  sufficient  for  sluices  and  dumping  of  gravels,  the  working  of 
auriferous  deposits  has  always  been  a  serious  problem.  The  first 
attempt  to  overcome  these  difficulties  was  the  introduction  of  a 
hydraulic  nozzle  into  the  lower  end  of  a  section  of  straight  wooden 
box  or  spout  which  was  leaned  against  the  pit  bank,  thus  delivering 
the  gravel  with  sufficient  water  for  sluicing  at  a  considerably  higher 
level.  However,  it  was  found  that  to  thoroughly  mix  the  water 
and  gravel,  and  make  a  mobile  mass  the  lower  end  of  the  box  needed 
to  be  given  a  curve,  when  the  gravel  could  be  elevated  with  little 
difficulty.  The  first  hydraulic  elevator,  built  on  the  proper  lines, 
is  claimed  to  have  been  used  in  California  by  the  Yreka  Creek  Gold 
Mining  Company,  Siskiyou  County,  in  1880.  This  was  a  Cranston 
elevator  and  was  operated  under  a  head  of  266  feet,  using  about  800 
miner's  inches  of  water  and  raised  the  gravel  40  feet.  In  1889  the 
Joshua  Hendy  works  erected  a  hydraulic  plant  at  the  North  Bloom- 
field  mine.  This  elevator  raised  the  gravel  96  feet  with  a  head  of 
540  feet  and  used  1500  miner's  inches  of  water.1 

Hydraulic  elevators  were  not  generally  used  until  comparatively 
recent  times  but  are  now  in  common  use  in  most  of  the  Western 
states  and  to  a  limited  extent  in  the  Southern  goldfields. 

The  first  hydraulic  elevator  was  used  in  the  South  at  Brindletown, 
North  Carolina,  in  1883,  also  at  Dahlonega,  Georgia.  A  Crandall 
elevator  was  installed  at  the  Chestatee  mine,  Georgia,  in  1895.2 

As  early  as  1893  electric  power  for  the  operation  of  mine  plants 
was  installed  at  Bodie,  California,  and  since  that  time  many  other 
installations  have  been  made  in  the  gold  and  silver  mines  of  the 
West.  About  1900  the  electrical  equipment  of  the  C.  and  C.  shaft 
at  Virginia  City,  Nevada,  was  begun.  Power  is  generated  on  the 
Truckee  River  not  far  from  Floriston.  Extensive  hydraulicing  opera- 
tions along  the  Truckee  River  are  also  furnished  with  power  from 
the  same  plant.3 

The  hydraulic  system  of  raising  water  was  adopted  by  the  Cal- 
ifornia and  Consolidated  Virginia  Company  of  the  Comstock  lode, 
in  1899  and  proved  very  successful. 

Many  mines  are  now  being  operated  by  electric  power  in  whole  or 
in  part  in  the  Cripple  Creek  district  as  well  as  in  numerous  mining 
camps  throughout  the  United  States. 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  34,  p.  24,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  72,  p.  261. 
1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  6,  p.  116,  1898-99,  and  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Feb., 
1896. 

8  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.  Vol.  74,  p.  243. 


356  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  discovery  of  dynamite  by  Nobel,  in  1866,  furnished  the 
mining  industry  with  one  of  its  most  important  and  powerful  agencies 
which  may  be  considered  as  standing  second  to  none  in  its  influence 
on  the  advancement  of  mining.  Exactly  when  dynamite  was  intro- 
duced into  the  United  States  as  an  explosive  for  mining  purposes  is 
not  known,  but  an  early  mention  of  it  occurs  in  the  Mineral  Resources 
of  the  States  and  Territories  for  the  year  1869,  about  three  years  after 
its  discovery.1  In  this  connection  the  following  statement  is  made: 
"  Now  since  the  small  holes  with  giant  powder  do  as  much  execu- 
tion as  the  larger  ones  with  common  powder,  the  comparative  cost 
of  using  the  two  materials  is  as  51  to  92  in  favor  of  the  former. 
The  miners  foresee  that  this  change  reduces  the  necessity  for  skill 
on  their  part,  and  will  lead  to  the  introduction  of  unskilled  labor." 

Power  or  the  so-called  machine  drills  were  first  used  in  the  mines 
of  this  country,  about  1850,  although  the  "  drop  drill,"  a  hand 
operated  machine,  was  first  used  in  1838.  A  German  engineer, 
Sommeiller,  operated  the  first  air  drill  in  the  Mt.  Cenis  tunnel, 
which  was  being  driven  through  the  Alps.  Steam  or  air  operated 
drills  were  used  in  1848,  but  it  was  not  until  several  years  later  that 
they  were  introduced  into  the  mines  of  the  United  States,  when  all 
such  drills  went  by  the  name  of  Burleigh.2 

The  improvements  made  in  methods  of  reducing  ores  together 
with  the  processes  of  extraction  of  values  were  largely  responsible 
for  the  rapid  advancement  in  mining  made  during  the  sixties  and 
seventies.  The  invention  of  the  Blake  crusher  and  the  gravity 
stamp,  and  the  application  of  the  lixiviation  methods  to  the  treat- 
ment of  ores  must  be  considered  of  vital  importance  in  the  building 
up  of  the  mining  industry  to  its  present  status.  However,  a  discus- 
sion of  the  methods  of  treating  ore  in  the  extraction  of  values  is 
given  in  another  chapter,  under  the  heading  of  Milling. 

DESCRIPTION    OF   METHODS    OF   MINING. 

In  the  following  pages  are  given  descriptions  of  the  methods  of 
mining  employed  at  various  times  in  the  mines  of  the  United  States. 
Gravel-mining  is  first  considered  in  its  varied  and  multiform  phases, 
following  which  is  a  discussion  of  vein-mining.  When  available, 
extracts  are  given  of  descriptions  of  typical  operations;  otherwise 

1  Mineral  Resources  of  the  States  and  Territories  West  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, 1869,  pp.  33-36. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  87,  p.  19. 


MINING  GOLD   AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.         357 

descriptions,  incorporating  the  best  practice,  are  used  instead. 
Numerous  references  are  appended  in  order  that  the  reader  may 
verify  statements  made  and  enlarge  upon  the  information  given 
should  he  so  desire. 

Gravel  Mining. 

Prospecting.  —  The  prospecting  of  auriferous  gravel  deposits  is 
more  readily  accomplished  than  similar  work  in  veins  owing  to  the 
comparative  shallowness  of  the  deposits,  and  the  greater  regularity 
and  uniformity  of  occurrence  of  the  gold-content. 

The  first  work  of  this  character  is  done  by  pits  which  are  sunk  to 
bed-rock,  but  where  water  occurs  in  considerable  quantities  such 
work  is  impossible,  except  in  special  localities,  as  in  Alaska,  where, 
during  the  winter  months,  the  miners  even  prospect  the  beach  of 
Bering  Sea,  by  sinking  pits  through  the  ice  and  underlying  sands. 
Such  work  has  been  carried  on  at  a  distance  of  one-quarter  of  a 
mile  from  the  shore,  where  the  water  was  shallow  and  consequently 
froze  solid  to  the  bottom. 

Prospecting  of  the  tundra  of  the  Cape  Nome  goldfields  was  first 
accomplished  by  shafts,  but  owing  to  the  expense  is  now-  done 
almost  entirely  by  drills.  Both  drilling  and  shaft  sinking  are  readily 
accomplished  as  the  tundra  is  frozen  except  in  open  spots,  which 
usually  occurs  near  growing  trees. 

The  testing  of  gravel  deposits,  especially  those  of  considerable 
depth,  is  now  almost  universally  done  by  churn  drills.  Such  work  is 
now  successfully  carried  on  in  all  of  the  large  hydraulicing  and  dredg- 
ing fields,  that  at  Oroville  being  typical  of  such  operations.  Here 
a  7J-inch  drill  is  employed,  the  casing  of  the  hole  being  driven  as 
far  in  advance  of  the  drill  as  possible,  the  core  being  cut  out  by  the 
bit.  The  volume  and  contents  are  thus  readily  determined  as. 
measured,  when  raised  by  the  sand-pump.  This  material  is  rocked 
and  panned,  and  from  the  results  the  value  per  cubic  yard  of  the 
deposit  for  that  particular  locality  is  determined.1 

Ground-Sluicing  and  Booming.  —  Detailed  descriptions  of  the 
early  methods  of  working  gravels,  while  interesting  are  not  of  suffi- 
cient importance  to  warrant  elaboration  in  this  connection.  How- 
ever, as  ground-sluicing  and  booming,  or  hushing,  especially  the 
former  are  still  used,  and  will  probably  continue  to  be  employed  by 
individuals  with  small  capital  and  in  new  districts,  brief  mention  is 
made  regarding  them. 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  90,  p.  266. 


358  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Ground-sluicing  consists  in  digging  a  ditch,  either  by  hand  or  by 
the  use  of  a  stream  of  water,  which  is  cut  down  to  bed-rock.  If  the 
bed-rock  is  smooth,  boulders  and  stones  are  thrown  in,  often  very 
irregularly,  while  in  other  cases  they  are  carefully  placed  on  edge 
with  the  upper  edge  inclined  slightly  upstream;  but  if  the  bed-rock 
is  rough  it  may  serve  to  arrest  the  gold,  from  which  irregular  de- 
pressions it  is  removed  at  certain  intervals.  After  the  ditch  or 
ground-sluice  has  been  made  and  prepared  with  riffles,  the  work  of 
washing  is  begun;  all  of  the  water  and  gravel  passing  through  the 
sluice  to  the  waste  bank.  As  the  face  of  the  bank  recedes  the  sluice 
is  advanced  thus  maintaining  the  same  relative  position  between 
the  two.  Many  of  these  sluices  may  be  in  close  proximity,  each 
having  an  independent  discharge,  or  several  and  possibly  all  may 
feed  one  large  sluice,  which  may  be  a  ground-sluice  or  wooden  sluice, 
in  either  case  provided  with  some  sort  of  riffles.  Ground-sluicing  is, 
however,  pre-eminently  a  poor  man's  method,  and  the  equipment  is 
usually  of  the  roughest  sort. 

In  the  early  days  in  California  ground-sluicing  yielded  the  greater 
part  of  the  gold  produced,  but  was  soon  superseded  by  hydraulicing 
and  other  improved  methods  by  which  it  was  possible  to  obtain 
larger  returns  at  small  cost.  Nevertheless  ground-sluicing  did  not 
cease  as  a  source  of  gold  production,  for  the  Chinese  still  persisted 
in  the  work,  even  working  over  many  times  ground  long  since 
abandoned  by  the  white  man.  Furthermore,  the  Chinaman  ex- 
celled the  white  miner  in  saving  gold,  and  especially  fine  gold,  under 
difficult  conditions.  In  fact  the  Chinese  became  adepts  in  collecting 
gold  from  clayey  gravels,  black  sands,  etc.,  and  were  thereby  able  to 
work  profitably  ground  considered  too  low-grade  for  the  American 
miner  to  spend  his  time  upon.  Taking  the  case  of  black  sands,  the 
Chinese  so  arranged  their  sluices  that  all  materials  passing  through 
them  dropped  into  a  large  shallow  box  floored  with  perforated  iron. 
All  material  too  large  to  pass  this  screen  was  shoveled  out,  while 
that  passing  through  the  screen  was  carried  by  a  stream  of  water 
into  a  wide  sluice  provided  with  blanket  riffles,  and  is  practically 
identical  with  the  operation  known  as  "  blanket  sluicing."  By 
this  means  it  is  evident  that  the  bulk  of  the  material  in  the  sluices 
is  considerably  reduced,  the  coarser-  being  thrown  out  by  shovels, 
while  the  finer  and  lighter  earthy  material  is  permitted  to  escape 
with  the  water.  The  black  sand,  gold,  quicksilver  and  amalgam 
are  thus  concentrated  into  a  comparatively  small  bulk.1 
1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  43,  p.  6. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.         359 

A  modification  of  the  blanket-sluices  is  used  at  Salmon  Falls,  on 
the  Snake  River,  Idaho,  where  the  gold  is  quite  fine  and  difficult  to 
catch.  Here  the  finer  materials  are  separated  from  the  coarser 
and  passed  over  burlap  placed  in  sluices,  the  gold  and  fine  sands 
adhering  being  run  over  amalagamating  plates,  which  readily  catch 
the  gold.1 

Booming  has  had  quite  extended  application  in  a  number  of  local- 
ities in  the  United  States,  especially  in  California  and  at  a  later  date 
in  Oregon.  It  was  used  before  the  discovery  of  America,  being  de- 
scribed by  Pliny  as  a  process  extensively  employed  in  Spain  before 
the  Christian  era.  It  is  now  used  to  a  limited  extent  in  Alaska 
owing  to  comparatively  slight  grades  and  the  disposition  of  tailing. 
Booming  originated  from  the  method  of  prospecting  known  as 
"  hushing,"  and  so-called  in  Yorkshire  where  it  was  resorted  to  in 
the  search  for  lead-veins. 

Booming  consists  in  impounding  water  at  some  convenient  level 
above  the  ground  to  be  worked,  either  by  means  of  ditches  or  pipes. 
The  impounding  dam  is  provided  with  a  gate  which  can  be  suddenly 
thrown  open,  permitting  a  large  volume  of  water  to  rush  down  the 
slope  washing  out  and  carrying  along  with  it  all  loose  material.  The 
character  of  the  gate  varies  largely  with  the  scale  of  the  operation. 
In  California  sheets  of  canvas  were  occasionally  used,  being  stretched 
across  the  opening  in  the  dam  and  allowed  to  collapse  when  a  rush 
of  water  was  desired.  However,  automatic  gates  are  now  generally 
employed  in  the  larger  operations,  the  actuating  device  being  a 
water-box  which  when  full  dumps  and  frees  the  gate.  When  the 
water  has  drained  from  the  dam  the  gate  closes,  raising  the  water- 
box,  which  in  the  course  of  time  becomes  filled  and  the  operation  is 
repeated. 

When  gold  is  to  be  collected  from  the  materials  thus  washed 
down,  some  means  of  catching  the  gravels  must  be  provided.  For 
this  purpose  a  strongly  built  flume  is  constructed  at  the  foot  of  the 
slope  so  arranged  as  to  catch  all  the  water  and  gravel  descending 
from  above.  Flumes  several  thousands  of  feet  in  length  are  often 
employed  in  order  to  ensure  the  saving  of  all  of  the  gold.2 

Speaking  of  an  instance  where  booming  was  employed  in  Alaska, 
C.  W.  Purington  says: 3  "  During  a  period  of  three  weeks  a  block  of 
overburden,  consisting  of  muck  and  barren  gravel  5  feet  thick  by  25 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  58,  p.  297. 

8  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  A.  G.  Lock,  p.  992,  1882. 

8  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No.  263,  pp.  56  and  57,  1905. 


360  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

feet  wide  by  900  feet  in  length,  had  been  removed  by  the  booming 
process  before  the  shoveling  operations  commenced.  .  .  ." 

The  booming  process  is  very  similar  to  the  Georgia  or  Dahlonega 
method  of  mining  decomposed  materials  in  the  Southern  states, 
which  is  described  under  the  head  Hydraulic-Mining. 

"  Rocking  "  or  "  cradling  "  and  "  long-torn  "  work  is  in  reality 
sluicing  in  wooden  sluices  of  various  lengths.  With  the  rocker  one 
or  two  men  may  be  employed — one  rocks  while  the  other  feeds  water 
and  gravel.  The  torn  usually  consists  of  two  lengths  of  sluice,  the 
lower  being  provided  with  riffles  and  catches  the  gold  while  in  the 
upper  the  gravel  is  disintegrated  and  mixed  with  water.  Mercury 
may  or  may  not  be  employed  in  these  two  pieces  of  apparatus. 

Hydraulic-Mining.  —  Three  principal  conditions  control  the 
choice  of  a  hydraulic  property,  namely :  First,  the  amount  of  gold  in 
the  deposit,  which  must  be  sufficient  to  cover  cost  of  purchase, 
equipment  and  maintenance  and  further  pay  interest  on  capital 
invested;  second,  an  ample  water  supply,  accessible  and  under  suffi- 
cient head  to  ensure  effective  washing  of  gravel  to  and  through  the 
sluices;  and  third,  sufficient  fall  to  permit  proper  treatment  of 
gravels  and  disposition  of  tailing.  Besides  these,  other  important 
considerations  are :  the  presence  of  timber,  and  in  such  quantities  as 
to  furnish  lumber  for  sluices,  flumes,  trestles,  sluice  blocks,  etc.,  not 
too  high-priced  labor,  and  transportation  facilities. 

With  regard  to  the  amount  of  gold  which  warrants  the  under- 
taking of  such  operations  we  can  do  no  better  than  to  refer  to  other 
similar  operations.  The  Blue  Tent  yielded,  15  cents  per  cubic  yard; 
Gold  Run,  4}  cents  per  cubic  yard;  Quaker  Hill,  6J  cents  per  cubic 
yard;  American  Hill,  30  cents  per  cubic  yard;  and  the  Cement  Mining 
Company's  mine  on  North  Fork,  4{  cents  per  cubic  yard.  It  is 
doubtful  whether  other  districts  can  show  higher  averages,  although 
certain  localities  may  run  higher  or  lower  during  their  most  produc- 
tive periods.  Probably  the  lowest  value  of  gravels  successfully 
worked  are  those  of  Drummond,  Montana,  which  yield  an  average 
of  2  cents  per  cubic  yard. 

In  California  gravels  not  yielding  more  than  4  to  6  cents  per 
cubic  yard  are  considered  low-grade. 

In  1899  there  were  eleven  principal  reservoirs  constructed  almost 
exclusively  for  hydraulic-mining  operations  and  were  situated  on 
the  Yuba,  Bear,  Feather  and  American  rivers.  They  varied  in 
area  from  ten  to  four  hundred  and  eighty-seven  and  one-half  acres 
each  (high  water)  and  had  a  capacity  of  2.5  to  796.7  million  cubic 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.        361 

feet.  The  aggregate  capacity  was  about  two  billion  one  hundred 
and  ninety-five  million  gallons.  The  total  area  of  these  reservoirs, 
at  high  water,  was  eleven  thousand  six  hundred  acres.  Other 
mining  reservoirs  swelled  the  capacity  to  about  fifty  billion  gallons. 
These  reservoirs  were  fed  chiefly  by  rains  and  melting  snows,  and 
by  means  of  the  water  thus  impounded  it  was  often  possible  to 
continue  the  operations  throughout  the  dry  season,  while  without 
such  a  reserve  supply  the  hydraulicing  season  was  co-extensive  with 
the  rainy  reason.1 

Water  was  drawn  from  the  reservoirs  and  often  conducted  for 
miles  in  order  to  bring  it  to  the  desired  point  and  to  obtain  sufficient 
head  or  pressure  for  the  work  in  hand.  As  the  mining  operations 
and  supplies  of  water  lay  at  the  two  extremes  in  point  of  altitude, 
considerable  engineering  skill  was  required  to  surmount  the  inter- 
vening obstacles  of  a  rugged  topography. 

Ditches  and  flumes  were  employed  principally  in  conducting  the 
water  from  the  reservoir  to  the  gravel  pit,  although  occasionally 
considerable  lengths  of  pipe  and  tunnel  were  necessary  where 
particularly  difficult  sections  of  the  country  had  to  be  traversed. 
The  following  companies  had  artificial  water-ways  in  the  shape  of 
ditches,  flumes,  pipes  and  tunnels:  The  La  Grange  Ditch  and 
Mining  Company  had  25  miles  of  ditch;  The  Mokelumne  and  Campo 
Seco  Company  had  several  hundred  miles  of  ditches;  The  California 
Water  and  Mining  Company  had  250  miles  of  ditches;  the  Park 
Canal  and  Mining  Company  had  290  miles  of  ditches,  eight  miles  of 
pipe  etc.,  with  2,200  miner's  inches  capacity;  the  North  Bloomfield 
Mining  Company  had,  including  reservoirs,  157  miles  of  ditches;  the 
Excelsior  mines  at  Smartsville,  on  the  Yuba,  had  115  miles  of 
ditches,  carrying  6,000  inches  of  water;  the  North  Fork  Company 
had  a  ditch  25  J  miles  in  length,  with  eight  miles  of  pipe;  the  Maxwell 
ditch,  in  Plumas  County,  carried  2,000  inches  of  water,  while  the 
El  Dorado  Deep  Gravel  Company's  canal  carried  12,000  inches;  at 
Cherokee  Flat,  Butte  County,  there  were  ten  miles  of  ditch  and  four 
miles  of  pipe;  etc.,  etc.  The  Amador  canal  had  a  capacity  of  5,000 
inches  of  water,  which  was  supplied  by  a  reservoir  at  the  New  York 
ranch  having  an  area  of  140  acres.  The  ditch  was  45  miles  long 
and  had  a  three-fold  purpose,  namely;  1st,  the  driving  of  mills;  2nd, 
furnishing  water  for  gravel  mines;  and  3rd,  for  irrigation  purposes.2 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  p.  27,  1899. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  pp.  27  and  28,  Min.  and  Sci. 
Press.,  Vol.  30,  p.  57,  and  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  78,  p.  589. 


362 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


The  tunnels  ranged  from  a  few  hundred  feet  to  several  thousand  in 
length.  The  north  Bloomfield  tunnel  was  7,874  feet  long  with 
a  rock-section  of  7  X  8  feet,  while  the  Excelsior  mine  had  six  bed- 
rock tunnels  with  a  total  length  of  13,300  feet.1 

The  Spring  Valley  mine  at  Cherokee  Flat  brought  its  water  from 
the  high  Sierras  some  63  miles  distant  through  122  miles  of  ditches 
and  crossed  the  Feather  River,  over  a  deep  gorge,  in  an  inverted 
syphon  pipe  30  inches  in  diameter.  This  pipe  was  14,000  feet  long 
and  made  of  riveted  steel.  It  stood  a  pressure  of  404  pounds  per 
square  inch  and  at  the  lowest  point  of  the  syphon  the  water  had  a 
head  of  856  feet.2 

Data  regarding  a  number  of  the  large  ditches  used  in  California 
are  given  in  the  following  table:3 


Name. 

Length 
of 
Ditch. 

Width 
of  Top 
of 
Ditch. 

Width 
of 
Bot- 
tom of 
Ditch. 

Depth 
of 
Ditch. 

Cost  of 
Ditch. 

Aver- 
age 
Grade 
per 
Mile. 

Dis- 
charge 
in 
Min- 
er's 
In. 

Milton 

Miles. 
100 

Feet. 
6 

Feet. 
4 

Feet. 
3  5 

£ 

52  000 

Feet. 
14  5 

3000 

North  Bloomfield 

55 

8  65 

5 

3  5 

84  000 

14 

3200 

North  Bloomfield  

60 

8 

6 

4 

2200 

Spring  Valley  

52 

6 

4 

3  5 

2000 

Hendricks  

46  5 

6 

4 

2 

27  000 

9  6 

San  Juan  

45 

59  000 

1300 

South  Yuba 

35 

8 

4 

4 

Excelsior 

33 

g 

5 

4 

9 

1700 

La  Grange 

20 

9 

6 

4 

90  000 

7  5 

3000 

Eureka  Lake  ...    . 

18 

86  000 

2800 

Union  

15 

8 

4 

3  5 

13 

1200 

Boyer 

15 

8 

4 

3  5 

13 

1200 

6  5 

4 

3 

11  2 

3000 

3 

3 

2000 

For  list  and  description  of  ditches  in  the  Canyon  district,  Blue 
Mountains,  Oregon,  and  the  Seward  Peninsula,  see  references.4  A 
more  extended  list  of  water  ditches  in  Alaska  and  the  Northern 
goldfields  may  be  found  in  C.  W.  Purington's  paper  on  Methods  and 
Costs  of  Gravel  and  Placer  Mining  in  Alaska.5  .?• 

The  first  cost  of  a  flume  is  often  less  than  that  of  a  ditch  and  the 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines   and  Minerals,  p.  31,  and  Eng.  and  Min. 
Jour.,  Vol.  78,  p.  589. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.  Vol.  78,  pp.  588  and  589. 

3  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  A.  G.  Lock,  p.  962. 

4  U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  2,  p.  717,  and  Ibid.,  Bull.  284,  p.  141. 

5  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No.  263,  pp.  104,  110,  1905. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.        363 

repair  is  considerably  less;  further,  a  flume  presents  less  resistance 
to  the  flow  of  water  than  does  a  ditch.  However,  the  building  of 
flumes,  especially  if  they  must  be  supported  on  trestles,  should  be 
avoided  as  they  are  liable  to  be  destroyed  by  fire.  Pipes  are  also 
occasionally  mounted  on  trestles  when  depressions  have  to  be  crossed, 
but  when  gorges  cross  the  proposed  line,  the  pipes  are  usually 
supported  on  bridges  either  horizontally  or  as  an  inverted  syphon. 
The  ditch  should  be  high  enough  at  the  point  of  delivery  into  the 
pipe  line  to  give  a  sufficient  head  both  to  overcome  friction  and  to 
ensure  a  rapid  discharge  of  water  from  the  pipe,  which  is  of  necessity 
of  smaller  dimension  than  the  ditch.  The  resistance  due  to  friction 
In  the  pipe  of  the  Spring  Valley  Canal  Company  which  crossed  the 
North  Fork  of  the  Feather  River  was  estimated  to  be  equivalent 
to  20  feet  of  head.1 

The  pipes  employed  with  ditches  and  flumes  in  conveying  water 
are  usually  made  of  No.  12  to  No.  16  sheet  iron,  with  lengths  varying 
from  12  to  20  feet.  They  should  be  buried  in  the  earth  when 
possible  and  -to  a  sufficient  depth  to  escape  the  expansion  and 
contraction  to  which  they  would  be  subjected  if  exposed  to  the 
weather. 

It  is,  however,  considered  better  practice  to  carry  a  ditch  around 
rather  than  attempt  to  cross  a  depression  by  flume  or  pipe. 

The  capacity  of  ditches  in  California  varied  from  600  to  800  up 
to  7000  miner's  inches  with  grades  of  4  to  30  feet  per  mile,  average 
probably  12  feet.2 

Timber  flumes  ranging  up  to  150  feet  in  height  were  occasionally 
constructed,  and  when  timber  for  trestles  was  not  available  the 
flumes  were  built  along  the  faces  of  steep  cliffs,  being  supported  by 
iron  brackets. 

Water  for  hydraulic-mining  is  almost  universally  measured  by  the 
miner's  inch,  which  is  an  arbitrary  unit  of  measurement  based  on 
the  amount  of  water  that  will  flow  through  a  given  opening  in  a  given 
interval  of  time.  Varying  quantities  of  water  were  adopted  as  the 
unit  in  the  various  camps  with  little  or  no  regard  for  uniformity. 
The  usual  method  of  estimating  the  "  inch  "  consists  in  determining 
the  flow  through  an  orifice  one  inch  square  in  a  two-inch  plank,  with 
a  head  of  water  of  six  inches  above  the  top  of  the  orifice.  Formerly 
the  miner's  inch  used  in  California  was  put  at  100  cubic  feet  per 
hour,  or  1000  cubic  feet  per  day  of  10  hours,  which  amounted  to 

1  Eng  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  19,  p.  183. 
*  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  75,  p.  572. 


364 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


1.66  cubic  feet  per  minute.  However,  the  legislature  of  California, 
on  March  23,  1901,  established  the  miner's  inch  as:  "  The  standard 
miner's  inch  of  water  shall  be  equivalent  or  equal  to  one  and  a  half 
(1J)  cubic  feet  of  water  per  minute,  measured  through  any  aperture 
or  orifice."  l 

Raymond  gives  the  following  table  of  the  standard  miner's  inch: 2 


Pressure  from  Surface 
to  Top  or  Middle  of 
Orifice. 

Min- 
er's 
Inch. 

Cubic  Feet  (each  6.23  Gallons) 

Authority. 

Per 
Second. 

Per 
Minute. 

Per  Hour. 

Per  24  Hours. 

6  inches  

1 
1 
38 
1000 
1 
1 
10 
100 
1000 

0.039 
0.026 
1.000 
26.125 
0.03 
0.027 
0.27 
2.7 
27 

2.33 
1.57 
60.00 
1580 
1.8 
1.6 
16 
166 
1666 

140 
94.7 
3600.0 
94,700 
109.1 
100 
1,000 
10,000 
100,000 

3,360 
2,274 
86,400 
2,274,000 
2,618 
2,400  . 
24,000 
240,000 
2,400,000 

Hittell. 
Carpenter, 
do. 
do. 
do. 
Standard 
experi- 
mental 
Miner's 
inch. 

Do     

Do  

Do    

10  inches  

6  to  10  inches  
Do  

Do  
Do  

Water  measurement  in  the  Yukon  is  given  in  the  following  table: 


Dimensions  of  Orifice  in  Inches. 

Head  in  Inches 
Over  Center. 

Discharge  in 
Cubic  Feet  per 
Minute. 

Number  of 
Miner's  Inches 
of  1J  Cubic  Feet 
per  Minute. 

Width. 

Depth. 

6 

2 

6.25 

17.98 

11.99 

12 

2 

6.25 

36.38 

24.25 

18 

2 

6.25 

54.59 

36.39 

24 

2 

6.25 

73.05 

48.70 

4 

4 

6.25 

23.56 

15.71 

6 

4 

6.25 

35.35 

23.57 

12 

4 

6.25 

70.95 

47.30 

18 

4 

6.25 

107.48 

71.65 

25* 

4 

6.25 

152.37 

101.58 

According  to  Egleston  the  theoretical  horse-power  of  a   miner's 
inch  of  water  is  as  follows: 4 

1  Mines  and  Minerals,  July  1901,  p.  549. 

2  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  A.  G.  Lock,  p.  953,  1882. 
8  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Sept.  27,  1902,  p.  177. 

'  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  A.  G.  Lock,  p.  955,  1882. 


MINING  GOLD  AND   SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.         365 


Heads,  in  Feet. 


100 
30 

90 
20 

80 
15 

70 
10 

60 
5 

50 
3 

40 

Inches  to  Horse-Power. 


3.25 
10.8 

3.61 
16.2 

4.06 
21.6 

4.64 
32.5 

5.41 
65 

6.50 
108 

8.12 
325 

It  is  roughly  estimated  that  the  amount  of  gravel  moved  is,  in 
cubic  yards,  three  times  the  quantity  of  water  used  in  miner's  inches. 

ESTIMATED     QUANTITY     OF    WATER,     DUTY    AiSTD     NUMBER    CUBIC     YARDS 

GRAVEL  MOVED. 


Mine. 

Water  Used  in 
24  Hours, 
Miner's  Inches. 

Cubic  Yards 
Gravel  Washed 
in  24  Hours. 

Amount  Gravel 
in  Cubic  Yards 
per  Miner's  Inch. 

La  Grange  

375,155 

683,000 

1  82 

North  Bloomfield  

710,987 

3,250,000 

4  6 

Southern  Cross  

299,144 

598,000 

2.02 

Polar  Star  

412,000 

618,000 

1.49 

Franklin  

91,409 

326,000 

3.40 

Cedar  Claim  

247,000 

2,057,000 

7.50 

Hill  Top 

456,000 

1,140,000 

2  5 

Irish  Hill 

162,000 

405,000 

2  5 

Various  Small  Placers  &  Hy- 
draulic 

54  750 

54,750 

1 

Volcano,  Hydraulic 

365,000 

912,500 

2.5 

Campo,  Seco  and  Stockton 
Ridge. 
Railroad  Flat     

61,000 
45,000 

122,000 
90,000 

2. 
2. 

Jenny  Lind 

365,000 

730,000 

2 

Chili  Gulch   . 

200,750 

501,875 

2.5 

Table  Mt.                

833,250 

2,916,000 

3.5 

Butte  Creek           

24^000 

84,000 

3.5 

Feather  River  

1,259,363 

4,407,770 

3.5 

Yuba  River  

5,458,171 

19,103,598 

3.5 

Bear  River    

1,117,082 

3,351,246 

3. 

Dry  Creek  No.  2  
American  River  

44,229 
1,014,500 

132,687 
8,615,250 

3. 
4.5 

Total 

14;495,290 

50,108,676 

Av.  3.4 

As  a  rule  the  lower  or  delivery  end  of  the  water-way  terminates  in 
a  length  of  flume  sufficiently  long  to  discharge  into  the  bulk-head  or 
pressure-box,  and  is  usually  supported  on  a  trestle  owing  to  the 
height  of  the  latter,  which  stands  from  10  to  30  feet  above  the  ground. 
However,  with  an  inclined  pressure-box  the  flume  may  not  need  to 


366  GOLD   AND  SILVER. 

be  elevated.  The  pressure-box  is  a  long  box  of  rectangular  section 
strongly  built  and  rigidly  supported  in  a  vertical  or  inclined  position , 
depending  largely  upon  the  lay  of  the  ground.  It  receives  the 
water  from  the  flume  or  pipe  line,  and  discharges  the  same  through 
a  pipe  set  into  its  foot.  Above  the  pressure-box  or  to  one  side  of  it 
in  the  flume  is  a  sand-box,  the  object  of  which  is  to  catch  any  sand 
and  fine  gravel  carried  along  by  the  water  in  the  flume,  and  thus 
prevent  it  from  entering  the  supply-pipe  for  the  giants  in  the  pit. 
By  means  of  a  gate  the  accumulations  of  sands  and  gravels  may  be 
discharged  from  the  sand-box.  Further,  a  grate  is  set  in  the  upper 
end  of  the  pressure-box  to  prevent  any  floating  material  passing 
through  it.  The  supply  of  water  should  be  sufficient  to  cover  the 
mouth  of  the  supply  pipe  to  a  depth  of  several  feet,  in  order  that  no 
air,  or  as  little  as  possible,  be  carried  into  it.  To  safe-guard  against 
the  entrance  of  air  into  the  pipe  the  pressure-box  is  usually  divided 
into  two  compartments,  thus  permitting  the  water  to  become  quiet 
before  entering  the  supply-pipe  compartment.  A  waste  gate  is  also- 
placed  in  the  flume  above  the  pressure-box  in  order  that  the  supply 
and  discharge  may  be  maintained  equal. 

From  the  pressure-box  the  supply-pipe  should  descend  to  the  pit 
with  as  few  irregularities,  such  as  rises  and  depressions,  as  possible, 
which  tend  to  both  retard  the  flow  of  water  and  permit  air  to  collect 
and  thus  increase  the  danger  of  rupturing  the  pipe.  Air  valves  are 
also  employed  to  release  any  air  that  may  become  entrapped.  When 
the  bank  down  which  the  pipe  is  carried  has  considerable  pitch,  it 
is  advisable  to  construct  a  wooden  frame-work  as  a  foundation  for 
the  pipe,  to  which  it  is  attached,  the  whole  being  securely  braced 
and  staked  down,  and  as  a  further  precaution  against  movement 
should  be  weighted  down  with  boulders.  Beginning  with  the 
pressure-box  the  supply-pipe  for  the  first  few  lengths  is  given  a 
greater  diameter,  gradually  decreasing  in  size  until  the  normal 
diameter  of  the  pipe  line  has  been  reached.  The  pipe  is  also  pro- 
vided with  a  heavy  cast  iron  gate  operated  by  a  screw,  thus  letting 
in  or  shutting  off  the  water  at  the  entrance  of  the  main  feed  or 
supply-pipe. 

The  size  of  the  pipe  depends  primarily  upon  the  quantity  of 
water  to  be  transmitted  through  it.  As  a  rough  estimate  a 
22-inch  pipe  will  carry  from  1500  to  2000  miner's  inches,  while  for 
quantities  ranging  from  3000  to  4000  inches  a  30-inch  pipe  should 
be  chosen.1 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  75,  p.  572,  Ibid.,  Vol.  76,  pp.  5  and  34. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.         367 
The  following  data  has  been  given  for  the  ordinary  feed-pipes: l 


Diameter  of  Pipe  in 
Inches. 

Pressure  in  Feet. 

Number  of  Iron. 

Thickness  of  Iron  in 
Decimals  of  an  Inch. 

22 

150 

16 

0.060 

22 

150  to  250 

14 

0.078 

22 

250  to  310 

12 

0.098 

30 

150 

14 

0.078 

30 

150  to  275 

12 

0.098 

40 

160 

0.236 

The  iron  used  in  these  pipes  must  vary  with  the  pressure,  the 
range  being  from  No.  16  to  No.  11.  In  general  for  a  22-inch  pipe, 
with  a  pressure  of  150  feet,  No.  16  iron  is  used;  while  Nos.  14  and  12 
are  employed  with  pressures  from  150  to  200  and  200  to  300  up 
to  400  feet,  respectively.  With  a  30-inch  pipe  Nos.  14  and  12  have 
been  found  sufficient  under  heads  of  150  to  275  feet.  The  pipes 
should  be  thoroughly  treated  with  liquid  asphalt  before  being 
placed. 

It  was  the  practice  formerly  to  employ  a  distributor  which  was  a 
large  cast  iron  box,  placed  in  the  washing  pit,  from  which  the  branch 
feed  pipes  were  led  off,  but  owing  to  its  weight  and  the  danger  of 
bursting  it  was  abandoned.2 

There  are  two  types  of  giants  or  nozzles  in  general  use,  namely: 
the  single-  and  double-jointed  forms.  The  double-jointed  form 
is  claimed  to  be  more  efficient  with  respect  to  the  action  on  the 
bank,  while  the  single- jointed  form  can  be  more  readily  manipu- 
lated since  lubrication  is  possible  without  turning  off  the  water. 
However,  the  former  is  considered  safer  under  high  heads,  as  200 
feet  or  more.  The  double-jointed  machine  is  made  with  or  without 
a  king-bolt  —  with  the  king-bolt  the  construction  is  simple  and 
strong,  but  the  passage  of  the  water  is  obstructed;  without  the 
king-bolt  a  free  water-way  is  obtained,  and  the  machine  is  more 
efficient,  but  the  ball-bearings  employed  get  clogged  with  sand  and 
dirt  and  often  crush.  There  are  eight  sizes  of  giants  which  use 
nozzles  varying  from  1J  to  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  weigh  from 
390  to  2300  pounds. 

Formerly  the  direction  of  the  stream  of  water  was  changed  by 
pushing  or  pulling  the  giant  around,  which  often  required  the  efforts 
of  three  men  to  accomplish  it,  but  with  the  use  of  the  deflector  the 

1  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  A.  G.  Lock,  p.  966,  1882. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  76,  p.  34. 


368  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

largest  machine  can  be  controlled  perfectly  by  a  child.  The  de- 
flector consists  of  a  short  section  of  pipe  attached  by  two  pivots 
vertically  placed  at  the  end  of  the  nozzle  of  the  giant,  and  in  fact 
constitutes  the  true  nozzle.  A  handle  fastened  to  this  adjustable 
nozzle  permits  a  horizontal  movement  of  it,  thus  changing  the  direc- 
tion of  the  issuing  stream  of  water,  and  causes  the  giant  to  rotate 
about  its  vertical  axis.  Great  care  must  be  taken  in  adjusting  and 
handling  the  deflector,  otherwise  the  giant  may  get  beyond  the  con-, 
trol  of  the  operator  and  do  great  damage. 

The  giant  is  bolted  to  one  or  more  heavy  timbers,  which  in  turn 
are  securely  braced  and  staked  at  the  bottom  of  the  pit,  or  at  the 
point  chosen  for  its  operation.1 

As  many  as  half  a  dozen  giants  (in  a  few  instances  10  to  15)  have 
been  used  at  one  time  in  some  of  the  largest  hydraulic  mines,  each 
throwing  a  powerful  stream  against  the  mountain  side.  As  much 
as  1500  miner's  inches  of  water  (per  minute)  have  been  discharged 
by  a  single  machine,  giving  a  capacity  of  25,000,000  gallons  per  24 
hours.  The  Spring  Valley  mine,  at  Cherokee  Flat,  used  36,000,000 
gallons  daily,  which  was  three  times  the  quantity  of  water  used  by 
the  city  of  San  Francisco  (about  1880),  while  in  the  winter  months 
this  was  increased  to  70,000,000  gallons.2 

These  giants  can  throw  an  effective  stream  of  water  fully  200 
feet.  However,  notwithstanding  the  terrific  force  of  such  a  jet  of 
water  the  gravel  banks  are  often  so  indurated  and  tenaceous  that 
they  cannot  be  economically  broken  by  means  of  the  jet  alone,  but 
blasting  must  be  resorted  to,  to  shatter  them  preparatory  to  the  use 
of  the  giant.  In  order  to  get  the  full  effect  of  the  force  of  the  stream 
the  giant  must  be  placed  as  close  to  the  bank  as  is  safe  —  it  is  evident 
then  that  the  distance  of  the  giant  from  the  bank  varies  directly 
as  the  height  of  the  latter.  With  banks  of  100  feet  or  more  in 
height  bench  working  should  be  employed,  the  benches  ranging 
from  50  to  60  feet  in  height.  Speaking  in  a  general  way  a  large  giant 
can  do  the  work  of  1000  men.3 

When  the  gravel  bank  cannot  be  effectively  broken  down  by  a 
stream  of  water,  recourse  is  had  to  powder.  Powder  is  also  used 
when  the  bank  is  dangerously  high.  The  preliminary  work  of  bank 
blasting  consists  in  drifting  or  tunnelling  into  the  bank  at  its  foot, 
and  forming  receptacles  for  large  charges  of  powder.  After  the 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  91,  p.  94. 

8  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  78,  p.  588,  1904. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  76,  p.  57. 


MINING  GOLD   AND   SILVER  ORES   AND   GRAVELS.         369 

charges  are  placed  with  the  necessary  fuse  or  firing-wires  leading  to 
the  surface,  tamping  is  placed  and  finally  the  charges  are  fired. 

The  length  of  the  drifts  depends  upon  the  height  of  the  bank,  and 
the  nature  of  the  material  to  be  broken  up.  The  quantity  of  powder 
used  also  depends  on  similar  conditions.  The  rule  usually  followed 
is  to  make  the  length  of  the  main  drift  about  three-quarters  the 
height  of  the  bank,  if  this  is  considerable.  One  or  more  cross-cuts 
are  driven  from  the  main  drift,  one  being  always  driven  at  the  ex- 
treme end  and  running  in  both  directions,  thus  forming  a  T.  Each 
arm  of  the  cross-cut  should  have  a  length  of  40  to  50  feet.  Again 
other  short  drifts  or  secondary  cross-cuts  are  run  at  right  angles 
from  the  latter,  the  ends  of  which  are  extended  toward  the  face  of 
the  bank.  The  secondary  cross-cuts  are  called  "  lifters  "  and  form 
the  receptacles  for  the  powder,  which  is  often  placed  in  shallow  pits 
sunk  at  the  extreme  inner  ends.  Shallow  banks  and  blocks  of  ground 
are  occasionally  broken  up  by  charges  of  powder  placed  in  drifts 
driven  at  the  bottom  of  shafts. 

The  quantity  of  powder  employed  should  be  carefully  determined, 
but  varies  from  16  to  20  pounds  for  every  1000  cubic  feet  of  ground 
covered  by  the  drift.  It  is  estimated  that  a  successful  blast  will 
loosen  twice  the  area  covered  by  the  drifts.  Further,  two-thirds 
of  the  powder  should,  it  is  claimed,  be  placed  in  the  terminal  cross- 
cuts, the  remainder  in  the  other  cross-drift  or  drifts. 

Formerly  fuse  was  used  in  firing  the  charges,  and  to  make  sure  that 
the  powder  would  be  ignited,  as  many  as  two  and  even  three  lines 
of  fuse  were  laid  to  the  surface  in  gas  pipes.  Later,  electrical  firing 
was  employed,  the  wires  after  being  attached  to  the  primers  in  the 
cartridges  were  placed  along  on  top  the  paper  covering  the  boxes 
and  kegs  containing  the  powder.  Sand  and  gravel  is  used  as  tamp- 
ing, being  placed  on  top  of  a  line  of  large  stones  and  boulders  which 
are  laid  along  the  center  of  the  drifts  forming  a  basis  for  the  tamp- 
ing. The  tamping  should  not  be  allowed  to  stand  so  long  that  it 
will  settle  before  the  charges  are  fired,  which  may,  however,  result 
in  a  very  short  time  if  placed  loosely.  Occasionally  a  timber  bulk- 
head or  barrier  is  set  into  the  drift  at  or  near  the  intersection  of  the 
cross-cuts. 

Black  powder  has  now  been  superseded  by  low-grade  dynamite  in 

the  work  of  bank  blasting.1     The  Smartsville  Company,  in  October, 

1869,  exploded  in  their  mine  1500  kegs  of  powder  in  one  blast. 

There  were   1800  feet  of  drifts  and  the  bank  broken  up  had  the 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  76,  p.  57. 


370  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

following  dimensions:  height,  35  to  110  feet;  length,  600  feet;  and 
width,  350  feet.1 

The  common  practice  in  the  use  of  giants  in  California  is  to  employ 
four  of  them  in  breaking  down  the  bank,  which  are  operated  as 
follows:  one  giant  at  the  front,  with  a  head  of  about  400  feet  and 
nozzle  ranging  from  7  to  9  inches,  according  to  requirements;  two 
giants  operating  on  the  left  side,  with  a  head  of  150  to  250  feet;  and 
one  giant  on  the  right  side,  with  a  head  of  500  feet  to  break  up  hard 
portions  of  the  gravel  as  "  cement."  The  bank  broken  by  the  side 
giants  is  prevented  from  sliding  forward  too  far  by  the  giant  acting 
in  front.2 

Often  the  hydraulic  giants  do  not  furnish  sufficient  water  for 
properly  handling  the  gravel  broken  down  and  washed  away  from 
the  bank,  when  extra  water  is  provided  by  allowing  a  certain  amount 
to  escape  from  the  flume  above,  through  a  gate  and  run  over  the 
bank  nearly  directly  above  the  point  being  operated  upon  by  the 
giants  below. 

Aside  from  the  giants  the  sluices  are  the  most  important  part  of 
the  equipment  of  an  hydraulic  enterprise.  Sluices  are  for  conveying 
the  water  and  gravel  and  are  located  within  the  washing  pit,  and 
according  to  their  position  with  respect  to  the  bank  are  designated 
by  the  following  terms :  that  portion  lying  close  to  the  bank  is  called 
the  "  rock-cut  "  being  cut  in  the  bed-rock,  of  which  there  may  be  a 
number.  The  function  of  the  rock-cut  is  to  convey  the  wash  from 
the  bank  into  the  "  rock-sluices  "  or  "  sluice-boxes,"  which  may  be 
separate  ditches  or  boxes  in  which  riffles  and  blocks  are  placed  for 
catching  the  gold  washed  down  from  above.  Rock-sluices  differ  from 
rock-cuts  in  that  they  are  provided  with  means  of  catching  gold.  A 
rock-cut  may  then  be  changed  into  a  rock-sluice  by  simply  placing 
blocks  along  the  bottom,  but  it  is  usually  considered  better  practice 
to  place  a  wooden  box  within  it,  in  which  the  blocks  and  riffles  are 
secured  to  better  advantage. 

Great  care  should  be  exercised  in  the  location  and  construction  of 
the  rock-sluice  or  as  is  sometimes  called  the  "  bed-rock  "  sluice.  The 
water  supply,  character  of  gravel  and  topography  of  the  ground 
largely  control  their  length,  position  and  grade.  Sluices  for  handling 
sands  require  steep  grades,  and  may  be  shallow.  Gravel  with  many 
moderately  large  boulders  should  have  narrow  and  deep  sluices, 
especially  if  the  dump  is  poor.  The  usual  grade  is  six  inches  for  a  box 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  19,  p.  250. 
»  Ibid.,  Vol.  86,  p.  244. 


MINING  GOLD  AND   SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.         371 

of  12  feet  in  length,  but  in  special  cases  may  vary  from  1  to  12  inches 
per  length  of  box.  The  head  boxes  are  usually  given  a  lower  grade, 
which  is  increased  slightly  toward  the  dump.  As  the  tail-sluices  are 
usually  old  and  often  in  poor  condition,  they  are  given  more  grade. 
Light  deposits  with  slight  grades  and  low  dumps  require  wide  and 
shallow  sluices.  A  prime  requisite  of  sluices  is  that  they  be  straight, 
which  is  not  always  possible,  however.  Sluices  should  be  placed  in  th'e 
lowest  part  of  the  channel,  to  accomplish  which  it  is  often  necessary 
to  make  deep  cuts  and  even  drive  tunnels  for  their  accommodation. 
However,  open  bed-rock  cuts  and  sluices  are  preferred  when  prac- 
ticable, and  may  be  quickly  and  cheaply  excavated  by  drilling  and 
blasting  the  bed-rock,  and  washing  (piping)  it  out  with  a  giant. 

When  wooden  boxes  are  put  in  the  cuts,  they  must  be  anchored 
down.  The  riffles  or  blocks  are  then  placed,  the  sluice  obstructed 
temporarily,  and  run  full  of  sand  or  gravel  to  wedge  in  the  blocks, 
then  the  obstacle  is  removed  and  the  material  is  run  out  of  the  sluice 
with  a  giant  or  a  strong  stream  of  water.  Sluices  should  not  be  less 
than  240  feet  in  length,  owing  to  loss  of  fine  gold,  especially  when 
clay  is  present.  Blocks  should  never  be  wedged  into  a  wooden 
sluice  or  flume  as  they  will  spread  the  box  on  swelling.  They  may 
be  prevented  from  floating,  by  nailing  a  scantling  on  top  of  the  blocks, 
and  against  the  side  of  the  sluice.1 

Along  the  side  of  the  sluice-boxes  and  at  various  intervals,  large 
shallow  sluices  are  placed,  which  are  called  "  under-currents."  They 
vary  from  20  to  50  feet  in  width,  40  to  50  feet  in  length,  and  have 
sides  some  16  inches  high.  These  under-currents  are  set  at  a  fairly 
heavy  grade,  being  placed  to  one  side  of  and  a  little  below  the  main 
sluice,  the  object  of  which  is  to  relieve  the  latter  of  the  finer  material, 
and  thus  permit  a  more  effective  collection  of  the  gold. 

The  coarse  stuff  passing  the  grating  through  which  the  fine  passes 
to  the  under-current,  may  be  picked  up  by  a  sluice  at  a  lower  level,  or 
be  permanently  disposed  of  by  being  thrown  on  the  dump.  The  fine 
material  entering  the  under-current,  which  is  set  at  a  grade  of  8  to  10; 
per  cent,  passes  over  cobblestones  and  block  riffles,  and  may  then  be 
returned  to  the  sluice  at  a  lower  level. 

Riffles  or  some  similar  means  of  holding  the  quicksilver,  when  used, 
and  catching  the  gold  are  indispensable  for  hydraulic-mining.2 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  91,  pp.  94  and  111. 

2  Catching  gold  by  means  of  rough  surfaces  is  of  ancient  origin.     Van  Hum- 
boldt  mentions  the  use  of  sheep-skins  by  the  placer  workers  of  Colchis  and  attri- 
butes to  that  practice  the  possible  origin  of  the  legend  of  the  "  Golden  Fleece." 


372  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

There  are  pole,  rail,  block,  angle  steel  and  expanded  metal  riffles. 
While  the  expense  is  greater  the  iron  riffles  are  claimed  to  be  better 
gold  savers  than  the  wooden  forms.  However,  with  short  sluices 
metal  is  usually  employed  in  the  larger  operations,  but  for  the  longer 
ones  timber  is  generally  chosen.1 

Pole  riffles  made  of  green  saplings  often  armored  with  strap  iron, 
nailed  to  the  upper  surface  are  frequently  employed  in  small-scale 
placer  operations,  and  at  present  are  used  quite  extensively  in  the 
Northern  Territory.  When  clayey  gravels  are  encountered,  sharp 
projecting  pieces  of  metal  are  provided  in  place  of  the  flat  straps  — 
two-inch  square  plates  of  iron  being  driven  cornerwise  into  the  poles. 
Iron  and  steel  rails  placed  longitudinally  in  the  sluice-boxes  are 
occasionally  used,  especially  in  the  Seward  Peninsula.  Although 
rail  riffles  give  excellent  service  in  large-scale  hydraulicing  operations 
they  are  considered  most  too  expensive  for  creek  placers.2  Expanded 
metal  and  cocoa  matting  are  usually  employed  on  dredgers  and  similar 
gold-saving  apparatus,  and  they  are  described  under  Dredging. 

Preparatory  to  heavy  piping  of  gravel  into  the  sluices  quicksilver 
is  charged  to  them.  This  is  done  after  several  days  run  of  gravel, 
preferably  light  gravel,  by  pouring  (not  sprinkling)  it  into  the  sluice  in 
a  zig-zag  manner  lengthwise  of  the  sluice.  From  one  to  four  pounds 
of  mercury  constitute  a  charge  for  about  50  feet  of  sluice  and  alternate 
sections  are  charged  daily.  In  order  to  obtain  unamalgamated  spec- 
imens the  first,  one  or  more,  boxes  are  not  charged  with  mercury.3 

In  the  washing  of  heavy  gravels  the  action  of  running  water  can  be 
materially  increased  by  so  placing  the  giants  that  the  force  of  the 
stream  will  be  utilized  in  moving  the  materials.  While  if  the  material 
is  light  and  tends  to  move  forward  readily,  or  with  slight  assistance, 
it  can  be  handled  with  little  trouble  by  a  judicious  use  of  water  and 
operation  of  the  stream  of  water,  thus  drawing  it  directly  away  from 
the  bank.  Gravel  may  be  driven  or  drawn  from  100  to  150  feet  to  the 
sluices  or  rock-cuts,  which  is  often  an  economical  method,  since  the 
construction  of  sluices  is  reduced  to  a  minimum. 

Further,  it  is  known  that  the  kings  of  Imeret  used  wool  in  catching  gold  in  the 
Tskinitskali  and  Abacha  rivers  of  the  Caucasus  and  the  Turkish  gipsies  used 
goat  skins  for  a  similar  purpose  in  the  Belichta  River.  Mining  and  Scientific 
Press,  Vol.  49,  p.  148. 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press.,  Vol.  91,  p.  111. 

3  Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  11,  p.  125,  1905. 

3  Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  91,  p.  11.  Other  authorities  say  mercury  must  be 
scattered  in  a  light  spray  from  a  sprinkling  pot.  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol. 
19,  p.  243. 


MINING  GOLD  AND   SILVER  ORES   AND   GRAVELS.          373 

With  light  deposits  it  is  preferable  to  first  remove  the  covering  of 
dirt  and  sand  preparatory  to  working  the  gravels  below,  which 
usually  effects  a  higher  saving  in  values,  while  with  heavy  deposits, 
both  top  and  bottom  are  wrorked  together  since  the  light  top  material 
aids  in  moving  the  heavier  bottom  gravels. 

In  washing  cement  deposits  where  the  gravels  are  compact  and 
tough  and  where  difficulty  is  experienced  in  properly  disintegrating 
the  material  for  gold-saving,  the  method  of  backing  the  gravel  up 
against  the  bank  is  occasionally  resorted  to,  by  which  means  it  can  be 
effectively  broken  up,  while  other  giants  are  driving  the  disintegrated 
material  toward  the  sluices.  By  this  method  of  procedure  more  time 
can  be  given  to  under-cutting  the  bank  and  keeping  the  face  free  from 
boulders,  stumps,  logs,  etc.,  which  are  kept  at  such  a  distance  from 
the  bank  that  they  can  readily  be  attacked  and  handled  by  the  rock 
"  rustlers,"  instead  as  is  often  done  kept  held  close  to  the  bank. 

Boulders,  stumps,  etc.,  are  after  being  reduced  to  the  proper  size, 
handled  by  derricks,  operated  by  water  power,  thus  clearing  away 
obstacles  which  obstruct  the  washing  operations. 

In  shallow  workings  as  in  creeks  and  gulches  the  ground  is  usually 
worked  toward  the -sluices,  which  is  accomplished  by  cutting  a  race 
up  through  the  middle  of  the  block,  and  setting  the  giant  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  ground  in  behind  the  block,  then  by  inclining  the  stream 
down  to  bed-rock,  either  side  can  be  broken  down  and  washed  to  the 
sluices  as  desired.  With  deep  deposits  this  method  is  not  applicable, 
as  it  is  practically  impossible  to  work  to  advantage  between  high 
banks.1 

Little  trouble  is  experienced  with  dumps  of  60  to  70  feet  in  height, 
but  those  of  less  height  require  much  attention  and  considerable 
water  to  spread  the  material ;  however,  spreading  is  materially  facili- 
tated by  the  use  of  Y  or  branch  sluices.  Often  extensive  bed-rock 
tunnels  have  been  driven  in  order  to  provide  sufficient  grade  for  the 
disposition  of  tailing  from  the  sluices.  A  change  in  grade  of  the 
washing  pit  or  channel  may  in  a  short  time  render  useless  such  expen- 
sive constructions.2 

Finally  at  the  end  of  a  run,  which  may  last  for  a  month  or  two,  the 
bed-rock  is  cleaned  by  piping  into  the  rock-cuts,  and  the  latter  into 
the  sluice.  Bed-rock  too  rough  and  full  of  crevices  and  seams  to  be 
cleaned  in  this  wise,  is  often  cleaned  by  hand. 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  84,  p.  204. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  91,  p.  Ill,  and  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines 
and  Minerals,  p.  25,  1899. 


374  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

After  water  has  run  through  the  sluice  for  some  time,  it  is  shut  off, 
the  lining  cleats  ripped  off  and  washed,  and  finally  the  riffles  are 
removed,  being  carefully  cleansed  and  laid  to  one  side  of  the  sluice. 
The  material  in  the  sluice  is  then  loosened  by  shovel,  and  is  worked 
down  the  sluice,  aided  by  a  slight  flow  of  water,  usually  about  two 
inches  in  depth.  The  mercury  and  amalgam  being  heavier,  move 
slower  than  the  sand  and  gravel,  and  can  readily  be  separated  from 
them,  and  collected  with  an  iron  scaper. 

Long  sluices,  usually  four  to  six  feet  wide,  and  four  and  one-half 
feet  deep  are  economical  gold  savers  while  short  ones  with  moder- 
ately high  grades  and  clayey  materials  may  cause  a  loss  of  10  to 
40  per  cent  of  the  gold.  The  following  are  common  causes  of  loss 
of  mercury,  which  may  amount  to  12 J  to  15  per  cent:  velocity  of 
current,  length  of  sluice  and  time  of  run,  temperature  of  water, 
character  of  material  washed  and  method  of  charging  mercury. 
Pipe  clay  and  leaky  flumes  are  claimed  to  be  the  greatest  sources  of 
loss  of  both  gold  and  mercury.  When  properly  operated  well 
devised  sluices  should  save  from  90  to  98  per  cent  of  the  gold,  and 
from  98  to  100  per  cent  of  the  coarse  gold.1 

The  occurrence  of  gold  in  sluices  is  given  as  follows:2 

First  recovery,  1st  15  boxes 73.5  per  cent. 

Second  recovery,  next  30  boxes 13.4     "       " 

Under -currents 11.5    "       " 

Recovery  below  under-currents      1.6    "       " 

A  general  clean  up  takes  place  only  once  or  twice  a  year,  when  the 
sluices  are  thoroughly  over-hauled  and  repaired  preparatory  to 
making  another  long  run. 

Hydraulic-mining  under  a  head  of  water  obtained  by  pumping  has 
been  successfully  accomplished  in  various  districts  as  in  the  Western 
states,  Alaska  and  in  the  Klondike  region.  However,  it  is  rather 
expensive  and  can  hardly  be  employed  except  with  rich  gravels.3 

The  three  conditions  formerly  considered  essential  to  the  operation 
of  an  hydraulic  mine,  namely;  rich  ground,  plenty  of  water  and 
ample  dumping  room  for  tailing,  are  not  now  considered  indispensable. 
With  scarcity  of  water  has  come  a  demand  for  economy  of  water  in 
such  work,  which  has  resulted  in  the  modification  of  former  methods 
and  the  adoption  of  power-driven  machines  and  appliances  whereby 
economics  may  be  effected  in  labor  and  other  attendant  expenses. 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  91,  p.  Ill,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  86  p.  244. 

1  Ibid.  Vol.  86,  p.  244. 

3  Eng.  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  76,  p.  809. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.         375 

Small  nozzles  or  tips  are  used  in  breaking  down  the  ground,  obstacles 
as  boulders  are  promptly  and  quickly  removed  and  separated  from 
the  finer  materials,  small  quantities  of  water  are  used  in  washing, 
short  sluices  of  little  grade  are  employed,  and  a  number  of  faces  are 
worked  simultaneously.  The  faces  are  carefully  prepared  in  order 
that  a  minimum  amount  of  water  need  be  used  and  is  used  only  so 
long  as  effective  work  can  be  done.  Such  a  method  can  be  used  to 
advantage  in  connection  with  hydraulic  elevators  when  dumping 
room  cannot  be  had.  It  does  away  with  long  and  expensive  rock- 
cuts  and  sluices  and  can  be  operated  at  moderate  expense.1 

The  deposits  of  frozen  gravel  in  Alaska  present  special  difficulties 
to  hydraulicing  operations.  A  further  obstacle  to  be  contended 
with  is  an  inadequate  water  supply.  Quite  extensive  hydraulicing 
operations  are,  however,  being  carried  on  in  the  Nome  Region,  where 
the  overburden  of  barren  ground  is  as  a  rule  thinner  than  in  the 
Klondike.  On  Anvil  Creek  the  overburden  is  only  two  or  three  feet 
thick,  below  which  are  from  three  to  six  feet  of  pay  gravel,  the  whole 
of  which  can  readily  be  run  through  the  sluices.  Placer  operations 
ranging  from  panning  to  hydraulicing  are  employed;  rocking,  small- 
scale  sluicing  and  the  use  of  dredgers  and  steam  shovels  are  common. 

No  great  difficulty  is  experienced  in  breaking  down  the  frozen 
ground  but  to  disintegrate  it  preparatory  to  entering  the  sluices, 
it  must  be  kept  under  water  sufficiently  long  to  thaw  out.2 

In  working  frozen  gravel  the  sun  is  depended  upon  to  thaw 
several  inches  of  the  surface  which  is  then  washed  off  by  the  giants. 
It  is  therefore  evident  that  in  a  mine  of  any  considerable  capacity, 
such  that  several  giants  can  be  kept  busy,  a  large  area  must  be 
operated  upon,  which  is  systematically  worked  from  one  end  to  the 
other  and  back  again.  However,  when  the  gravels  are  dry  frost 
troubles  but  little  and  thawing  by  solar  heat  is  unnecessary.3 

For  hydraulic  equipment  in  the  Seward  Peninsula  in  1905  the 
reader  is  referred  to  Bull.  284  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  p.  141. 

The  following  description  of  the  method  of  working  frozen  ground 
in  the  Yukon  placer  fields  is  taken  from  a  paper  by  L.  ]^.  Prindle,4 
occurring  in  Bull.  284  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey:  "  The  de- 
posits vary  from  a  few  feet  to  over  120  feet  in  thickness.  .  .  .  In  the 
Fairbanks  region  till  within  the  last  two  years  thawing  was  accom- 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  78,  p.  480. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  76,  p.  853. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  89,  p.  342. 
*  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  284,  pp.  120-122. 


376  GOLD   AND  SILVER. 

plished  by  the  crude  methods,  .  .  .  and  the  equipments  for  thawing 
by  steam,  which  has  been  found  so  effective,  in  the  Klondike  region, 
were  not  plentiful.  Since  then  extensive  steam  plants  have  been 
introduced,  capable  of  thawing  and  handling  daily,  large  quantities 
of  gravel. 

"The  process  in  general  includes  the  following  operations :  (1)  The 
sinking  of  a  shaft  to  bed  rock,  ranging  in  depth  from  20  to  120  or 
more  feet;  (2)  the  timbering  of  the  shaft  and  portion  of  the  drifts  near 
the  shaft;  (3)  the  opening  up  of  the  ground  by  drifts  which  are  run 
either  parallel  to  or  across  the  pay  streak  and  from  which  cross-cuts 
are  driven;  (4)  the  extraction  of  the  gravel  from  the  cross-cuts, 
beginning  at  the  farther  limits  of  the  drifts  and  working  toward 
the  shaft;  (5)  the  hoisting  of  the  pay  gravel  with  as  little  waste 
as  possible  to  the  surface,  and  (6)  the  recovery  of  the  gold  by 
ordinary  sluicing.  The  main  drift  is  usually  carried  to  a  maximum 
distance  of  about  200  feet  in  each  direction  from  the  shaft,  and  the 
ground  is  blocked  off  by  cross-cuts  having  a  variable  length  up  to 
about  100  feet.  Fortunately  but  little  timbering  is  generally 
required.  Where  the  ground  is  weak,  pillars  are  left  at  intervals 
of  about  25  feet  when  working  back  the  faces.  Ordinarily,  as 
mining  commences  at  the  extreme  limit  of  the  area  to  be  worked, 
the  ground  from  which  the  pay  dirt  has  been  removed  is  allowed  to 
settle  if  it  will.  Experience  has  shown  that  settling  is  generally  so 
gradual  that  the  work  can  be  carried  away  from  the  settling  ground 
with  sufficient  speed  to  avoid  trouble. 

"  The  steam-point  method  of  thawing  is  the  one  most  commonly, 
in  use.  The  steam  point  is  a  piece  of  one-half  or  three-eighths  inch 
hydraulic  pipe,  5  to  8  feet  or  more  in  length,  with  a  blunt,  hollow 
point  of  tool  steel  for  piercing  the  ground  and  a  solid  head  of  tool 
steel  or  machine  steel,  sufficiently  strong  to  withstand  the  impact 
of  a  mallet  or  sledge.  Steam  is  admitted  through  a  pipe  fitted 
laterally  in  a  small  aperture  near  the  head.  The  points  are  placed 
about  2J  feet  apart  and  from  a  dozen  to  twenty  or  more  are  used 
in  a  plant  pf  average  size.  The  power  needed  is  1  to  2  horsepower 
per  point  and  the  duty  of  a  point  is  3  to  4  or  more  cubic  yards  per 
day  of  ten  hours.  In  use  the  point  is  driven  in  gradually  as  the 
ground  becomes  thawed.  It  is  customary  in  most  cases  to  use 
either  hot  water  at  a  temperature  of  about  140  degrees  F.  or  a 
mixture  of  hot  water  and  steam  while  driving  the  points,  and  then 
to  complete  the  thaw  by  means  of  steam  alone,  since  by  employing 
hot  water  in  a  part  of  the  operation  the  atmosphere  of  the  mine 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.          377 

does  not  become  so  vitiated  through  the  condensation  of  the  steam 
and  the  conditions  for  working  are  consequently  better. 

"  Hot-water  hydraulicing  by  means  of  the  pulso meter  or  other 
steam  pump  has  been  found  very  successful  in  some  cases.  Pulso- 
meters  were  in  use  which  were  reported  to  do  the  work  of  20  points, 
and  as  by  this  method  a  jet  of  hot  water  is  thrown  forcefully  against 
the  frozen  face,  the  conditions  are  more  favorable  for  the  release  of 
the  gold  particles  from  adhesive  material  in  which  they  may  be 
embedded  than  by  the  use  of  points.  Pulsometers  are  generally 
suspended  in  a  sump  at  the  bottom  of  the  shaft  and  the  hot  water 
is  supplied  by  siphon  from  the  boiler.  Surplus  water  is  generally 
removed  by  centrifugal  pumps.  It  seems  probable  that  hot-water 
hydraulicing  will  meet  with  an  increasing  use. 

"  After  thawing,  the  gravel  is  removed  with  pick  and  shovel  and 
carried  by  wheelbarrows  to  the  shafts,  whence  it  is  hoisted  to  the 
surface  by  buckets  attached  generally  to  an  automatic  trolley.  In 
summer  it  is  conveyed  directly  to  the  sluice  boxes,  or,  when  the 
water  for  sluicing  is  available  for  only  part  of  the  shift,  to  a  hopper 
connected  with  the  set  of  boxes.  In  winter  the  gravel  is  conveyed 
to  a  dump  under  which  sets  of  boxes  have  been  arranged  and  later, 
in  the  spring,  it  is  passed  through  the  sluices.  Ground  which  stands 
well  without  timbering  is  worked  both  winter  and  summer,  but 
summer  work  is  cheaper.  Ground  having  a  tendency  to  cave  is 
often  left  for  winter  exploitation,  as  it  is  found  that  the  expense  of 
rehandling  in  the  spring  is  more  than  counterbalanced  by  the  greater 
facility  with  which  the  gravel  can  be  extracted." 

A  steam  shovel  plant  operating  in  the  Klondike  in  1901  illustrates 
the  versatility  of  the  placer  miner.  According  to  C.  W.  Purington,1 
"  The  plant  figured  used  125  miner's  inches  of  water,  led  by  a  ditch 
from  Bear  Creek;  the  capacity  was  said  to  be  500  cubic  yards  in  ten 
hours.  The  material  elevated  to  the  platform  at  the  upper  end  of 
the  trommel  was  dumped  into  a  hopper  feeding  the  trommel.  The 
water  was  led  into  the  lower  end  of  the  trommel,  and  fed  through 
a  perforated  pipe.  The  largest  holes  in  the  revolving  screen  were 
one  inch  in  diameter  and  all  oversize  passed  through  and  into  the 
hopper  below  the  lower  end,  whence  the  tailings  were  hoisted  in  a 
self-dumping  carrier,  on  a  cable,  a  horizontal  distance  of  200  feet, 
and  a  vertical  distance  of  60  feet.  The  fines  passed  over  80  square 
feet  of  riffle-tables,  floored  with  expanded  metal  and  cocoa  mat- 
ting, on  a  grade  of  twelve  inches  to  twelve  feet,  followed  by  sluices 
1  Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  11,  124  and  125,  1905. 


378  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

with  iron  Hungarian  riffles.  .  .  .  The  fines,  after  passing  out  of 
the  96  feet  of  sluice-boxes  following  the  tables  were  elevated  by 
a  steam  scraper  to  a  pile  200  feet  distant  and  15  feet  high.  The 
expense  of  installation  of  such  a  plant  will  be  not  less  than 
$5,000,  and  will  more  likely  be  $10,000  in  any  part  of  the  interior 
of  Alaska/' 

The  Dahlonega  method  of  hydraulicing  which  originated  in  the 
Dahlonega  district,  Georgia,  in  1868,  is  a  combination  mining  and 
milling  method  not  applied  to  the  working  of  gravels  but  to  the 
peculiar  decomposed  deposits  of  vein  and  country-rock  commonly 
met  with  in  the  Southern  states  and  known  as  saprolites.  The  fol- 
lowing graphic  description  occurs  in  Harper's  Magazine  for  Septem- 
ber, 1879.  "  What  a  natural  freshet  would  accomplish  by  accident 
is  precisely  what  the  miners  do  by  artifice.  They  dig  away  all  day 
at  the  loose  soil  and  easily  disintegrated  rock,  break  up  the  larger 
fragments  into  small  pieces  and  strew  everything,  good,  bad,  and 
indifferent,  in  a  careless  pile  on  the  floor  of  the  cut.  Then  at  sun- 
down they  gather  up  their  tools,  climb  out  of  the  diggings,  and  open 
the  gates  of  the  reservoir.  A  torrent  of  water  sweeps  through  the 
mine,  cleans  out  every  loose  rock  and  fragment  of  dust  and  hurls  it 
down  into  the  mill,  where  a  rack  catches  all  the  coarse  material  and 
lets  the  water  drain  through.  The  whole  product  of  the  days'  ex- 
cavating has  been  deposited  on  the  floor  of  the  mill,  one-half  mile 
away,  ready  to  be  shoveled  under  the  stamps,  which  chew  on  it  all 
night,  and  it  has  not  cost  a  cent  for  transportation."  To  be  more 
specific  the  material  is  sluiced  from  the  mine  to  the  stamp  mill  into  bins 
provided  with  perforated  bottoms,  which  stand  from  four  to  fi  ve  feet 
above  and  back  of  the  mortars.  Beneath  the  bins  are  settling  boxes, 
in  which  the  coarser  sands  settle  and  the  slimes  overflow.  While 
in  other  plants  the  material  is  flushed  back  of  the  stamps,  which 
space  is  arranged  as  a  large  bin  with  a  slat  screen  at  one  end,  the 
slats  being  spaced  one-half  inch  apart.  Again  the  material  may 
be  collected  in  V-shaped  storage-tanks  without  the  mill,  and  from 
which  it  is  flushed  to  the  mill  as  desired.  More  recent  practice 
consists  in  hydraulicing  the  material  broken  down  either  by  hand, 
by  blasts  or  by  giants,  through  ground-sluices  to  the  mill.  Often 
tunnels  and  sections  of  wooden-sluices,  provided  with  riffles,  are 
employed.  For  this  method  of  breaking  down  and  sluicing,  giants 
have  been  operated  under  heads  of  50  to  150  feet.1 

In  1903  the  Crown  Mountain  Mining  Company,  in  the  Dahlonega 
1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  pp.  742-745,  1895. 


MINING   GOLD   AND   SILVER   ORES  AND    GRAVELS.         379 

district,  hydrauliced  the  material  in  sluices  to  a  60-stamp  mill, 
situated  at  the  base  of  the  mountain.  The  coarser  ore  was  stamped 
while  the  finer  and  softer  portions  went  to  Huntington  mills.  About 
one-half  of  the  gold  was  caught  in  the  sluices  the  remainder  being 
saved  in  the  mill.1 

River-Mining.  —  River-mining  is  a  branch  of  placer- mining 
although  the  method  of  procedure  is  quite  different.  It  is  carried 
on  in  the  beds  and  channels  of  streams  both  large  and  small,  but  is 
not  confined  to  the  actual  channel  in  which  water  is  flowing;  it  is 
applicable  to  the  working  of  deep  bars  the  greater  part  of  which  lies 
below  the  water-level.  This  form  of  mining  is  not  confined  to  any 
particular  locality  or  country,  having  been  used  the  world  over  and 
not  only  for  the  collection  of  gold,  but  precious  stones  also.  How- 
ever, in  those  streams  where  the  banks  are  high  and  steep  and  where 
room  for  building  a  diverting  flume  is  lacking  as  well  as  space  for 
handling  the  gravels,  taken  from  the  bed  of  the  stream,  the  method 
is  not  applicable.  Probably  in  no  part  of  the  country  or  world, 
in  fact,  has  river-mining  been  carried  on  so  extensively  as  in  the  State 
of  California,  and  many  of  her  rivers,  such  as  the  American,  Yuba 
and  Feather,  have  yielded  enormous  sums  to  those  who  had  the 
means  and  enterprise  to  undertake  such  work. 

River-mining  is  pre-eminently  dry  season  work,  being  practicable 
only  when  the  streams  are  in  their  low- water  stages  and  resolves 
itself  into  a  problem  of  restraint  and  handling  large  volumes  of  water. 
The  mountain  streams  in  which  the  work  is  largely  confined  being 
fed  mainly  by  melting  snows  do  not  materially  lessen  in  volume 
until  June,  and  restraining  dams  cannot  be  built  until  July,  while 
in  November  the  streams  often  become  swollen  again.  However, 
the  season  varies  considerably  with  different  localities  but  may  be 
said  to  begin  with  the  receding  of  the  spring  floods  and  continues 
until  the  rise  of  water  with  the  beginning  of  the  fall  rains. 
Occasionally  the  early  fall  rains  do  not  affect  the  streams  to  such  an 
extent  as  to  seriously  interfere  with  or  destroy  the  mine  equipment  in 
the  river-bed,  while  with  a  period  of  low-water  following,  the  opera- 
tions may  be  prolonged  till  the  winter  storms  set  in.  It  is  evident 
then  that  the  season  is  an  uncertain  quantity  varying  not  only  from 
year  to  year  but  for  different  streams.  In  California  on  the  Klamath 
River  and  its  tributaries  an  eight  month  season  is  usual,  beginning 
with  the  middle  of  March  or  the  first  of  April  and  closing  about  the 
first  of  December.  On  the  Middle  Fork  of  the  American  River  the  sea- 
1  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  23,  p.  497,  1903. 


380  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

son  begins  with  the  first  of  May  and  ends  with  the  first  of  November, 
but  varies  from  early  in  October  to  late  in  December.  While 
on  the  Feather  River  the  season  is  even  shorter,  operations 
beginning  about  the  middle  of  May  and  closing  at  the  first  of 
November. 

River-mining  involves  the  construction  of  dams  and  the  extensive 
use  of  pumps  in  order  to  control  the  water  that  the  river-bed  may  be 
exposed  and  the  gold  collected.  From  the  nature  of  the  appliances 
then  and  their  location  in  the  river-bed  they  cannot  be  maintained 
from  season  to  season  but  must  be  taken  down  if  possible  on  the  occur- 
rence of  a  rise  of  water  and  assembled  again  for  each  season's  work. 
Furthermore,  it  is  not  infrequently  the  case  that  the  work  of  pre- 
paring a  plant  for  operation  leaves  only  a  few  days  for  actual  mining, 
before  a  sudden  rise  of  water  wrecks  or  entirely  sweeps  away  in  a  few 
hours  the  work  of  months. 

Operators  often  consider  themselves  fortunate  if  an  uninterrupted 
period  of  20  to  30  days  is  had,  but  an  output  of  $500  to  $5,000  per 
day  is  not  uncommon  and  usually  well  repays  the  labor  and  expense 
of  fitting  up. 

The  work  of  river-mining  may  for  convenience  of  consideration 
be  subdivided  as  follows: 

1.  The  use  of  temporary  wing-dams,  an  upper  and  lower,  built 
from  the  same  side  of  the  stream  and  connected  at  their  outer  ex- 
tremities by  means  of  another  dam  running  parallel  with  the  stream. 
The  enclosed  portion  of  the  river-bed  may  then  be  pumped  out  and 
mined.     The  obstruction  to  the  stream  effected   by  this  method  of 
procedure  is  so  comparatively  small  as  not  to  materially  raise  the 
level  of  the  stream. 

2.  A  section  of  a  stream-bed  may  be  exposed  by  building  two 
dams  across  the  channel  and  conducting  the  water  over  them  by 
means  of  a  large  flume  which  is  laid  as  near  the  low-water  level  of 
the  stream  as  is  practicable.     The  water-level  above  the  upper  dam 
is  by  this  method  seldom  raised  more  than  three  or  four  feet  above 
the  normal. 

3.  The  water  of  a  stream  may  be  diverted  into  a  flume  or  tunnel 
in  a  manner  similar  to  that  described  above,  by  the  use  of  one  dam 
only,  i.e.,  an  upper  dam,  which  may  or  may  not  be  permanent  in 
character.     The  water-level  is  then  raised  above  the  ordinary  high- 
water  line,  and  a  portion  of  the  bed  of  the  stream  below  the  dam 
is  rendered  dry. 

4.  River-mining  may  be  carried  on  by  means  of  shafts  with  their 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.          381 

accompaniment  of  hoisting  and  pumping  plants  situated  on  the  bank 
of  the  stream.  Drifts  are  run  along  bed-rock  under  the  channel. 
This  method  resembles  drift  rather  than  river-mining. 

5.  Mining  in  streams   by   means   of  elevators,  dredges,  vacuum 
pumps  and  similar  devices,  which  are  usually  installed  on  barges, 
being  self-contained;    all  work  is  done  beneath  the  surface  of  the 
water.     This  method  is  considered  under  the  heads  of  Dredging  and 
Hydraulic  Elevators. 

6.  Deep-bar  mining  by  shafts  and  drifts,  is   also  a  drift-mining 
method. 

7.  Deep-bar  mining  by  a  system  of  open-cut  work  in  which  power 
elevators  and  hydraulic  lifts  are  employed. 

Wing-dams  are  of  necessity  temporary  structures,  being  made  at 
a  cost  exceeding  but  little  that  of  the  labor  employed.  They  were 
used  almost  exclusively  on  the  Feather,  Yuba  and  American  rivers 
in  California,  in  1854.  A  riffle  is  usually  chosen  as  the  starting  point 
for  the  upper  dam,  two  parallel  walls  of  boulders  being  built  at  its 
upper  end.  These  walls  are  usually  about  six  feet  apart,  the  space 
between  being  filled  with  gravel  and  sand,  the  coarser  material 
occupying  a  position  next  the  walls.  After  extending  these  walls 
as  far  as  it  is  desired  to  work  the  stream-bed,  they  are  turned  down 
stream,  and  continued  to  the  lower  limit  of  the  ground  to  be  en- 
closed. They  are  finally  turned  on  to  another  riffle  if  possible,  and 
the  lower  dam  is  constructed,  making  connection  with  the  bank. 
The  mining  ground  is  then  completely  walled  in,  and  the  work  of 
freeing  the  enclosure  from  water  is  begun. 

Belt  pumps  working  through  wooden  column  pipes,  commonly 
known  as  Chinese  pumps,  are  usually  employed,  and  are  situated  at 
the  lowest  point  in  the  ground.  These  pumps  are  driven  by  current 
wheels,  placed  along  side  of  the  dam,  paralleling  the  stream.  Piles 
driven  in  the  bed  of  the  stream  support  the  bearings  of  the  wheel 
shaft,  being  protected  and  reinforced  by  large  boulders  piled  around 
them.  To  permit  the  wheels  to  be  kept  in  the  same  relative  position 
with  respect  to  the  water-level  the  bearings  or  pillow  blocks  are  placed 
in  vertically  grooved  supports,  which  are  adjusted  by  levers.  In  order 
to  more  effectively  control  the  current  of  the  stream  and  keep  it 
directed  against  the  wheel  another  wing-dam  may  be  built  extend- 
ing from  the  opposite  side  or  bank  of  the  river.  These  wheels  are 
made  as  cheaply  as  possible,  as  they  are  especially  liable  to  sustain 
damage  by  floods.  Aside  from  the  dams,  wheels  and  pumps,  the 
only  appliances  necessary  for  working  a  river  mine  are:  Picks, 


382  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

shovels,  wheelbarrows,  sluice-boxes  and  derricks.  The  derricks  may 
also  be  operated  by  water  wheels. 

As  the  washing  of  the. gravel  taken  from  the  river-bed  is  done  in 
the  pit  it  is  necessary  to  provide  water  for  the  operation,  but  the 
water  so  used  as  well  as  the  tailing  produced  must  not  be  discharged 
into  the  pit,  as  it  would  necessitate  a  second  handling.  Water  for 
washing  is  let  in  through  the  head  dam,  but  if  the  grade  is  not  suf- 
ficient for  the  discharge  of  the  tailing  over  the  tail  dam,  the  sluices 
must  be  raised  and  additional  water  provided  by  a  so-called  dip 
wheel  also  mounted  without  the  dam  and  driven  by  the  current. 
These  wheels  vary  from  20  to  26  feet  in  diameter  and  4  to  6  feet  in 
width. 

The  gold  almost  invariably  occurs  on  the  bed-rock  and  in  its  irregu- 
larities and  crevices,  although  the  overlying  gravels  may  contain 
gold  for  a  distance  of  a  few  inches  to  15  to  20  feet  above  bed-rock. 
Above  the  pay  gravel  there  usually  occurs  a  mass  of  boulders  and 
gravel  containing  little  or  no  gold.  The  boulders  are  removed  by 
derricks  while  the  gravel  and  sands  are  wheeled  out  by  wheelbarrows. 
When  pay  gravel  is  reached  it  is  taken  out  to  bed-rock  and  washed 
in  sluices,  the  bed-rock  also  receiving  careful  attention  being  washed 
and  creviced  with  spoons  and  knives. 

As  fast  as  the  bed-rock  is  cleared  it  is  utilized  as  a  storage  place 
for  boulders,  and  a  dump  for  the  overburden  taken  from  new  ground. 

As  a  rule  the  riffles  contain  the  highest  values  while  the  deep  holes 
are  usually  barren  of  gold,  the  crevices  in  the  bed-rock  being  often 
extremely  rich. 

The  work  of  river-mining  when  once  begun  is  rushed  forward 
both  night  and  day,  with  all  possible  haste,  owing  to  the  shortness  of 
the  season.  When  rising  water  threatens  the  operations  the  derricks 
are  first  secured,  following  which  the  pumps,  wheels,  etc. 

River-mining  by  fluming,  although  more  expensive  and  uncertain 
than  the  use  of  wing-dams,  is  applicable  to  more  extensive  opera- 
tions, but  must  of  necessity  be  confined  to  the  shorter  seasons  and 
smaller  streams,  while  wingdam-mining  may  be  employed  in 
streams  of  any  size,  and  is  an  inexpensive  and  rapid  operation. 
To  gain  time  the  construction  of  the  flume  is  begun  first  of  all,  and 
as  it  cannot  be  built  under  water,  operations  cannot  begin  until 
moderately  low-water  is  obtained.  The  flume  is  built  on  the  bank  of 
the  river,  often  right  in  the  water,  in  order  that  it  may  be  as  low  as 
possible.  The  dimensions  and  grade  must  vary  with  the  quantity 
of  water  to  be  handled.  However,  sufficient  grade  should  be  pro- 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.         383 

vided  for  to  give  enough  power  to  drive  current  wheels,  and  to  keep 
down  weight  in  flumes  by  reducing  height  of  water. 

As  soon  as  the  flume  is  completed,  work  upon  the  head  dam  is 
begun.  Various  forms  of  dams  are  built  depending  upon  the  char- 
acter of  the  materials  available,  and  the  permanency  of  the  struc- 
ture desired.  They  are  occasionally  built  in  sections  which  are 
floated  out  into  the  stream  and  sunk,  being  loaded  with  boulders. 
Finally  sand  and  gravel  is  dumped  above  the  dam  until  water  ceases 
to  flow.  A  tail  dam  may  not  be  necessary,  as  a  riffle  may  protect 
the  pit  from  being  filled  by  back-water.  As  the  gravel  is  mined  from 
under  the  line  of  the  flume  the  latter  is  supported  by  posts  which 
may  have  boulders  piled  around  them.1 


A  Yuba  River  Dam  and  Flume,  Grass  Valley,  California. 
(From  Mines  and  Minerals.) 

During  1852,  1853  and  1854  river-mining  yielded  a  large  part  of 
the  gold  mined  in  California,  during  which  time  all  of  the  large 
rivers  were  extensively  worked,  but  with  the  discovery  and  exploi- 
tation of  the  dead  river  gravels,  the  industry  began  a  steady  decline 
until  in  1857-58  such  work  practically  came  to  an  end,  owing  to  the 
filling  of  the  river  channels  with  tailing. 

Drift-Mining.  —  Felix  Chappellet  of  the  Mayflower  mine  is  believed 
to  have  been  the  first  to  demonstrate  by  development  work  the 
character  of  the  deep-lead  channel  gravels.  The  discovery  of  new 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  76,  pp.  312  and  313. 


384  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

and  workable  deposits  of  auriferous  gravels  gave  new  life  to  the 
gold  mining  industry,  which  was  seriously  feeling  the  effect  of  the 
debris  agitation.  The  cemented  portion  of  the  gravel  deposits 
had  been  generally  considered  as  the  bed-rock,  and  all  operations 
had  terminated  on  encountering  it.  Reasoning  that  slate  ought 
to  be  the  bed-rock  instead  of  the  cemented  gravel  Mr.  Chappellet 
decided  to  sink  a  shaft  through  the  latter,  and  by  a  combination 
of  shafts,  drifts  and  winzes  he  finally  reached  the  bottom  of  the 
channel,  thus  corroborating  his  theory  of  an  extinct  river  channel.1 

Other  deep  channels  buried  beneath  lava  and  various  volcanic 
materials  were  discovered,  and  the  first  attempt  at  mining  was  by 
shafts  sunk  through  the  volcanic  capping,  but  owing  to  the  presence 
of  water  in  considerable  quantities,  and  the  expense  entailed  in  its 
removal,  the  method  was  abandoned. 

When  possible  the  following  information  should  be  obtained  re- 
garding an  extinct  river  channel  in  which  it  is  proposed  to  inaugu- 
rate drift-mining  operations : 2 

1.  The  location  of  the  line  of  the  channel. 

2.  The  grade  of  the  channel  or  at  least  its  elevation  at  a  number 
of  points  some  distance  apart. 

3.  The  location  of  various  parts  of  the  channel  as  inlets,  outlets 
or  break-outs,  with  a  reasonable  certainty  as  to  which  is  which. 

4.  With  regard  to  the  workable  portion  of  the  channel,  the  pos- 
sible length  of  a  tunnel  necessary  to  develop  it,  with  its  elevation  with 
respect  to  the  channel,  should  be  ascertained. 

5.  If  no  outlet  or  inlet  can  be  discovered  the   nearest   point   of 
the  channel  to  the  surface  for  tunnel  or  shaft  opening    should  be 
determined. 

6.  Location  of    the  pay-lead  and  its  probable  extent  should  be 
made  in  order  to  ascertain  whether  the  channel  can  be  worked  with 
profit. 

The  driving  of  tunnels  or  drifts,  often  called  "  bed-rock " 
tunnels,  to  reach  and  develop  auriferous  deposits  occurring  in  chan- 
nels having  rocky  sides,  is  one  of  the  initial  operations  in  drift-min- 
ing. The  channel  sides  called  "  rim-rock "  consist  of  the  same 
material  as  the  bed-rock  or  floor  of  the  channel,  and  it  is  through 
the  rims  and  often  even  below  the  level  of  the  channels,  that  the 
tunnels  must  be  driven  in  order  to  properly  develop  the  contained 
deposits  of  gravel.  However,  before  driving  the  tunnel  it  is  con- 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  77,  p.  108. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  68  p.  18. 


MINING  GOLD   AND   SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.          385 

sidered  advisable  to  sink  one  or  more  shafts  to  bed-rock  in  order 
that  the  level  or  altitude  of  its  entrance  may  be  determined,  other- 
wise there  is  danger  of  its  being  too  high  or  too  low.  If  too  low  a 
connecting  passage  must  be  made  with  its  inner  extremity  and  the 
channel  above. 

There  are  two  general  classes  of  drift-mining  operations,  namely; 
first,  the  construction  of  a  bed-rock  tunnel  as  an  outlet  for  the 
channel  above  and  as  a  means  of  saving  the  gold  hydrauliced  from 
above,  sluices  being  placed  throughout  its  length;  and  second, 
actual  underground  mining  of  gravel  which  is  hauled  in  cars 
through  the  tunnel  and  milled  or  sluiced  in  a  plant  outside  the  mine 
proper. 

In  the  former  method  after  connection  is  made  between  the  channel 
and  tunnel,  which  may  be  an  inclined  or  vertical  shaft  (a  "  chimney  " 
in  the  first  instance  and  a  shaft  in  the  latter)  and  thence  to  the 
surface,  and  after  the  tunnel  has  been  provided  with  a  line  of 
sluice-boxes,  hydraulicing  may  begin  in  the  channel  above.  Often 
no  shaft  connecting  the  surface  with  the  opening  in  the  bed-rock  is 
employed,  the  material  in  the  channel  if  loose  running  through  the 
chimney  into  the  tunnel,  while  if  cemented  and  hard  it  may  be  broken 
down  by  blasting. 

Too  great  care  cannot  be  taken  to  ensure  against  mud  and  sand 
rushes  when  breaking  through  between  the  tunnel  and  channel. 
The  accumulations  of  water  and  gravel  in  the  basin-like  channels 
may  exist  under  great  pressure  and  may  by  lack  of  care  in  completing 
the  connection  fill  and  choke  up  the  tunnel  in  a  few  minutes  time. 
Test  holes  should  be  drill,  through  which  the  character  of  the  material 
may  be  ascertained  by  a  small  iron  rod.  The  presence  of  sand  and 
water  indicates  that  the  deepest  portion  of  the  channel  has  not  been 
reached,  and  that  danger  from  mud  and  sand  rushes  is  imminent. 

When  a  connection  to  the  surface  has  been  made,  by  whatever 
means  employed,  a  steady  stream  of  gravel  can  be  maintained  through 
the  sluices  in  the  tunnel  by  a  judicious  operation  of  the  giants  in  the 
pit  above.  However,  the  first  washing  often  consists  in  removing 
the  upper  sections  of  the  shaft-timbering  and  permitting  the  material 
to  cave  into  the  shaft,  taking  care  that  the  shaft  and  chimney  are  not 
choked.  This  process  is  continued  downward,  the  surrounding  gravels 
being  washed  down  in  successive  steps  in  order  that  caving  may 
not  result.  Little  or  no  water  under  pressure  should  be  employed 
in  the  opening  of  such  a  mine  and  in  fact  until  bed-rock  has  been 
reached,  a  free  and  uninterrupted  discharge  of  the  sluice-boxes  must 


386  GOLD   AND  SILVER. 

be  secured,  and  therefore,  no  irregularity  of  feeding  them  must  be 
allowed.  Space  should  be  left  beyond  the  sluice-boxes,  provided  the 
line  of  the  tunnel  is  to  be  extended.  Further,  a  means  of  escape 
should  be  provided  as  a  safeguard  against  any  possible  choking  of 
the  tunnel. 

Certain  portions  of  ancient  channel  deposits  may  be  so  situated 
that  they  can  be  operated  without  expensive  bed-rock  tunnels,  i.e., 
when  they  stand  above  the  rim-rock;  such  portions  when  worked 
separately  are  known  as  "  upper  "  workings,  and  through  their 
exploitation  the  expense  of  driving  the  tunnel,  by  means  of  which 
the  lower  portions  are  to  be  worked,  may  be  met.  Bench-working 
of  banks  especially  when  125  to  150  feet  high  is  resorted  to,  which  with 
removal  of  considerable  material  from  the  point  where  drift-mining 
operations  are  to  begin  at  a  later  date,  serves  a  three-fold  purpose : 

1.  Provides  means  for  subsequent  equipment. 

2.  Reduces  the  length  of  the  connecting  passages  between  surface 
and  tunnel. 

3.  Leaves  a  bench,  which  is  considered  essential  to  the  proper 
working  of  deep  gravel  deposits. 

A  slight  modification  of  the  above  described  method  is  occasionally 
made  when  considerable  depth  of  bed-rock  intervenes  between  the 
end  of  the  tunnel  and  the  bottom  of  the  channel.  This  consists  in 
cutting  the  lower  side  of  the  inclined  chimney  (when  used)  in  step- 
form  or  terraces.  The  height  of  the  respective  steps  should  vary  from 
above,  downward,  the  upper  having  the  greatest  height,  while  the 
lowest  one  has  a  height  of  two  to  three  feet.  The  following  figures  are 
given  for  a  chimney  of  about  100  feet  in  height:  First  step,  30  feet; 
second,  25  feet;  third,  20  feet;  fourth,  15  feet;  fifth,  7J  feet;  and  sixth, 
2J  feet. 

It  is  claimed  for  such  an  arrangement  that  the  harder  gravels  are 
more  readily  disintegrated  by  the  falls  to  which  they  are  subjected, 
and  further,  that  there  is  less  danger  of  blockades  in  the  chimney, 
and  consequently  in  the  tunnel. 

Branch-drifts  leading  to  any  part  of  the  channel  may  be  driven 
from  the  bed-rock  tunnel,  all  of  which  feed  into  the  main  sluice- 
boxes  in  the  tunnel.  Occasionally  drifts  are  run  into  the  gravel- 
banks  to  facilitate  the  handling  of  gravels,  but  are  of  course  ultimately 
washed  into,  and  their  mouths  closed  by  the  advancement  of  the 
mining  operations. 

The  face  of  the  bank  is  widened  as  rapidly  as  possible  in  order  that 
a  number  of  giants  can  be  employed.  The  subsequent  working  of 


MINING  GOLD  AND   SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.          387 

the  "  upper"  gravel  banks  does  not  differ  materially  from  that  of  ordi- 
nary hydraulic-mining,  and  but  for  occasional  difficulty  experienced 
in  obtaining  sufficient  head  of  water,  the  exploitation  of  the  higher, 
deep-leads  is  as  readily  accomplished  as  the  lower  stream  deposits.1 

As  an  illustration  of  the  extent  of  drift-mining  operations  the  Bald 
Mountain  mine  may  be  cited,  which  was  located  in  1864,  and  worked 
out  during  the  seventies.  As  many  as  250  tunnels  were  employed, 
varying  in  length  from  150  to  500  feet.  In  10  years  this  mine  is  said 
to  have  produced  $2,000,000.2 

Often  no  quicksilver  is  used  in  drift-mining,  otherwise  the  method 
employed  in  collecting  the  gold  in  the  sluices  is  similar  to  that  in 
common  use  in  hydraulic-mining.  A  set  of  blocks  has  a  life  of  about 
10  months,  during  which  time  they  are  reversed  for  greater  efficiency.3 

From  the  stand-point  of  cost  the  development  of  a  drift-mine  by 
vertical  shafts  is  advisable,  but  as  drainage  is  of  necessity  a  serious 
problem,  in  this  kind  of  mining,  and  as  it  is  practically  as  expensive 
to  haul  the  gravel  to  the  foot  of  the  hoisting  shaft  and  load  it  pre- 
paratory to  raising  to  the  surface  as  to  run  it  to  the  surface  through 
a  tunnel  without  change,  vertical  shafts  are  seldom  used.  Further, 
a  mine  operating  through  a  vertical  shaft  must  have  richer  gravel  than 
when  a  tunnel  is  employed.  However,  shafts  are  indispensable  for 
exploratory  work. 

When  the  quantity  of  water  encountered  is  small,  and  readily 
handled  by  hydraulic  jet-pumps,  or  ordinary  steam-pumps,  the  deep- 
leads  may  be  worked  by  inclined  shafts  or  slopes,  rather  than  vertical 
shafts,  which  was  the  usual  practice  in  Nevada  County,  California. 
However,  when  the  bed-rock  or  the  bottom  of  the  channel  is  reached, 
the  methods  employed  in  developing  the  mine  and  extracting  the  pay 
gravels,  varies  but  little  regardless  of  the  kind  of  opening  made.  The 
location,  grade  and  course  of  the  channel  having  been  determined,  a 
tunnel  is  driven  from  a  point  nearest  the  outlet  of  the  channel,  and 
after  entering  the  channel  is  continued  up  the  approximate  center  of 
the  same,  being  kept  as  close  to  the  bed-rock  as  the  grade  will  permit. 
When  driven  wholly  or  partially  within  the  gravel,  timbering  must  be 
resorted  to  besides  which  pillars  of  unmined  ground  are  left  on  either 
side  for  a  distance  of  30  feet  or  more.  These  pillars  of  gravel  are 
ultimately  robbed  when  the  bulk  of  the  gravel  has  been  extracted. 
When  the  gravel  is  difficult  to  support,  it  is  customary  to  run  a  bed- 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  19,  p.  181. 

3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  p.  382,  1899. 

8  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  29,  p.  312. 


388  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

rock  tunnel  as  previously  described,  the  development  of  the  gravel 
being  accomplished  through  inclined  chutes  or  chimneys,  extending 
upwards  from  the  tunnel.  Obviously  it  is  better  to  have  the  tunnel 
too  low  than  too  high,  and  therefore  its  entrance  must  be  considerably 
below  the  bed  of  the  channel  as  previously  ascertained.  The  dimen- 
sions of  the  main  or  bed-rock  tunnels  are  6J  feet  high,  and  5^  feet 
wide  untimbered, while  the  largest  are  7x9  feet,  narrowing  somewhat 
above. 

The  grade  of  such  tunnels  varies  from  a  quarter  to  half  an  inch  to 
16  feet  in  length,  and  thence  up  to  three  and  four  inches  for  the  same 
length. 

When  the  tunnel  has  entered  pay-ground,  cross-drifts  are  run, 
extending  from  rim  to  rim  of  the  channel,  the  driving  of  the  tunnel 
proceeding  in  the  meanwhile.  The  distance  between  the  cross-drifts 
is  usually  60  feet,  which  is  considered  an  economical  limit  for  length 
of  breast  to  accommodate  two  miners  and  for  handling  material, 
laying  tracks  and  moving  loading  platforms. 

After  connecting  the  ends  of  the  cross-drifts  the  actual  work  of 
removing  the  gravel  is  begun  on  the  rectangular  pillars  thus  formed. 
Often  gangways  are  run  parallel  with  the  tunnel,  still  further  sub- 
dividing the  ground  and  increasing  the  points  of  attack.  The  miner 
may  work  from  a  cross-drift  to  the  center  and  back  again,  or  from 
gangway  to  gangway,  which  method  is  employed  depending  on  con- 
dition of  deposit.  The  gravel  is  broken  down  and  separated  from 
the  enclosed  boulders,  the  pay  gravel  being  thrown  on  loading  plat- 
forms, from  which  it  is  shoveled  into  cars  by  the  car  man,  who  still 
further  sorts  out  the  cobble  stones  and  takes  such  material  only  as 
will  probably  readily  pass  the  grizzly  employed. 

The  gravel  is  often  worked  out  for  considerable  height,  as  five  or  six 
feet,  which  is  especially  the  case  when  the  roof  is  self-supporting^  or 
when  the  boulders  usually  encountered  next  to  the  bed-rock  are  piled 
into  the  excavations  formed  by  the  removal  of  gravel.  Systematic 
exploitation  of  such  deposits  is  absolutely  essential  to  their  complete 
and  economical  working. 

Hammers  and  hand  drills  were  first  employed  in  preparing  holes 
for  blasting  down  gravels,  but  were  abandoned  owing  to  the  fact  that 
many  of  the  holes  so  started,  were  lost  by  encountering  boulders. 
The  "  gopher  "  bar  was  next  tried  and  was  largely  used.  By  its  use 
a  hole  could  be  turned  slightly  thus  giving  a  means  of  determining  the 
size  of  a  boulder,  after  which  a  drill  could  be  used  to  drill  a  hole 
through,  or  past  the  obstruction  according  to  its  size. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.          389 

When  considerable  gold  is  found  to  occur  in  the  bed-rock,  large 
sharp  augers  are  often  used  to  form  holes,  more  rapid  progress  being 
possible  by  them  than  other  means.  Powder  and  dynamite  are 
employed  to  break  down  the  gravel  and  loosen  the  bed-rock. 

The  greater  part  of  the  gold  is  found  on  bed-rock,  although  in  some 
localities  it  occurs  mainly  in  the  gravels  above.  At  the  Red  Point 
mine,  Forrest  Hill  Divide,  the  richest  portion  was  in  a  layer  of  gravel 
from  6  to  12  inches  above  bed-rock;  however,  the  bed-rock  at  this 
point  was  hard  and  smooth,  and  the  channel  fairly  straight. 

Occasionally  the  channel  is  faulted,  thus  complicating  the  methods 
usually  employed  in  mining  the  gravels.  This  was  the  case  at  the 
Magalia  mine,  which  underlies  the  Magalia  ridge,  between  big  Butte 
and  Little  Butte  creeks,  California,  where  underground  inclines  and 
hoists  were  employed  in  handling  the  gravels.  Here,  too,  a  portion 
of  the  channel  was  worked  by  a  tunnel  on  bed-rock,  with  cross-drifts 
turned  off  from  it,  but  on  encountering  a  fault  the  tunnel  was  con- 
tinued on  the  same  level  as  before,  and  the  channel  above  was  worked 
by  chutes  or  raises  from  the  tunnel,  being  connected  by  a  bed-rock 
gangway  in  the  channel.  The  raises  were  double,  containing 
a  manway  and  gravel  chute.  They  were  driven  at  an  angle  of 
75  degrees  and  securely  timbered  with  square-sets.  This  mine  was 
opened  by  vertical  shafts,  the  depth  of  the  main  one  being  510  feet. 

The  gravel  mined  was  loaded  into  cars  and  hauled  by  mules  to  the 
surface  and  thence  to  the  mill  in  trains  of  12  to  25  cars.1 

The  following  tabulation  of  data  regarding  drift-mining  operations 
at  Dogtown,  Calaveras  County,  California,  is  interesting  in  this 
connection. 2 

Dredging.  The  exhaustion  of  the  richer  placers  was  directly 
responsible  for  the  introduction  of  dredging  and  the  consequent 
rapid  advance  made  in  that  industry  in  a  comparatively  short  time. 
The  assembling  of  a  dredger  and  its  subsequent  operations  correspond 
to  the  development  of  a  mine  and  the  building  of  a  mill,  and  their 
successive  operation,  i.e.,  a  dredging  outfit  is  a  mining  and  milling 
institution  all  in  one. 

Dredgers  can  be  operated  successfully  in  rivers,  with  channels 
of  varying  grade,  in  shallow  water,  and  in  valleys  where  the 

1  School  of  Mines  Quarterly,  Vol.  8,  pp.  213-218;  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  86, 
p.  7;  Ibid.,  Vol.  77,  p.  108;  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  p.  276, 
1899;  Ibid.,  p.  382;  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  68,  p.  165,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  78,  p.  373. 

J  Mining  Commissioners  Report,  1872,  p.  72,  and  School  of  Mines  Quarterly, 
Vol.  8,  p.  298. 


390 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


0 

s 


3s 

(O 


-2  3 

-c         cr 

O>  g_, 


"13 

.C 


B   2    ° 

Jl>       10 


S         .      £        o 

sisl  alii 


:2^  „,-    -§ 

|lllf 
r.-0*^ 


LI   s1 


sfiwg 


H 

"g  C  S^          r-i 

gg'gesSjw          H 

".•reJi 

—         (D'C-'^S-'^ 

S-gg^g^'E 
•sSfto-S'SS 


pISP^1 

>^-<  "t» , 


SjLiI^V:!  ^i^lll  ^   B111PolP 
*&&%*  1  SH3|1  ,:  •s^s^lrfsefl 


E£8£ul 


MINING   GOLD   AND   SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.  391 

auriferous  deposits  lie  at  some  distance  from  any  considerable  body 
of  water  or  stream.  Roughly  speaking,  dredging  operations 
may,  according  to  the  location,  be  divided  into  river  and  interior 
work. 

Of  these  two  methods  practically  all  advantages  favor  the  latter. 
The  advantage  of  making  and  controlling  the  water-level  is  consider- 
able; further,  the  operations  are  entirely  independent  of  floods, 
which  are  not  always  dangerous  but  interfere  with  the  work. 

The  greater  part  of  the  Western  states  are  well  adapted  to 
dredging  owing  to  a  plentiful  water  supply,  and  although  many  of 
the  gravel  deposits  have  been  worked  over  by  the  earlier  miners 
operating  with  rockers,  ground-sluices  and  hydraulicing,  yet  either 
owing  to  hasty  and  inefficient  work  done  or  to  the  replenishing  of 
previously  exhausted  ground,  it  is  now  found  possible  to  rework 
them  profitably  by  dredging.  Other  deposits  not  worked  by  the 
pioneers,  owing  to  the  light  grades  and  presence  of  boulders,  are 
now  available  for  the  dredgers  and  are  yielding  large  returns. 

Too  much  was  expected  of  dredging  during  the  first  few  years 
of  its  application  which  resulted  somewhat  disastrously  to  its  normal 
and  healthy  growth.  There  was  too  much  generalization  and  too 
little  experimentation;  too  little  knowledge  of  actual  conditions; 
too  little  attention  paid  to  details;  too  little  preliminary  testing  of 
deposits,  and  too  much  haste  in  entering  into  investments. 

Gold  dredging  is  largely  a  mechanical  problem  as  is  hydraulic- 
mining,  but  judging  from  the  kinds  of  machines  first  used  and  the 
character  of  the  ground  operated  upon  it  would  hardly  seem  that  it 
was  realized.  Fully  90  per  cent  of  the  early  attempts  at  dredging 
were  deplorable  failures,  the  causes  of  which  were;  incompetency; 
dishonest  methods;  reckless  business  management;  and  careless 
speculative  investment.1 

The  following  conditions  should  obtain  in  a  property  suited  to 
gold-dredging  operations:2  paying  values  in  gravels;  moderately 
soft  bed-rock  which  can  be  readily  cut  and  handled  by  buckets; 
moderate  depth  to  bed-rock  should  not  exceed  60  feet  below 
water-level;  easy  digging  ground;  plenty  of  fuel  at  moderate  cost  or 
proximity  to  electrical  power  plant;  good  water  supply;  long  working 
season;  a  favorable  topography;  transportation  facilities;  and 
reasonable  cost  of  plant  and  general  equipment.  Although  the 
first  condition  is  paramount  in  importance  still  it  is  not  the  controlling 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  80,  p.  94. 
3  Ibid.,  Vol.  90,  p.  265. 


392  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

factor  as  conditions  resulting  from  the  failure  of  any  of  those  named 
may  prove  prohibitive. 

Supplementary  to  the  above  the  following  statements  may  be 
made:  Placer  ground  well  suited  to  dredging,  or  what  may  be  called 
ideal  ground,  may  be  said  to  fulfill  the  following  conditions:  1st, 
depth  of  deposit  not  to  exceed  25  feet  and  overlying  a  soft  bed-rock; 
2nd,  a  supply  of  flowing  water  equal  to  at  least  20  miner's  inches; 
3rd,  the  absence  of  timber  or  brush  on  the  ground  to  be  operated 
on;  4th,  not  over  5  per  cent  of  boulders  in  gravel,  the  largest  not 
weighing  over  400  pounds;  5th,  gold-content  averaging  25  cents  or 
more  per  cubic  yard,  being  fairly  coarse  and  evenly  distributed 
from  top  to  bottom  of  the  deposit;  and  6th,  cheap  fuel  or  electrical 
power.1 

The  presence  of  cemented  gravel  and  clay  in  considerable  quantities 
may  reduce  both  output  and  profit,  and  has  often  necessitated 
radical  changes  in  operation  and  management. 

Any  gravel  that  can  be  broken  by  pick  can  be  dug  with  a  dredger 
with  the  ocasional  use  of  powder;  however,  if  it  is  so  hard  as  to  require 
regular  and  systematic  blasting,  the  cost  per  cubic  yard  will  be 
materially  increased.  The  presence  of  clay  in  quantities  interferes 
with  the  operation  of  the  dredger  in  that  the  gravel  is  held  in  the 
buckets  and  much  of  it  is  carried  back,  thus  reducing  the  capacity, 
besides  when  introduced  into  the  sluices,  it  entails  a  loss  by  carrying 
off  fine  gold  and  amalgam.  Frozen  gravel  cannot  be  worked, 
consequently  the  season  is  considerably  shortened  in  certain 
localities,  as  in  Montana,  Alaska,  etc.  Very  large  boulders  cannot 
be  handled  by  dredgers,  hence  in  not  being  able  to  handle  and 
dispose  of  them  much  gravel  may  be  left  around  and  underneath 
them.  With  bed-rock  that  is  hard  and  irregular  or  full  of  crevices 
the  gold  occurring  in  the  crevices  and  hollows  is  lost.  The  bed-rock 
must  be  level  enough  to  permit  the  movement  of  the  dredger  over  the 
whole  ground;  further,  the  surface  of  the  gravel  bank  should  be 
moderately  level  in  order  that  the  head  lines  may  be  used  to 
advantage.2 

Swiftly  flowing  streams,  especially  when  subject  to  floods,  in 
which  there  is  considerable  depth  of  gravel  intermixed  with  boulders 
and  interstratified  with  mud,  are  considered  unfavorable  to 
dredging. 

Testing  of  a  dredging  property  can  be  done  by  shafts  or  pits  in 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  83,  p.  183. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  91,  p.  179. 


MINING  GOLD  AND   SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.  393 

shallow  deposits  of  five  to  ten  feet  deep.  However,  drilling  is 
preferred,  besides  being  cheaper  and  quicker.  The  size  of  drills 
employed  vary  from  3  to  18  inches  in  diameter.  By  this  means  the 
probable  depth  of  cut  and  approximate  value  of  the  ground  can  be 
ascertained.1 

In  dredging  as  in  other  lines  of  work,  large  scale  operations  are 
more  conducive  to  economy  than  are  small  scale  individual  efforts, 
which  is  especially  true  when  low-grade  deposits  are  worked.  The 
choice  of  a  dredger  is  affected  by  both  the  first  cost  and  its  capacity, 
there  being  a  certain  ratio  existing  between  the  two.  Other  condi- 
tions being  equal,  one  dredger  of  4000  cubic  yards  capacity  costs  less 
than  two  of  2000  cubic  feet  each,  besides  which  the  operating 
expense  per  cubic  yard  would  be  less  in  the  former  than  the  latter 
case.2 

A  gold  dredger  consists  of  a  boat  or  scow  equipped  with  appliances 
for  handling  the  boat,  digging  and  elevating  the  material  in  front  or 
below  it,  disintegrating  and  washing  it,  collecting  the  gold  contained 
in  it,  and  finally  discharging  the  waste  or  tailing  to  the  rear  of  the 
boat  in  such  a  manner  as  not  to  interfere  with  the  subsequent  move- 
ment. 

There  are  three  forms  of  dredging  machines  commonly  known  as 
dredgers:  first,  the  suction  dredger;  second,  the  dipper  dredger;  and 
third,  the  endless  chain  bucket  form.  As  the  first  dredgers  used  in 
general  work  as  deepening  harbors,  rivers,  and  canals,  were  of  the  suc- 
tion type,  so  the  first  mining  dredgers  were  constructed  along  the  same 
lines.  They  do  not  work  well,  however,  and  have  a  small  field  of  appli- 
cation, even  at  the  present  time,  although  they  are  occasionally  used 
successfully.  Suction  dredgers  work  satisfactorily  where  there  is  plenty 
of  water,  and  a  small  percentage  of  boulders  of  moderate  size,  say 
three  or  four  inches  in  diameter.  They  have  proven  suitable  for  work- 
ing the  gravels  on  the  Snake  River,  where  boulders  are  notably  lack- 
ing, but  have  proven  failures,  when  operated  on  the  Klamath  and 
Rogue  rivers  of  California.  In  general  they  may  be  said  to  be  suitable 
for  those  deposits  laid  down  in  comparatively  quiet  water,  but  not 
for  mountain  stream  deposits.  The  character  of  the  bed  affects  the 
workihg  of  a  suction  dredger,  the  smoother  the  better  —  micaceous 
granite  bed-rock  can  be  cleaned  fairly  well,  but  slate,  serpentine, 
porphyry  or  feldspathic  granite  beds  present  conditions  unfavorable 
to  the  employment  of  the  suction  type  of  dredger. 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  80,  p.  94. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  83,  p.  183. 


394  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Shovel  dredgers  are  not  applicable  to  deep  deposits,  and  not  being 
tightly  closed,  much  gold  is  lost  by  leakage.  Further,  they  cannot 
clean  bed-rock  to  advantage,  and  by  agitation  in  taking  loads,  dis- 
turb and  scatter  the  gold  in  the  gravel,  thus  causing  a  loss.  On  the 
other  hand  they  take  large  loads  and  elevate  the  material  to  a  height 
sufficient  to  permit  its  being  washed  to  advantage. 

The  objection  to  shovel  and  clam-shell  dredgers,  namely,  that  gold 
is  lost,  does  not  hold,  when  clayey  and  cemented  gravels  are  worked. 

In  cleaning  bed-rock,  especially  if  hard  and  uneven,  the  relatively 
narrow,  endless  chain  bucket  dredger  can  operate  to  greater  advan- 
tage than  the  wide-mouthed  shovel  form.  Again  the  bucket  dredger 
can  work  to  considerably  greater  depth  than  a  shovel  dredger,  that, 
too,  both  above  and  below  water-level.  Another  consideration  is 
the  continuous  feed,  which  is  especially  important  when  close  gold 
saving  is  attempted. 

The  endless  chain  type  of  dredger  (large  size)  can  handle  stones  of 
considerable  size,  as  three  feet  in  length  by  18  inches  in  width  and 
one  foot  thick.1 

The  speed  of  the  line  of  buckets  is  from  42  to  52  feet  per  minute, 
the  rate  of  cutting,  and  therefore,  the  capacity  varies  with  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  buckets  on  the  chain;  if  there  is  a  bucket  on  each  link, 
which  is  called  the  "  closed-chain,"  the  capacity  will  be  larger  than 
with  the  "  open-chain  "  arrangement,  i.e.,  where  the  buckets  are 
placed  on  every  other  link.  The  latter  arrangement  has  the  advan- 
tage over  the  former  that  larger  boulders  can  be  picked  up  and  carried. 
The  shape  of  the  buckets  is  also  important,  and  should  be  so  arranged 
as  not  to  return  any  material  to  the  pit,  but  discharge  it  freely.  To 
accomplish  this  the  bucket  hood  is  rounded  somewhat. 

The  shape  of  the  tumblers  or  polygonal  wheels,  supporting  the 
chain  at  both  ends,  especially  the  upper  of  the  bucket  ladder,  should 
for  quick  and  efficient  dumping  be  as  nearly  square  as  possible,  i.e., 
should  be  few-sided.  The  result  is  a  sharp  blow  as  each  bucket  seats 
itself  on  the  tumbler,  which  blow  decreases  in  force  with  the  decrease 
in  number  of  sides  of  the  tumbler.  However,  it  is  seldom  that  more 
than  six  sides  are  given  to  the  tumblers,  and  five  sides  are  common.2 

There  is  an  art  in  the  operation  of  a  dredger  or  "  winching,"  which 
is  acquired  only  through  considerable  application  and  experience 
with  various  kinds  and  conditions  of  ground.  In  ground  that  caves 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  pp.  88,  94,  1899 ;  Min.  and 
Sci.  Press,  Vol.  80,  p.  120,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  75,  p.  456. 
3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  90,  p.  232. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.         395 

well  the  winchman  keeps  the  ladder  in  constant  action,  always  low 
enough  and  sufficiently  buried  to  ensure  taking  a  full  load,  and  not  so 
deeply  buried  as  to  make  the  buckets  drag.  As  soon  as  he  sees  or 
feels  the  bank  caving,  the  ladder  is  raised,  thus  keeping  the  buckets 
free,  and  preventing  undue  wear  and  loss  of  power  —  a  full  bucket  is 
all  that  is  desired,  more  is  impossible.  In  hard  ground  the  work  of 
the  operator  consists  in  getting  a  load  rather  than  in  preventing  the 
taking  of  too  large  a  load  as  in  soft  ground.  If  the  bank  cannot  be 
worked  from  the  top,  the  dredger  should  be  backed  off  and  the  bank 
approached  from  the  bottom  along  bed-rock.  By  such  a  method 
of  procedure,  the  bank  may  be  undermined  and  caused  to  cave,  thus 
giving  a  "  run  "  of  buckets.  In  hard  and  clayey  ground,  therefore, 
the  work  should  be  confined  largely  to  or  near  bed-rock,  and  then 
working  upward  as  occasion  permits.  In  fact  it  is  claimed  tha't  all 
ground  can  be  worked  to  advantage  from  the  bottom  for  the  reason 
that  following  the  digging  of  a  certain  quantity  a  much  larger  quan- 
tity will  be  obtained  by  caving,  making  easy  digging,  with  minimum 
expenditure  of  power  and  minimum  wear.  Further,  the  delivery  of 
material  elevated  is  attended  with  some  inconvenience  if  the  bucket 
ladder  is  too  flat,  as  when  digging  at  the  upper  part  of  the  bank,  or 
the  working  of  shallow  deposits.  Therefore,  to  keep  the  buckets 
close  to  the  point  of  delivery,  and  thus  prevent  loss,  dig  as  deep  as 
possible  or  convenient. 

A  bank  can  also  be  worked  to  advantage  by  beginning  some  six  to 
ten  feet  above  bed-rock,  and  working  downward;  when  bed-rock  is 
reached,  the  ladder  is  raised,  and  the  dredger  moved  over  four  feet  or 
more  and  bed-rock  is  worked  to  again.  This  is  repeated  until  20  ta 
30  feet  of  face  has  been  worked  over,  but  there  will  remain  a  series  of 
small  mounds  on  the  bed-rock,  which  are  removed,  by  keeping  the 
buckets  on  the  bed-rock  and  side-feeding  back  and  forth,  thus  thor- 
oughly cleaning  the  bottom.  The  whole  face  may  be  worked  before 
an  attempt  is  made  to  clean  up  the  bed-rock,  but  there  is  probably 
greater  danger  of  missing  ground,  if  cleaning  up  is  not  done  as  the 
work  progresses.1 

The  bank  can  be  worked  either  parallel  with  the  face  or  at  right 
angles  to  it,  which  method  is  employed  depends  largely  on  the  condi- 
tion of  the  gravel  and  the  disposition  of  the  tailing. 

Cemented  gravel  cannot  be  worked  to  advantage  with  dredgers, 
but  the  so-called  "  tight  "  gravel  can  be  readily  handled  especially 
with  a  little  preparation.  The  latter  may  consist  of  a  solid  mass  of 
1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  83,  p.  36. 


396  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

gravel;  cobbles  and  sand,  filling  the  voids  of  the  coarser  materials. 
Such  material  is  extremely  difficult  to  dig  causing  frequent  breakages, 
and  as  repairs  are  expensive,  the  capacity  and  profit  are  materially 
reduced.  In  certain  cases  the  capacity  of  a  dredger  has  been  reduced 
fully  one-fourth,  many  of  the  buckets  running  empty,  while  shut- 
downs often  amount  to  one-half  of  the  time.  Blasting  can  be  em- 
ployed to  good  effect  in  such  ground,  and  often  puts  it  in  good  shape 
for  handling  by  dredger.  In  one  particular  case  a  6-inch  churn  drill 
was  used,  holes jDeing  drilled  to  bed-rock.  The  first  row  of  holes  were 
20  feet  back  from  the  face  of  the  bank,  while  the  remainder  varied 
from  50  to  100  feet  from  the  existing  bank  faces.  These  holes  were 
staggered,  so  as  to  distribute  the  effect  of  the  explosions.  Charges  of 
30  pounds  of  80  per  cent  dynamite  proved  sufficient  for  the  work, 
and  were  put  up  in  cans  three  feet  long  by  four  and  one-half  inches  in 
diameter.  Charges  were  fired  by  electricity.  As  the  holes  caved, 
the  casing  could  not  be  removed  before  placing  the  charge,  but  was 
first  raised  about  four  feet,  and  after  the  charge  was  placed,  wholly 
withdrawn.  The  holes  were  finally  filled  with  sand  for  tamping. 
The  resulting  explosion  did  not  break  down  the  bank,  but  thor- 
oughly loosened  the  cobbles,  and  permitted  the  buckets  to  take  full 
loads.1 

The  handling  of  the  dredger  is  accomplished  in  two  ways,  namely, 
by  the  use  of  lines  and  spuds,  and  lines  alone.  In  the  former  case  there 
are  two  spuds,  i.e.,  long  vertical  members  capable  of  being  raised 
and  lowered,  and  in  reality  forming  feet  for  the  boat,  being  placed  at 
the  stern  of  the  boat.  These  spuds  may  be  wood  or  steel,  often  one 
of  each,  the  wooden  one  being  used  when  the  steel  spud  is  raised  in 
the  process  of  "  walking  "  the  boat  ahead.  Two  steel  lines  are  pro- 
vided at  the  forward  end  of  the  boat,  which  are  fastened  to  the  bank, 
and  by  means  of  them  the  boat  is  moved  from  right  to  left,  being 
swung  in  an  arc  about  the  spuds  at  the  stern.  In  the  latter  case  the 
spuds  are  entirely  replaced  by  lines  of  which  there  are  five  —  two  in 
front  and  two  in  the  rear,  at  the  corners,  and  one  directly  head-on 
connecting  the  front  of  the  boat  with  the  bank.  This  is  called  the 
"  guy  "  method,  and  for  light  and  soft  ground  is  often  preferred  to  the 
spud  and  line  method.  At  Oroville,  California,  both  methods  axe 
employed.  In  general  it  may  be  said  that  with  level  surfaces  and  soft 
and  shallow  ground,  lines  are  preferred,  while  with  uneven  surfaces, 
hard  and  deep-lying  gravels,  the  spud  method  is  preferable.  Fur- 
ther, bed-rock  digging  is  advisable  with  guy  lines,  while  high  banks 
.  l  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  78,  p.  9,  1904. 


MINING  GOLD   AND   SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.  397 

to  be  worked  in  terraces  practically  require  spuds.  In  working  deep- 
ground  in  terraces  from  the  top  down  or  the  bottom  up,  it  is  claimed 
that  there  is  less  danger  of  injury  to  the  bucket  line  and  cleaner  work 
done  if  spuds  are  used.  However,  with  lines  a  dredger  can  be  handled 
more  readily,  and  moved  quicker  than  with  spuds,  so  that  under 
similar  conditions  of  deep-ground  working  heavy  caves  can  be  avoided. 
It  is  also  claimed  that  by  means  of  the  head-line  tailing  can  be  dis- 
posed of  to  greater  advantage,  and  more  evenly  and  that  the  sand 
pump  is  unnecessary.1  There  have  been  failures  of  both  spuds  and 
lines,  but  it  is  probable  in  working  hard  ground,  that  spuds  hold  the 
dredger  to  its  work  better  than  do  lines,  there  being  more  resilience  or 
give  in  the  lines,  which,  however,  relieves  the  buckets  from  much 
unnecessary  strain. 

Shovel  dredgers  are  of  necessity  operated  by  spuds  owing  to  ever 
changing  center  of  mass,  and  must  sacrifice  quickness  of  movement 
to  stability. 

In  the  interior  work  where  the  dredger  is  to  operate  in  an  artificial 
excavation  or  in  an  artificial  body  of  water  there  are  two  methods 
of  procedure.  When  some  distance  from  a  stream  the  dredger  is 
assembled  in  a  slight  excavation  made  sufficiently  large  to  float  the 
scow  or  boat.  Water  is  pumped  in  or  if  possible,  run  through  a 
ditch  from  some  source  of  water  supply.  The  excavation  is  then 
enlarged  by  operating  the  dredger,  the  tailing  being  conducted  clear 
of  the  excavation  by  a  long  sluice-way.  This  process  continues 
until  the  pit  has  been  extended  to  or  nearly  to  bed-rock,  which  is 
cleaned  and  as  work  is  continued  serves  as  dumping  ground  for  the 
boulders  and  tailing.  The  method  employed  varies  considerably 
with  kind  of  dredger  and  manner  of  handling  the  same,  but  follow- 
ing the  floating  of  the  dredger  and  selection  of  a  proper  place  for 
the  disposal  of  the  tailing  there  is  little  difference  between  it  and 
ordinary  river-working. 

Interior  work  may  be  carried  on  in  a  valley  which  can  be  flooded 
by  the  construction  of  a  dam  across  the  stream  traversing  it.  The 
dredger  is  assembled  at  the  same  time  that  the  dam  is  being  built, 
and  when  all  has  been  made  ready  the  dam  is  closed.  Ultimately 
the  dredger  will  float  and  begin  operations,  having  the  advantages 
of  quiet  water,  and  a  means  of  controlling  the  water-level,  and  con- 
sequently the  height  of  the  dredger  above  the  surface  of  the  gravel 
and  the  bed-rock. 

Tailing  banks  formed  by  suction  and  dipper  or  shovel  dredgers 
1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  91,  p.  160. 


398  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

occupy  more  space  than  with  the  bucket  type  owing  to  the  manner 
in  which  they  are  placed  in  the  bank.  When  the  coarse  material 
and  boulders  are  put  upon  the  bottom  of  the  pit,  the  fine  material 
being  deposited  later  there  is  a  tendency  for  a  more  or  less  thorough 
mixing  during  settlement;  but  when  the  process  is  reversed,  the 
boulders  being  placed  on  top  of  the  finer  materials,  the  unfilled  space 
between  the  boulders  causes  an  increased  height  of  the  resulting 
bank,  which  in  turn  necessitates  raising  the  dumping  point  of  the 
tailing.  Care  should  always  be  taken  to  keep  a  full  boats'  length 
between  the  face  of  the  gravel  bank  and  the  tailing  bank.1 

When  the  channel  in  river  dredging  has  a  fair  grade,  say  25  feet 
or  more  to  the  mile,  tailing  can  be  readily  disposed  of  by  working 
upstream,  but  when  this  is  impossible  or  inconvenient,  considerable 
trouble  may  result.  However,  downstream  work  is  not  infrequently 
resorted  to,  and  with  moderately  swift  currents  may  cause  no  seri- 
ous inconvenience  for  short  distances.  Occasionally  brush  dams 
are  employed  in  impounding  and  controlling  the  debris,  especially 
if  there  is  a  large  proportion  of  sand  present.2 

When  large  quantities  of  sand  are  encountered  in  the  gravel, 
occurring  both  above  and  below  water-level,  it  may  be  taken  from 
the  sluices  and  discharged  by  means  of  a  centrifugal  pump  behind 
the  bank  of  tailing.  This  method  of  disposing  of  the  sand  has  been 
found  to  be  very  satisfactory.3 

The  gravel  on  being  excavated  and  elevated  is  discharged  into  a 
revolving  screen,  within  and  extending  its  whole  length  is  a  large 
perforated  pipe,  by  which  means  and  by  other  jets  playing  on  the 
in-  and  out-side  of  the  screen,  the  gravel  is  thoroughly  washed,  the 
finer  material  passing  through  the  perforations  while  the  larger 
gravel  and  boulders  are  discharged  at  the  outer  and  lower  end  of 
the  screen,  and  fall  overboard.  In  some  dredgers  all  undersize 
material  passes  directly  into  a  tank  or  sump,  from  which  it  is  raised 
by  a  centrifugal  pump  and  delivered  to  the  sluices.  In  this  arrange- 
ment the  upper  end  of  the  sluice-box  rests  on  a  turn-table,  the 
base  of  which  sets  on  the  dredger.  Connection  is  made  between 
the  pump  and  sluice-box  by  means  of  a  short  length  of  hose.  The 
sluice-box  is  adjustable  so  that  the  tailing  may  be  evenly  distributed 
on  the  waste  bank.4 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  83,  p.  216;  Ibid.,  Vol.  81,  p.  582. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol   80,  p.  120. 

3  Ibid.,  Vol.  82,  p.  36. 

4  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  83,  p.  194. 


MINING   GOLD  AND   SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.  399 

Occasionally  shaking  screens  are  employed  instead  of  the  revolv- 
ing forms;  which  should  be  used,  is  determined  by  the  hardness  of 
the  gravel  and  the  presence  of  clay. 

Definite  information  regarding  the  condition  of  the  gold  con- 
tained in  the  gravels  to  be  dredged  should  be  obtained  in  order 
that  the  proper  appliances  may  be  chosen  for  its  collection.  The 
principal  considerations  are:  First,  shape  of  particles,  whether  in 
grains  or  flakes;  second,  size  of  grains  or  particles;  third,  presence 
of  clay;  fourth,  presence  of  materials  which  interfere  with  amal- 
gamation, such  as  arsenic,  etc.;  fifth,  amount  of  platinum  in  sands; 
and  sixth,  character  of  gravel  whether  hard  or  soft.1 

When  tables  are  used  on  dredgers  the  gravel  from  the  screens 
usually  passes  directly  to  them.  These  tables  are  arranged  on  either 
side  of  the  screen,  especially  if  it  is  of  the  revolving  type,  and  are 
covered  with  cocoa  matting  alone  or  with  cocoa  matting  and  ex- 
panded metal.  From  the  tables  the  gravel  is  run  through  sluices, 
placed  longitudinally  with  the  dredger,  which  are  also  provided 
with  riffles,  usually  of  the  expanded  metal  forms.  So-called  "  bee- 
hive "  riffles  are  often  used  next  to  the  screen,  and  consist  of  a  nest 
of  riffles  in  layers  placed  under  the  upper  portion  of  the  screen. 
In  certain  dredgers  the  sluices  discharge  into  a  sump  from  which 
the  material  is  elevated  and  discharged  overboard  by  a  centrifugal 
pump,  but  a  gravity  disposal  is  more  usual. 

Experience  shows  that  most  of  the  gold  is  saved  at  the  upper  end 
of  the  tables,  in  some  cases  even  the  first  six  inches. 

Hungarian  or  ordinary  cross-riffles  are  also  used  with  mercury 
on  the  tables,  which  in  dredgers  are  made  of  iron  to  prevent 
warping.2 

Tailing  is  handled  by  various  contrivances  which  must,  however, 
extend  far  enough  over  the  stern  of  the  boat  to  discharge  it  so  that 
it  will  not  interfere  with  the  dredging  operations.  The  tailing 
stacker,  now  commonly  used,  works  very  satisfactorily,  and  con- 
sists of  an  endless  belt  conveyor  of  some  description,  but  preferably 
the  rubber  belt  form. 

The  capacity  of  a  dredger  is  regulated  largely  by  its  ability  to  save 
gold,  and  in  order  to  insure  this  the  tables  should  be  as  wide  as  pos- 
sible and  have  frequent  drops  in  their  surfaces.  It  is  claimed  that 
the  capacity  of  a  dredger  can  be  increased  fully  6  per  cent,  by  using 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  91,  p.  160. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  83,  p.  229;  Ibid.,  Vol.  90,  p.  252,  and  Ibid.,  Vol. 
91,  p.  160. 


400 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


closed-linked  chains.  Further,  by  their  use  the  load  on  the  motor 
or  engine  is  steadier,  and  the  feed  to  the  screen  is  more  regular.1 

Boulders  exceeding  200  pounds  in  weight  should  not  be  allowed 
to  enter  the  screen. 

The  range  in  capacity  of  buckets  in  endless  chain  dredgers  is  from 
three  to  five  cubic  feet  or  from  25,000  to  45,000  cubic  yards  per 
month.  What  was  claimed  to  be  the  largest  dredger  in  the  United 
States  as  late  as  1905  was  that  of  the  Folsom  Development 
Company,  at  Folsom,  California,  which  has  a  capacity  of  125,000 
to  140,000  cubic  yards  per  month.  The  ordinary  life  of  a  well 
constructed  boat  should  not  be  less  than  12  to  15  years.2 

The  buckets  on  dredgers  at  Folsom,  Oroville  and  the  Yuba 
River  vary  in  capacity  from  three  to  eight  and  one-half  cubic 
feet,  while  a  13  cubic  foot  machine  is  contempated.3 

The  acreage  of  ground  estimated  to  be  available  for  dredging  in 
California  in  1905  was  as  follows:  4 


Average 

Average 

Value  per 

Value  per 

District. 

Acreage. 

Cubic 

District. 

Acreage. 

Cubic 

Yard,  in 

Yard,  in 

Cents. 

Cents. 

Orovillo 

7  500 

17 

Stanislaus 

1  200 

15  to  30 

Yuba  River  

5,000 

25  to  30 

Trinity  

1,000 

Bear  River        .... 

1,000 

18  to  30 

Shasta 

1,500 

Folsorn  

5,000 

15  to  25 

Siskiyou     .... 

1,000 

Calaveras  

350 

16  to  22 

Plumas  

1,500 

Total  

25,050 

California  leads  in  number  and  extent  of  dredging  operations, 
while  the  Oroville  district,  as  indicated  above,  is  of  the  most  impor- 
tance among  the  districts  of  the  state.  In  April,  1905,  there  were 
28  dredgers  operating  in  the  district,  and  at  least  four  more  were 
either  being  built  or  their  construction  contemplated.  Beginning 
in  1899  electrically  driven  dredgers  were  introduced  into  the  Oro- 
ville district,  and  since  that  time  all  boats  previously  steam  operated 
have  been  changed  and  fitted  with  electrical  equipment. 

Electrically  operated  dredgers  are  now  employed  in  the  Boise 
Basin,  Idaho;  many  of  them  having  a  capacity  of  2500  cubic  yards 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  83,  p.  204. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  90,  p.  252,  and  Ibid., Vol.  90,  p.  283. 

3  Ibid.,  Vol.  91,  p.  160. 

4  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  91,  p.  125. 


MINING  GOLD  AND   SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.          401 

in  24  hours.1  The  actual  width  of  channel  in  the  streams  of  this 
region  ranges  from  15  to  30  feet,  although  the  alluvial  deposits 
vary  from  one-half  to  one  mile  in  width,  and  in  depth  to  bed-rock 
from  20  to  40  feet.  This  large  body  of  gravel  together  with  an 
abundant  underflow  of  water  constitute  very  favorable  conditions 
for  the  operation  of  dredgers.  Further,  the  values,  especially  in  the 
stream  deposits  are  quite  uniformly  distributed.2 

In  1905  a  suction  dredger  was  installed  on  the  Snake  River,  Idaho, 
and  in  1899  a  bucket  dredger,  with  buckets  of  5  cubic  feet  capacity, 
was  built  by  the  same  company. 

According  to  F.  Powell  the  difficulties  encountered  by  dredgers 
on  the  Snake  River  are:  the  occurrence  of  values  in  a  few  inches  of 
surface  gravel,  thus  necessitating  the  handling  of  considerable 
barren  material;  the  fineness  of  the  gold  and  its  association  with 
magnetic  iron  sands;  and  finally  the  flat  and  cup-shaped  scales  and 
flakes  of  gold.3 

The  nozzle  first  used  with  the  suction  dredger  on  the  Snake  River, 
was  six  inches  in  diameter,  but  was  later  changed  to  ten  inches,  which 
worked  successfully.  The  gravel  on  being  elevated  was  discharged 
into  a  sluice-box  which  was  set  in  a  horizontal  position  to  retard  the 
flow  before  it  passed  onto  two  shaking  screens.  The  length  of  the 
first  screen  was  12  and  the  latter  17J  feet.  The  shaking  screens  had  a 
pitch  of  one  and  one-half  inches  to  the  foot,  were  five  feet  wide  and 
were  given  a  longitudinal  movement  of  three  inches.  The  riffles  in 
the  shaking  screens  consisted  of  perforated  steel  plates,  No.  10  gauge, 
with  holes  one-eighth  inch  in  diameter  and  placed  three-eighths 
inch  apart,  center  to  center.  From  the  screens  the  coarser  material 
passed  to  a  rubber  belt  tailing  stacker  while  the  fine  material  entered 
a  distributing  box  from  which  it  was  fed  to  burlap  tables,  after 
which  it  was  discharged  over  the  side  of  the  boat.4 

Dredging  has  not  been  successfully  carried  on  in  Colorado,  due  to 
a  number  of  reasons  of  which  the  more  important  are:  tight  ground, 
rough  bed-rock,  large  boulders,  spotty  distribution  of  values  and 
low  values.  Dredging  has  been  attempted  on  the  Swan  River,  a 
branch  of  the  Blue;  near  Breckenridge;  French  gulch;  at  the  head 
of  the  South  Platte,  as  at  Fairplay  and  Alma;  at  the  Granite  placer; 
in  the  Durango  district  on  the  San  Jaun  River;  in  Northwestern 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  79,  p.  149. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  79,  p.  149. 
8  Mineral  Industry,  1901,  p.  324. 

4  Eng.  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  73,  p.  241. 


402  GOLD  AND'  SILVER. 

Colorado;  and  in  the  Clear  Creek  district  between  Denver  and 
Golden.  The  last  locality  is  probably  the  most  favorable  to  dredging 
operations.1 

Dredging  operations  have  been  carried  on  at  Bannack,  Montana, 
for  a  number  of  years.  A  mistake  was  made,  however,  at  the 
beginning  of  operations  in  figuring  on  the  depth  to  bed-rock  as  25 
feet,  but  it  was  found  to  exceed  that  being  nearer  35  feet.2 

Dredgers  are  employed  in  a  number  of  localities  in  the  Southern 
gold  fields,  which  in  most  cases  operate  upon  gravels  formerly 
worked  over  by  the  early  miners  with  their  crude  methods.  In  1903 
there  were  four  dredgers  in  the  Dahlonega  district  having  a  capacity 
of  one  to  one  and  one-fourth  cubic  yards.3  Dredging  operations  are 
carried  on  at  a  number  of  other  localities  but  none  of  the  work  is 
very  extensive. 

The  crude  and  wasteful  methods  employed  in  working  the  placers 
in  the  beginning  of  mining  operations  in  Alaska  and  the  Klondike 
prepared  the  way  for  a  more  skillful  and  systematic  treatment  of 
the  gravels  at  a  later  date.  A  prominent  feature  of  the  new  opera- 
tions is  dredging.  Dredging  is  now  a  permanent  industry  and  is 
gradually  overcoming  such  obstacles  as  lack  of  facilities  in  trans- 
portation, high  cost  of  installation  and  operation,  short  seasons  and 
frozen  ground.  By  the  extensive  application  of  dredging  large 
areas  of  low-grade  ground  are  being  opened  up.  The  capacity 
of  the  average  dredger  is  3000  cubic  yards  per  24  hours.  In 
1906  there  were  nearly  a  dozen  dredgers  operating  in  the  Klondike 
region.4 

The  Hydraulic  Elevator.  —  As  previously  pointed  out  there  are 
two  conditions  considered  essential  to  hydraulic-mining  operations, 
namely,  sufficient  height  of  intake  of  gravels  into  the  sluices  and 
ample  room  for  the  storage  of  the  tailing.  The  use  of  the  hydraulic 
gravel  elevator  overcomes  these  two  difficulties  at  minimum  cost. 
An  hydraulic  elevator  is  in  reality  a  jet  pump  in  which  the  motive 
force  is  hydraulic  water.  A  large  mouthed  suction  connects  with 
the  sump  in  the  pit,  or  a  sluice  which  conducts  gravel  and  water  to  it. 
Naturally  the  height  of  the  lift  depends  upon  the  head  of  water 
employed.  The  Evans  and  Cranston  were  the  first  two  makes  of 
hydraulic  elevators  placed  on  the  market.  The  following  descrip- 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  91,  p.  398. 
8  Ibid.  Vol.  83,  p.  183. 

3  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  23,  p.  497. 

4  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  27,  p.  182. 


MINING  GOLD   AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.  403 

tion  of  an  Evans'  elevator  is  taken  from  a  paper  by  T.  J.  Barbour:* 
"  Its  principal  features  are  the  three  suctions.  The  patent  was  on 
an  elevator  with  more  than  one  suction  inlet.  It  is  now  built,  for 
most  of  the  gravel  claims,  with  three  openings,  one  of  which  is  called 
the  main  suction,  the  other  two,  auxiliaries.  The  auxiliaries  are 
principally  used  to  balance  the  intake,  reducing  the  wear  and  tear 
of  the  machine.  They  also  increase  the  efficiency  of  the  elevator 
by  allowing  the  proper  proportions  of  air  to  enter  when  the  water 
and  material  in  .the  main  opening  might,  from  any  cause,  become 
choked.  The  auxiliaries  can  be  extended  with  any  size  pipe  to  a 
distance  beyond  the  elevator  proper,  and  are  frequently  used  for 
draining  places  in  the  bed-rock  below  the  line  of  the  sluices  connecting 
with  the  elevator.  This  is  a  great  advantage  and  can  be  carried 
on  without  interfering  with  the  sluicing  of  the  material  through 
the  main  opening  on  the  elevator  seat." 

Hydraulic  elevators  may  be  employed  in  opening  up  the  washing 
pits  in  which  they  are  later  installed.  There  are  various  sizes  of  ele- 
vators which  may  be  designated  according  to  the  capacity  of  the 
nozzle  employed  —  Nos.  1,  2,  3  and  4  of  the  Evans  make  have  capa- 
cities of  three-,  four-,  eight-,  and  ten-inch  nozzles,  while  the  size  of 
the  throats  is  3  to  20  inches.  In  the  largest  size  an  18-inch  boulder 
can  be  raised  to  a  height  of  60  feet,  with  a  head  of  water  of  400 
feet. 

In  operating  an  hydraulic  elevator  plant  the  elevator  is  placed 
at  the  lowest  point  of  the  mine  a  sump  being  formed  in  the  bed-rock 
in  order  that  it  can  be  readily  fed  by  the  sluices  extending  into  the 
various  parts  of  the  pit.  In  order  that  repairs  may  be  made  upon 
the  elevator  it  is  customary  to  install  an  hydraulic  water  lift  or 
jet  pump  to  control  the  rise  of  water  in  the  pit.  However,  probably 
a  better  arrangement  is  the  use  of  two  elevators,  which  may  work 
together  or  in  relays.  Plenty  of  air  is  essential  to  the  proper 
working  of  an  elevator,  since  the  material  raised  may  pack  and 
will  not  enter  the  up-cast  if  air  is  not  admitted.  A  further  advan- 
tage in  the  use  of  air  is  that  after  passing  the  throat  it  becomes 
compressed,  thus  materially  assisting  by  its  expansive  force  in  raising 
the  gravel.  From  the  up-cast  or  main  discharge  pipe  the  gravel  strikes 
against  a  plate  by  which  it  is  deflected  downward  into  the  sluice. 
A  grate  of  curved  steel  bars  is  usually  preferred  to  the  deflecting 
plate,  especially  when  large  stones  and  boulders  are  elevated,  wear 
is  less  and  is  it  more  readily  repaired.  This  grate  is  securely  anchored 
1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  pp.  434-436,  1899. 


404  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

in  the  top  of  the  sluice-box  which  is  covered  over  for  some  distance, 
often  being  weighed  down  with  boulders. 

The  first  box  of  the  sluice-way  seldom  has  any  grade  owing  to 
the  force  with  which  the  boulders  enter  it,  often  being  carried  from 
10  to  40  feet  down  the  sluice.  The  second  box  has  a  grade  of  about 
one  to  two  inches  per  length  of  box;  the  third  two  to  four  inches,  etc., 
until  the  maximum  desired  grade  is  obtained.  The  construction 
and  operation  of  the  sluice  is  similar  to  that  in  ordinary  hydraulic 
working. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  best  results  are  obtained  when  the  elevator 
is  fed  by  a  bed-rock  flume,  which  should  be  kept  within  a  short 
distance  of  the  bank,  thus  permitting  a  more  prompt  and  positive 
supply  of  gravel.  As  about  two-thirds  of  the  water  used  in  such 
operations  is  employed  in  lifting  the  gravel  and  only  one-third  in 
piping  by  giants,  it  is  evident  that  care  should  be  taken  in  regulating 
the  gravel  supply,  provided  the  best  results  are  desired. 

Grizzlies  are  often  arranged  in  the  bed-rock  flumes  which  feed 
the  elevator  in  order  that  materials  tending  to  choke  the  feed  may 
be  removed  from  the  gravels.1 

Occasionally  an  auxiliary  nozzle  is  employed  to  assist  in  lifting 
the  gravel  to  the  proper  height.  A  description  of  such  a  double- 
acting  elevator  used  in  the  Columbia  placer,  Oregon  is  as  follows:2 
"  At  the  lower  end  (of  the  elevator)  is  a  cylinder  31  inches  in  diame- 
ter. Sixteen  feet  vertically  up  from  the  bottom  this  cross-section  is 
increased  12  inches  on  the  under  side,  making  a  total  depth  of  43 
inches,  to  admit  of  an  auxiliary  three  and  one-half  inch  nozzle,  the 
stream  from  which  acts  as  a  helper  and  counteracts  the  already  very 
material  retardation  in  the  ascending  current  due  to  gravity,  friction 
and  atmospheric  influence.  This  nozzle  is  protected  against  injury 
from  rocks  by  a  cylindrical  collar  surrounding  and  projecting  beyond 
it.  The  initial  impulse  is  derived  from  a  six-inch  nozzle,  16  inches 
below  the  mouth  of  the  elevator,  so  placed  that  its  stream  shall  be 
accurately  centered  in  the  cylindrical  pipe.  There  is  no  contraction 
forcing  a  throat  as  in  most  elevators." 

The  quantity  of  water  used  with  this  elevator  is  twice  that  used 
in  piping. 

Boulders  15  by  17  by  27  inches,  and  a  tree  stump  31  by  33  inches 
were  observed  to  pass  through  the  elevator,  which  had  a  lift  of  36 
feet,  while  a  rock  weighing  800  pounds  was  known  to  have  been 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  91,  pp.  Ill  and  112. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  65,  pp.  431  and  432. 


MINING  GOLD   AND   SILVER  ORES   AND  GRAVELS.  405 

elevated.  Other  interesting  details  of  this  plant  may  be  obtained 
from  the  original  paper. 

Hydraulic  elevators  are  now  employed  in  practically  all  of  the 
gold  producing  states,  although  their  principal  application  is  in 
California,  Oregon,  Idaho,  Colorado,  Alaska,  Wyoming,  etc. 

The  operating  conditions  of  hydraulic  elevators,  may  be  illustrated 
by  the  following  cases :  the  Yreka  Creek  Gold  Mining  Company  operat- 
ing in  Siskiyou  County,  California,  in  1880  with  a  Cranston  elevator 
elevated  the  gravel  40  feet,  with  800  miner's  inches  of  water  under 
a  head  of  266  feet.  This  elevator  took  care  of  the  gravel  piped  by 
two  giants  with  nozzles  of  two  and  one-half  and  three  inches  in 
diameter.  In  1889  the  North  Bloomfield  mine  installed  an  elevator 
with  a  lift  of  96  feet,  depositing  and  impounding  the  tailing  in  an  old 
pit.  Fifteen  hundred  miner's  inches  of  water  were  used  under  a 
head  of  540  feet.  The  nozzle  employed  was  six  inches  in  diame- 
ter, which  elevated  the  gravel  in  an  upcast  20  inches  in  diameter 
and  113  feet  long.  The  giant  supplying  this  elevator  used  800 
miner's  inches  of  water.1 

Hydraulic  elevators  are  successfully  operated  in  many  localities 
with  lifts  ranging  from  50  to  70  feet,  although  probably  the  larger 
number  lies  between  50  and  60  feet.  It  is  claimed  that  gravel  does 
not  materially  influence  the  height  of  lift,  but  it  is  rather  the  water 
itself  which  controls  it.2 

The  Debris  Controversy.  —  The  development  of  placer-mining 
from  hand  work  with  cradles  and  long  toms  to  the  use  of  hydraulic 
giants  that  could  do  the  work  of  a  thousand  men  each,  was  accom- 
plished in  but  a  few  years  in  a  manner  little  short  of  the  marvelous. 

So  profitable  was  the  work  that  capital  was  readily  induced  to 
invest  with  the  result  that  at  one  time  no  less  than  $100,000,000 
were  invested  in  property  consisting  of  lands  and  equipment  —  canals, 
ditches,  reservoirs,  etc.,  and  as  it  has  been  aptly  remarked  "  the 
extent  of  their  operations  proved  their  undoing." 

It  was  but  natural  that  two  things  should  result,  namely :  through 
the  very  nature  of  their  operations  they  must  infringe  on  the  rights 
of  others,  and  that  in  turn  they  should  be  preyed  upon  by  other 
interests.  The  development  and  maintenance  of  such  gigantic 
enterprises  created  other  industries  upon  which  they  ultimately 
became  largely  dependent  for  supplies,  the  most  important  of  which 
were  the  agricultural  and  grazing  interests,  and  strange  as  it  may 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  72,  p.  261. 
*  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  72,  p.  265. 


406  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

seem  these  two  industries  were  largely  instrumental  in  almost 
completely  driving  out  the  former  industry  from  the  state. 

The  detritus,  commonly  known  as  "tailing,"  "  debris "  and 
"  slickens,"  resulting  directly  from  hydraulicing  operations  was  at 
first  disposed  of  as  best  it  could  be,  and  without  regard  to  any- 
thing except  the  convenience  of  the  mining  operations.  It  was  not 
long,  however,  before  the  gulches  and  canons  of  the  mountains 
and  foot  hills,  the  direct  recipients  of  the  debris,  became  filled  and 
choked,  and,  with  the  periodic  seasons  of  high  water,  discharged 
immense  quantities  of  sand  and  slimes  into  the  tributaries  of  the 
larger  rivers  which  emptied  into  the  ocean.  Serious  blockades  to 
the  rivers  were  obviated  to  a  large  extent  by  the  removal  by  floods 
generally  occurring  during  the  winter  months,  and  culminating  at 
least  once  in  10  years.  The  final  disposition  of  the  debris  was  then 
the  bay  of  San  Francisco,  which  was  extensively  shoaled  in  its  upper 
portions. 

With  regard  to  the  amount  of  debris  deposited  in  the  beds  of  the 
rivers,  it  is  estimated  that  there  were  120,000,000  cubic  yards  in  the 
Bear,  and  70,000,000  in  the  Yuba  by  1880.1  While  in  the  bed  of 
the  lower  Yuba,  where  the  gradient  was  less  than  15  feet  to  the 
mile  there  had  accumulated  debris  to  the  amount  of  300,000,000 
cubic  yards.2  Further,  when  hydraulic  operations  were  most 
actively  carried  on,  on  the  Yuba,  between  1880  and  1890,  the 
annual  discharge  of  de*bris  into  the  streams  was  22,000,000  cubic 
yards,  while  the  material  moved  each  year  was  approximately 
46,000,000  cubic  yards.  The  quantity  of  debris  discharged  into 
the  Yuba  alone  each  year  has  been  graphically  described  as  being 
sufficient  to  fill  a  street  11  miles  long  and  120  feet  wide  to  a  depth 
of  75  feet,  or  to  fill  the  Erie  canal  in  18  months.3 

In  1894  it  was  estimated  by  the  Debris  Commission  that  the 
amount  of  detritus  then  in  the  Yuba  River  from  De  Guerre  Point 
to  Marysville,  was  308,000,000  cubic  yards,  while  a  rough  estimate 
of  that  between  Smartsville  and  De  Guerre  Point  was  100,000,000 
cubic  yards,  making  a  total  of  408,000,000  cubic  yards  then  in  that 
river.  It  was  claimed,  however,  that  it  could  be  proven  that  only 
one-fourth  of  the  debris  in  the  rivers  came  from  the  mines,  which 
was  roughly  shown  from  the  figures  given  above  —  408,000,000 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  81,  p.  940. 

a  Proc.  Soc.  Civil  Engre.,  Vol.  32,  p.  104,  and  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  81, 
p.  941. 

*  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  78,  p.  588. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.          407 

cubic  yards  in  the  Yuba  River  in  1894  as  a  result  of  washing 
approximately  100,000,000  cubic  yards  of  gravel.1 

The  coarse  gravel  and  cobbles  remained  in  the  upper  portions  of 
the  tributary  streams  such  as  the  Yuba,  Bear,  Feather  and  Ameri- 
can rivers,  while  the  sand  and  clay  ("  slickens  ")  were  carried  on 
and  deposited  in  the  valley  of  the  Sacramento,  also  to  a  certain 
extent  in  the  lower  portions  of  the  larger  tributaries.  It  was  esti- 
mated that  at  the  rate  of  washing  during  1880  the  channel  of  the 
Sacramento  would  be  raised  1  foot  in  every  38  years.2  By  this 
change  in  the  level  of  the  river  beds  40,000  acres  of  rich  bottom 
land  along  the  Yuba,  Bear,  Feather,  American  and  Sacramento 
rivers  were  inundated  and  ruined  for  cultivation,  besides  which 
there  were  300,000  acres  of  valuable  land  more  or  less  damaged. 
It  was  claimed  that  43,546  acres  of  land  suffered  a  depreciation  of 
$2,597,000  in  36  years.3  Where  such  damage  was  not  permitted, 
owing  to  the  building  of  levees,  the  expense  incident  thereto  was 
equivalent  to  a  depreciation  of  the  property. 

The  citizens  of  Marysville  were  taxed  6  per  cent  of  their  property 
value  to  construct  levees  to  hold  back  the  waters  of  the  Yuba 
River  during  floods.4  Further,  navigation  in  the  bays  of  Suisun 
and  San  Pablo  as  well  as  on  the  Sacramento  River  was  seriously 
impaired.5 

The  miners  paid  for  damages  obviously  done,  but  this  in  time  led 
to  extensive  blackmail.  The  purchase  of  lands  damaged  by  debris 
worked  no  special  hardship  upon  the  miners  when  they  were  iso- 
lated cases  only,  but  when  a  whole  township  had  to  be  purchased 
and  where  agricultural  and  grazing  land  were  acquired  more  for 
speculative  purposes  than  for  their  professed  use,  then  such  pro- 
ceedings became  most  offensive  tyranny.8 

The  farmers  first  sought  relief  at  the  hands  of  the  State  Legisla- 
ture, and  although  the  matter  was  much  discussed  no  definite 
action  was  taken.  An  Association,  the  Anti-Debris  Association,  was 
then  formed,  the  object  of  which  was  to  take  charge  of  and  conduct 
the  proceedings  against  the  miners.  Forthwith  a  protective  asso- 
ciation was  formed  by  the  miners,  and  as  a  result  the  matter  soon 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  69,  p.  354,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  74,  p.  28. 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  74,  p.  71. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  81,  p.  940. 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  43,  p.  378. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  78,  p.  588. 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  29,  p.  361. 


408  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

became  a  political  issue.  Suit  was  brought  against  the  Little  New 
York  Gold-Washing  and  Water  Company,  which  was  operating 
along  the  Bear  River.1 

Litigation  followed  litigation  and  the  controversy  waxed  warm, 
and  as  was  to  be  expected  much  injustice  resulted  to  both  parties 
concerned,  until  finally  in  the  test  suit  of  Woodruff  vs.  The  North 
Bloomfield  Mining  Company,  the  miners  suffered  defeat.  The 
decision  of  the  United  States  Circuit  Court  resulted  in  the  closing 
of  all  the  principal  hydraulic  mines  in  the  central  northern  portion 
of  the  state.  "  The  mining  company  and  its  agents  and  employes 
were  perpetually  enjoined  and  restrained  from  discharging  and 
dumping  into  the  Yuba  River  or  any  of  its  forks,  ravines,  or  branches, 
or  any  stream  tributary  to  the  river,  any  tailings,  boulders,  cob- 
blestones, gravel,  sand,  clay,  debris,  or  refuse  matter  from  the  track 
of  mineral  lands  or  mines,  and  also  from  allowing  others  to  use  the 
water  supply  of  their  mines  for  washing  such  material  into  the 
rivers  or  streams."2 

The  following  summaries  of  contentions  as  to  their  rights  offered 
by  the  two  parties  in  the  debris  controversy  are  of  interest  in  this 
connection:  The  miners  claim  that  "  We  are  engaged  in  a  legiti- 
mate and  lawful  business,  sanctioned  by  special  laws  of  the  United 
States,  and  by  custom  and  usage  for  more  than  30  years,  whereby 
we  have  acquired  an  easement  and  prescriptive  right.  We  have 
purchased  our  lands  from  the  United  States  government  as  mineral 
lands,  and  paid  for  them  double  the  price  of  agricultural  lands, 
with  full  knowledge  on  the  part  of  the  government  of  the  method  to 
be  pursued  in  extracting  the  gold,  as  is  apparent  by  the  inspection 
of  the  heading  and  vignetts  of  the  United  States  mineral  patents, 
representing  hydraulic  mining  as  at  present  prosecuted.  Confiding 
in  the  validity  of  our  title  and  easement  or  franchise,  we  have  ex- 
pended many  millions  of  dollars  in  driving  long  tunnels  to  tap  our 
auriferous  deposits,  and  in  building  reservoirs  and  digging  canals  to 
convey  water  to  our  mineral  lands.  In  the  prosecution  of  these 
works,  populous  communities  have  grown  up;  and  thousands  are  de- 
pendent upon  our  industry.  WTe  have  added  to  the  metallic  wealth 
of  the  world  nearly  1200  millions  of  dollars,  and  if  undisturbed,  will 
continue  to  add  thereto  at  the  average  rate  of  $18,000,000  annually 
for  an  indefinite  period,  estimated  at  not  less  than  100  years.  Gold 
is  the  great  lubricator  of  commerce.  In  the  present  age  of  prog- 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  38,  p.  168. 

a  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  pp.  256,  257,  1899. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.          409 

ress,  it  purchases  all  necessities;  and  the  nation  which  produces  it 
can  want  for  nothing.  The  equity  of  our  tenure  of  lands  and  pub- 
lic policy  alike  forbid  suppression  of  our  business.  The  breaking 
down  of  dirt  by  projecting  water  is  an  incident  of  our  business, 
without  which  it  cannot  be  pursued.  The  mountain  canons  are 
the  natural  receptacles  for  the  material  washed  from  the  mines. 
You  have  endangered  your  towns  in  periods  of  high  water  by 
a  defective  and  unscientific  system  of  levees,  and  you  have 
obstructed  the  efforts  of  the  government  to  protect  the  navi- 
gable rivers  by  measures  recommended  by  the  government  engi- 
neers. The  bay  of  San  Francisco  has  in  no  manner  been  affected 
by  our  operations."  l 

On  the  other  hand  the  claims  of  the  opposition  were:  "(1)  hydrau- 
lic mining  is  the  exercising  a  right  which  prevents  others  enjoying 
their  rights,  a  use  of  property  which  prevents  others  enjoying  theirs; 
it  is  therefore  a  nuisance;  (2)  it  thus  interferes  with  and  disturbs 
large  numbers  of  citizens;  it  is  therefore  a  nuisance;  (3)  there 
can  be  no  prescriptive  right  granted  in  the  maintenance  of  a  nuis- 
ance; (4)  the  Statute  of  Limitations  will  not  run  as  against  a 
nuisance;  (5)  a  public  nuisance  may  be,  and  should  be  abated; 
(6)  it  is  no  answer  to  charge  of  nuisance  to  say  it  also  produces 
benefits;  (7)  the  United  States  guarantees  the  free  use  of  the  navi- 
gable streams  to  the  public;  (8)  the  state  cannot,  by  law,  or  neglect, 
or  permission,  consent  to  any  obstruction  to  such  streams;  hydrau- 
lic mining  does  obstruct  streams,  and  prevents  their  free  use  and 
enjoyment;  (9)  therefore,  it  is  a  public  nuisance  and  should  be 
abated;  (10)  hydraulic  mining  proper  did  not  begin  till  1865,  and 
it  has  not  gone  on  without  protest  —  custom  is  no  defence,  if  the 
custom  be  a  nuisance;  (11)  hydraulic  mining,  it  is  proven,  it  is 
not  profitable,  but  agriculture  is;  (12)  a  court  of  equity  will  inter- 
fere to  prevent  the  continuance  of  a  nuisance."  2 

As  a  result  of  the  closing  of  the  mines  by  both  State  and  Federal 
injunctions,  hydraulic  operations  were  suspended,  and  the  costly 
plants  and  equipments  were  allowed  to  go  to  decay.  Dams  and 
pipe  lines  were  blown  up  and  destroyed.  Thus  were  thousands  of 
men  thrown  out  of  work,  and  many  camps  and  towns  depopulated. 
The  decadence  of  hydraulic-mining  culminated  about  1880  when 
the  mines  were  practically  wholly  closed. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  36,  p.  210. 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  44,  p.  137,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  48,  p.  28  (full  text  of 
Judges  Sawyer  and  Deady's  decision). 


410  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  losses  to  California  following  upon  the  closure  of  the  hydrau- 
lic mining  operations  may  be  summarized  as  follows:  There  was  — 

1.  A  large  reduction  in  gold  production. 

2.  A  depreciation  in  value  of  property   and  equipment  of  the 
mines  from  $100,000,000  to  practically  nothing. 

3.  A  loss  to  other  industries  dependent  more  or  less  upon  the 
mining  industry,   and   among  those  affected  were   agriculture  and 
grazing. 

The  decrease  in  gold  production  during  1880  to  1885,  i.e.,  during 
the  last  few  years  of  its  struggle  for  existence,  was  $1,000,000,  while 
during  1880-1889  the  decrease  in  placer  gold  was  $4,379,268.  In  10 
years  mining  property  had  depreciated  90  per  cent,  while  the  loss  to 
sympathetic  industries  approximated  $72,000,000.  It  has  been  esti- 
mated that  the  total  loss  to  all  industries  affected  by  the  closing  of 
the  mines,  was  close  to  $225,000,000,  while  the  direct  damage  to 
property  by  the  debris  was  $3,304,035.1 

In  the  fall  of  1891  a  movement  was  set  on  foot  to  form  a  State 
miners'  convention,  and  through  it  to  memorialize  Congress  as  to 
needed  legislation  for  the  hydraulic-mining  industry  of  California. 
This  led  to  the  calling  of  a  State  convention,  which  was  held  at  San 
Francisco,  and  included  among  the  representatives,  both  farmers  and 
miners.  Mutual  concessions  on  both  sides  resulted  in  the  adoption  of 
a  common  plan  of  procedure,  the  basis  of  which  was  the  report  of  a 
government  commission  of  engineers.  Prior  to  this  the  Legislature 
had  passed  a  joint  resolution  in  order  that  the  matter  might  be  pre- 
sented to  the  attention  of  Congress.  An  act  was  passed  by  Congress 
appointing  a  commission  of  engineers  whose  duty  it  was  to  examine 
into  existing  conditions,  and  devise  means  whereby  the  mining 
industry  might  be  rehabilitated.  The  report  of  this  Commission  is 
that  referred  to  above.  It  was  reported  that  dams  and  other  restrain- 
ing works  might  be  erected  in  many  canons,  which  would  restrain 
the  debris  already  in  the  streams  and  that  subsequently  made  and 
thus  prevent  damage.  Localities  were  specified  together  with  the 
amounts  of  gravel  that  could  be  worked,  the  cost  of  dams,  etc.  Con- 
gress was  petitioned  by  the  convention  of  miners  to  accept  and  adopt 
the  report  and  that  steps  be  taken  to  put  in  practical  and  effective 
operation  the  means  suggested.2 

In  March  1893,  the  Caminetti  Act  was  passed  by  Congress,  which 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  74,  p.  48,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  74,  p.  71 

3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  1899,  pp.  258,  259. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.  411 

permitted  the  operation  of  hydraulic-mining  under  certain  restrictions 
and  conditions. 

"  The  essential  features  of  the  law  are  that  all  such  mines,  operated 
under  this  system,  shall  impound  or  restrain  their  debris  or  tailings, 
and  prevent  them  from  entering  the  navigable  streams,  or  injuring 
the  lands  of  other  parties.  Under  the  Act,  the  California  Debris 
Commission,  consisting  of  three  officers  of  the  Corps  of  Engineers, 
U.S.A.,  was  appointed  by  the  President.  This  Commission  is  empow- 
ered to  issue  licenses  for  mining  by  the  hydraulic  process  under  this 
Act,  when  it  is  satisfied  that  the  debris  dams  or  impounding  works 
are  sufficient  to  restrain  the  debris.  The  hydraulic  miner  must  make 
application  to  the  Commission  for  a  license  to  mine,  and  submit  his 
plans  of  the  proposed  restraining  works,  which  are  subject  to  the 
approval  of  the  Commission.  Each  separate  application  is  advertised 
for  a  specified  time,  and  a  hearing  is  held  before  the  Commission,  at 
which  those  who  may  be  opposed  to  the  issuance  of  a  license  may 
state  their  reasons.  When  the  plans  are  approved,  and  the  necessary 
works  constructed,  members  of  the  Commission  make  a  personal 
examination  of  them,  and,  if  satisfied  that  the  debris  can  be  restrained, 
a  license  to  mine  by  the  hydraulic  process  is  issued,  and  the  mine  may 
begin  operations.  If  they  see  any  reason  to  believe,  however,  that 
damage  may  be  done  to  the  rivers  or  to  individuals  by  the  opera- 
tion of  the  mine,  no  license  is  granted,  and  the  mine  may  not  be 
legally  worked.  Moreover,  even  after  the  license  is  granted,  if  the 
debris,  or  water  carrying  too  much  of  it,  is  for  any  reason  permitted 
to  enter  the  stream,  the  license  may  be  recalled.  Frequent  exam- 
inations are  made  to  see  that  the  miners  are  complying  with  the 
laws."  l 

A  serious  objection  raised  is  that  too  much  time  lapses  between  the 
application  for  and  granting  of  the  license  —  113  days,  not  including 
the  time  necessary  for  constructing  the  works,  is  about  the  minimum 
time  required  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances,  while  often 
from  six  months  to  a  year  is  needed  before  the  necessary  legal  pro- 
ceedings are  properly  carried  through.2  Furthermore,  such  a  permit 
should  ensure  against  molestation  by  opposing  interests,  but  such 
has  not  always  been  the  case,  injunctions  having  been  granted  by  the 
Courts  of  the  valley  districts.  This  uncertain  and  unfortunate  condi- 
tion of  affairs  has  resulted  in  the  discouragement  of  new  enterprises, 
especially  where  considerable  expense  was  necessary;  however, 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  pp.  260-261,  1899. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  81,  p.  942. 


412  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

numerous  old  works  have  been  repaired  and  refitted,  and  operations 
successfully  carried  on. 

The  Caminetti  Act  applies  only  to  that  section  of  the  state  which 
lies  within  the  drainage  areas  of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin 
rivers  and  their  tributaries.  In  Siskiyou,  Trinity,  Humboldt  and  Del 
Norte  counties,  there  is  not  and  never  has  been,  any  restriction  to 
hydraulic-mining.  The  mines  of  this  section  discharge  their  debris 
into  the  tributaries  of  the  Klamath  River,  which  is  a  non-navigable 
stream.  The  output  of  the  mines  of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin 
rivers  has  constantly  increased  under  the  supervision  and  protection 
of  the  new  law,  and  as  a  result  the  country  has  gained  largely  in 
population,  a  not  unimportant  factor  in  its  development.1 

There  is  no  law  against  hydraulic-mining  in  California,  either  State 
or  Federal.  The  numerous  injunctions  granted  were  directed  against 
certain  mines  for  damage  done  to  individuals  and  not  generally 
against  the  industry  as  a  whole  and  in  name. 

The  Civil  Code  of  California  makes  clear  the  present  status  as 
follows: 2 

Section  1424.  The  business  of  hydraulic  mining  may  be  carried 
on  within  the  State  of  California,  wherever  and  whenever  the  same 
can  be  carried  on  without  material  injury  to  the  navigable  streams 
and  the  lands  adjacent  thereto. 

Section  1425.  Hydraulic  mining,  within  the  meaning  01  this  title, 
is  mining  by  means  of  the  application  of  water,  under  pressure, 
through  a  nozzle,  against  a  natural  bank. 

An  unexpected  and  unusual  condition  of  affairs  was  occasionally 
encountered  in  the  controversy  between  miner  and  farmer,  as  for 
instance  when,  owing  to  the  proximity  of  farming  land  to  the  mines, 
fine  gold  in  considerable  quantities  was  found  to  exist  in  the  tailing 
deposited  on  the  fields.  Often  the  farmer  lost  sight  of  the  actual 
damage  done  to  his  property,  and  threatened  to  institute  suit  if  the 
mining  company  attempted  to  lay  claim  to  such  deposits.  Further- 
more, the  question  arose  as  to  whether  such  lands  could  rightly  be 
called  agricultural  lands  —  the  General  Land  office  withdrew  from 
the  market  some  of  the  land  in  question,  having  considered  it  mineral 
land.3 

Another  similar  case  occurred  in  South  Dakota,  where  the  tailing 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  1899,  pp.  261,  262,  and  Eng. 
and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  81,  p.  942. 

8  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  p.  262. 
8  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  29,  p.  361. 


MINING   GOLD  AND   SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.          413 

from  the  mills  about  Lead  and  Central  City  overrun  and  destroyed 
gardens  and  ranches  of  nominal  and  uncertain  value.  Extravagant 
claims  for  damages  were  made  against  the  Homestake  Mining  Com- 
pany, until  it  was  discovered  that  the  tailing  still  contained  gold  in 
sufficient  quantity  to  be  profitably  extracted  by  the  cyanide  process, 
when  the  land-owners  at  once  proceeded  to  assert  their  ownership 

of  it.1 

Ore  Mining. 

The  methods  of  working  mines  by  shafts,  slopes  and  tunnels 
have  already  been  given  in  connection  with  the  working  of  gravels, 
as  in  drift-mining  and  the  working  of  the  frozen  alluvial  deposits  of 
Alaska.  However,  these  deposits  partake  of  the  nature  of  stratified 
or  water-lain  formations,  and  may,  therefore,  be  considered  in  a  class 
apart  by  themselves,  although  certain  auriferous  and  argentiferous 
occurrences  are  also  bedded,  but  lie  at  a  much  steeper  inclination 
than  any  auriferous  gravel  deposit  ever  worked  in  this  country. 

Veins  or  lodes  are  worked  by  horizontal  and  vertical  openings,  and 
by  intermediate  openings,  which  are  usually  designated  by  the  terms 
slopes  or  inclines,  according  as  they  approach  the  horizontal  or  ver- 
tical positions.  There  is,  however,  no  sharp  line  of  separation  between 
slopes  and  inclines,  the  terms  often  being  used  interchangeably. 
Further,  such  openings  may  be  employed  for  all  phases  of  mine 
working,  namely:  prospecting,  development  and  extraction,  varying 
mainly  in  extent  for  the  various  operations. 

Prospecting.  —  Prospecting  is  pre-eminently  a  method  of  location, 
location  of  veins  and  values  within  them,  and  is  therefore  not  con- 
fined to  the  surface.  The  method  of  procedure  in  underground  pros- 
pecting or  exploration  is  usually  more  definite  and  reliable  than 
surface  work  for  similar  deposits.  In  those  sections  of  the  country 
where  erosion  is  rapid,  and  the  rainfall  is  great,  the  location  of  out- 
crops is  a  comparatively  easy  task,  but  when  these  conditions  do  not 
obtain  the  outcrops  are  usually  hidden  or  obscured  by  a  mantle  of 
soil  or  wash,  thus  rendering  their  location  extremely  difficult. 

The  general  considerations  affecting  the  work  of  prospecting  and 
the  methods  employed  are  as  follows:  Change  in  direction  and  grade 
of  streams  may  be  produced  by  their  intersection  with  veins. 
Further,  gold-bearing  veins  have  been  located  above  holes  and  depres- 
sions, which  occurrences  are  occasionally  observed  in  the  extinct  river 
channels  of  California.  In  general  in  the  search  for  gold  in  streams, 
preparatory  to  the  search  for  veins,  the  grade  of  the  stream  must 
first  be  taken  into  consideration.  If  the  grade  is  heavy,  the  search 
1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  89,  p.  2. 


411  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

for  values  should  be  made  at  wide  portions  of  the  channels,  on  the 
sides  and  the  inner  rims  of  curves.  With  moderate  or  light  grades 
the  long  straight  channels  are  more  favorable  to  the  collection  of  gold. 

Gold  having  been  found  in  the  stream  bed  or  bank  and  traced 
to  a  point  where  no  more  can  be  found  or  there  is  a  marked  diminu- 
tion in  that  found,  the  search  extends  to  higher  ground;  the  accumu- 
lations of  gravel  often  found  in  the  form  of  terraces,  or  benches,  on 
the  slopes  and  occasionally  at  considerable  altitude  should  be 
carefully  examined.  Thin  hill-side  deposits  are  often  auriferous  to 
a  marked  degree,  which  deposits  may  extend  even  into  the  valleys. 
All  portions  of  such  deposits  should  be  tested  for  gold  which,  being 
composed  largely  of  wash  and  formed  on  fairly  high  grades,  may 
be  a  heterogeneous  mass  of  gravel,  sand,  soil  and  clay. 

The  prospecting  of  wind-formed  deposits  and  wash,  especially 
when  shallow,  is  rendered  comparatively  simple  due  to  the  fact  that 
the  values  usually  lie  close  to  the  surface,  while  water-lain  deposits 
more  often  carry  the  values  on  or  close  to  bed-rock,  and  the  same 
may  be  partially  true  of  wind-formed  deposits  if  the  country  is  rough. 

A  careful  geological  reconnaissance  should  be  made  of  the 
surrounding  country  in  order  that  the  factors  governing  the  present 
slopes  may  be  ascertained.  Underground  work  may  be  necessary 
to  supplement  such  investigations.  When  shafts  are  employed 
they  should  be  given  the  minimum  size  consistent  with  the  work 
to  be  done  —  a  shaft  two  and  one-half  by  four  feet  is  large  enough 
for  considerable  depth. 

Regarding  the  choice  of  location  with  respect  to  formation,  the 
junction  of  various  formations  as  the  older  sedimentary  rock  with 
metamorphic  and  igneous  formations,  as  slates,  schists,  quartzites, 
shales,  sandstones,  and  limestones  with  basalt,  phonolites,  andesites, 
etc.  are  favorable,  while  recent  formations  both  stratified  and 
igneous  are  usually  considered  of  little  importance.  Where  vegeta- 
tion is  poor  or  wanting  there  is  evidently  a  thin  covering  of  soil; 
however,  more  credit  is  given  to  the  influence  of  mineral  matter  on 
vegetation  than  is  actually  known  to  exist.1 

If  considerable  depth  of  soil  is  found  in  the  locality  prospected  an 
examination  of  cuts  by  streams  and  exposures  made  by  landslides 
may  be  of  value. 

In  the  actual  work  of  prospecting  a  slope  is  usually  chosen, 
although  the  more  level  portions  are  not  wholly  overlooked,  and 
"  surfacing "  begins.  This  consists  in  digging  small  holes  or 
1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  15,  p.  645. 


MINING   GOLD  AND   SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.  415 

trenches;  if  the  former,  they  are  spaced  some  five  to  ten  feet  apart, 
along  the  base  of  the  slope.  The  material  excavated  is  washed  sepa- 
rately, a  record  being  kept  of  both  location  and  results  obtained. 

As  a  rule  the  occurrences  of  gold  are  contiguous,  the  amount 
found  decreasing  in  either  direction  from  the  productive  portion  on 
the  line  of  search.  The  lateral  extent  of  the  gold-bearing  area  having 
been  ascertained,  another  level  some  distance  up  the  slope  is  chosen 
and  is  worked  as  before,  except  that  the  center  of  the  area  already 
determined  is  taken  as  a  center  for  the  new  level.  By  this  method 
of  procedure  the  amount  of  work  done  is  materially  reduced.  It  is 
probable  that  each  new  level  worked  will  show  both  a  narrowing  of 
the  gold-bearing  area  and  an  increase  in  values  obtained.  On 
continuing  the  operation  the  deposit  narrows  to  a  point,  which  is 
the  apex  of  a  fan-shaped  area  produced  by  the  downward  move- 
ment of  particles  on  a  slope  and  under  the  influence  of  gravity. 

The  vein  is  thus  located,  but  it  is  evident  that  there  are  many 
conditions  tending  to  vitiate  the  conclusions  thus  arrived  at.  If  the 
vein  prospected  for  is  "  spotted  "  in  values,  as  when  the  pay  streak  or 
body  occurs  at  the  intersection  of  veins,  in  isolated  patches  or  pockets, 
etc.,  such  a  method  of  procedure  may  be  reliable,  provided  that  the 
even  distribution  or  spread  is  not  interfered  with,  but  when  the 
whole  vein  contains  values,  such  extensive  and  systematic  work  is 
hardly  necessary  as  the  whole  slope  should  show  values.  However, 
in  either  case  the  occurrence  of  ditches  with  the  intervening  ridges 
brings  about  a  concentration  of  the  values  along  the  lines  of  depres- 
sions and  if  found  in  the  lowest  point  of  the  depression  it  is  impossible 
to  determine  from  which  slope  it  came.  If  the  vein  is  spotted  as  in 
pocket  mines,  the  work  of  the  prospector  often  proves  of  no  avail  for 
on  tracing  the  wash  gold  to  its  source  he  may  find  that  the  supply 
has  been  exhausted  or  only  a  remnant  remains. 

Other  vitiating  factors  are:  landslides,  which  may  be  old  or  new; 
great  depth  of  cover  formed  subsequent  to  the  erosion  of  the  vein; 
the  cutting  of  gulches;  etc. 

Having  located  the  vein  it  is  considered  good  practice  to  extend 
the  work  by  trenching  some  distance  above  it  in  order  to  ascertain 
whether  other  sources  of  supply  lie  above.  On  testing  the  vein  and 
finding  gold  the  work  of  prospecting  the  vein  is  begun. 

The  work  of  prospecting  as  described  is  often  rendered  difficult 
owing  to  the  presence  of  dense  brush,  and  masses  of  decayed  leaves, 
trees,  etc.,  and  often  a  covering  of  moss.  With  considerable  depth 
of  soil,  trenches,  shallow  shafts  and  drives  may  have  to  be  resorted  to. 


416  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

The  occurrence  and  appearance  of  the  gold  itself  may  also  be 
indicative  of  the  presence  of  the  vein  from  which  it  was  derived. 
If  attached  to  gangue  and  rough  and  porous  it  has  not  traveled  far, 
while  if  flat  and  worn  it  is  evident  that  it  is  far  from  its  source.  The 
float  or  "  shoad  "  rock,  often  called  "kindly"  rock,  consists  of 
portions  of  the  vein-filling,  being  quartz,  calcite,  fluorspar,  heavy 
spar,  etc.  The  color  of  the  rock  is  also  often  an  indication  of  the 
presence  of  veins  and  when  stained  red  or  brown,  by  iron  oxide,  it  is 
known  as  gossan  rock.  The  iron  stone  "  blow-out  "  or  "  iron  hat  " 
of  the  Germans  will  always  bear  careful  examination  and  testing.1 

It  is  fully  as  important  to  know  what  minerals  are  commonly 
associated  with  gold  and  silver  and  their  properties  as  to  be 
acquainted  with  the  properties  and  characteristics  of  the  metals 
themselves.  Further,  simple  blow-pipe  tests  are  often  of  inestimable 
value  to  the  prospector  and  should  constitute  an  important  part 
of  his  outfit. 

The  following  summary  of  facts  has  been  given  as  being  of 
considerable  importance  in  prospecting.2 

1.  The  gold  contained  in  the  surface  wash  is  the  principal  guide 
to  the  vein  or  the  localized  values  therein. 

2.  The  work  of  prospecting  by  shafts  on  veins  unless  values  are 
obtainable  from  the  outcrop,  is  not  to  be  recommended. 

3.  If  the  gold  found  in  tracing  is  smooth  and  rounded  there  is 
little  chance  of  finding  the  source. 

4.  If  a  trace  extends  to  a  clay  bed,  begin  immediately  to  search 
for  the  vein. 

5.  Serpentine  traces  usually  show  values  but  are  unreliable. 

6.  Numerous  fine  colors  with  an  occasional  coarse  one  are  prefer- 
able to  a  single  nugget,  even  if  rough. 

7.  A  coarse  gold  district  is  to  be  preferred  as  the  veins  and  pockets 
are  apt  to  be  larger  and  more  readily  found. 

8.  In  prospecting  it  is  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  the  majority  of 
gold-bearing  veins  do  not  reach  the  surface. 

The  prospecting  of  veins  is  as  a  rule  more  satisfactory  than  their 
location  by  methods  previously  described,  for  their  position  with 
regard  to  the  surface  is  usually  pretty  well  known,  while  the  possible 
points  of  attack  are  limited.  Nevertheless  prospecting  by  shafts, 
tunnels  and  drifts  is  more  difficult  and  expensive  owing  to  the 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  75,  p.  242,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  70,  p.  164. 
a  Ibid.,  Vol.  81,  p.  155. 


MINING   GOLD   AND   SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.         417 

hardness  of  the  rock  and  in  more  extended  work,  the  necessity  of 
ventilating  and  draining  the  workings. 

Formerly  the  work  was  done  largely  by  driving  tunnels  and  drifts 
and  sinking  shafts,  but  during  recent  years  exploring  by  means 
of  drills,  both  churn  and  core,  has  come  into  great  favor  and 
their  use  is  being  rapidly  extended  both  above  and  below  ground. 
The  advantage  of  the  former  over  the  latter  methods  consists 
in  the  fact  that  a  larger  cross  sectional  area  is  exposed  with  the 
result  that  sampling  can  be  carried  on  more  advantageously  and 
accurately. 

Shafts  for  exploratory  work  are  usually  sunk  in  the  vein  and  lie 
in  a  vertical  plane  cutting  the  vein  transversely.  Drifts  are  also 
driven  in  the  vein  but  are  horizontal  openings  or  nearly  so,  being 
given  sufficient  grade  for  purposes  of  haulage  and  drainage. 
Tunnels  as  distinguished  from  drifts  do  not  follow  the  vein  but 
usually  run  normal  to  the  stratification  of  the  rocks  and  therefore  cut 
the  vein  transversely.  Shafts  and  drifts  prove  the  vein-contents  over 
a  large  area  while  tunneling  is  more  in  the  nature  of  drilling  in  that 
respect.  The  special  advantage  of  tunneling  consists  in  exploring 
ground  lying  without  the  vein  and  locating  the  so-called  "  blind  " 
deposits,  i.e.,  those  that  do  not  come  to  the  surface. 

Drilling  has  all  of  the  advantages  of  shafts,  drifts  and  tunnels 
with  respect  to  position  as  holes  can  be  drilled  in  any  direction,  but 
the  results  obtained  are  lacking  in  definiteness  and  detail. 

The  following  comparison  between  shalt  sinking  and  drilling  as 
means  of  prospecting  has  been  given:1  A  shaft  can  be  sunk  100 
feet  in  four  months  at  a  cost  of  $3,000,  while  with  the  same  expendi- 
ture 10  holes  could  be  drilled  with  a  diamond  drill  to  the  same 
depth  and  spaced  10  feet  apart  in  about  two  and  one-half  months. 
In  the  latter  case  a  block  of  groundx100  feet  square  and  deep  will 
have  been  fairly  well  explored,  while  in  the  former  case  only  the 
cubical  contents  of  the  shaft  will  be  positively  known.  Further,  the 
disadvantage  of  limited  area  of  hole  is  largely  offset  by  drilling  a 
number  of  holes  normal  to  the  vein  in  the  same  plane. 

Although  prospecting,  which  includes  all  systematic  search  for 
minerals,  is  absolutely  necessary  for  the  proper  development  of 
mineral  properties,  yet  a  large  number  of  the  largest  gold  and  silver 
mines  in  the  world  owe  their  discovery  to  accident  or  chance.  And 
the  prospector  although  aided  by  the  constantly  increasing  store  of 
information  regarding  the  association  and  occurrence  of  gold  and 
1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  82,  p.  106. 


418  GOLD   AND  SILVER. 

silver  knows  little  more  than  the  philosopher  of  old  who  said: 
"  Surely  there  is  a  vein  for  the  silver  and  a  place  for  the  gold  where 
they  find  it." 

Development.  Development  work  is  prospecting  extended,  but 
is  also  considerably  more.  Besides  being  more  extensive  it  is  of 
necessity  more  systematically  carried  on  as  the  various  horizontal 
and  vertical  passages  must  serve  as  means  of  inlet  and  exit  for  men 
and  an  outlet  for  ore.  Further,  by  such  work  the  ore-bodies  are 
rendered  accessible  to  the  miner,  their  extent  and  value  are  made 
known  and  economic  handling  is  rendered  possible. 

Shafts  and  tunnels  are  almost  universally  employed  in  developing 
mines  of  gold  and  silver,  as  well  as  other  minerals,  and  which  method 
is  employed  depends  largely  upon  existing  conditions.  If  the  outcrop 
of  a  vein  is  at  considerable  height  on  a  mountain  and  the  pitch  of  the 
vein  is  such  that  the  distance  from  the  base  of  the  mountain  to  the 
vein  is  not  unduly  great,  then  a  tunnel  might  be  chosen  to  advantage 
in  the  development  and  working  of  the  vein.  Even  then  a  shaft 
would  be  sunk  to  make  connection  with  the  tunnel  in  order  that 
proper  development,  might  be  made  at  minimum  expense  and  that 
effective  ventilation  might  be  secured. 

In  other  cases  where  lines  of  transportation  can  be  brought  to  or 
moderately  close  to  the  proposed  site  of  a  shaft,  shafts  are  preferred 
as  a  means  of  opening  up  a  vein  or  ore-body. 

In  the  consideration  of  mine  development  are  involved  problems 
relating  to  the  time  and  expense  of  hoisting  and  handling  the  ore, 
capacity  of  individual  hoists  and  output  of  the  mine,  proper 
installation  of  machinery  and  capital  to  be  invested. 

Some  of  the  more  important  considerations  affecting  the  choice  of 
kind  of  shaft  to  be  employed  are  as  follows:  For  steeply  pitching 
veins  and  extenuated  ore-bodies,  vertical  shafts  may  be  employed 
to  advantage  and  may  be  sunk  in  or  to  one  side  of  the  vein  according 
to  the  character  and  strength  of  the  vein-filling  and  wall-rock.  How- 
ever, inclined  shafts  are  occasionally  employed  in  such  cases,  but 
some  difficulty  is  experienced  in  arranging  for  hoisting.  The  princi- 
pal advantage  of  vertical  shafts  is  convenience  in  hoisting  which  may 
be  largely  offset  by  the  amount  of  dead  work  necessary  to  reach  the 
vein,  and  with  decrease  in  dip,  this  is  proportionately  greater  until 
a  point  is  reached  where  the  expense  of  making  frequent  connections 
(cross-cutting)  between  shaft  and  vein  together  with  that  of  handling 
the  ore  is  prohibitive.  Vertical  shafts  are  then  limited  to  pitches  of 
about  36  to  90  degrees;  the  former  being  considered  the  lowest 


MINING  GOLD   AND  SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.          419 

economical  limit.  Inclined  shafts  may,  however,  be  readily  employed 
between  the  limits  of  16  to  85  degrees,  although  both  limits  merge 
into  other  methods  of  development  that  are  preferred  —  the  upper, 
especially  above  65  degrees,  into  the  field  for  vertical  shafts,  the  lower 
into  that  of  slopes  and  incline-planes. 

The  location  of  the  shaft  whether  vertical  or  inclined,  is  also  of 
considerable  importance,  and  not  only  from  the  standpoint  of  ease  of 
sinking  and  stability,  but  in  regard  to  the  methods  of  handling  the 
mine  product.  When  a  vertical  shaft  is  located  on  the  outcrop  of  a 
pitching  seam,  it  is  evident  that  the  line  of  the  shaft  will  soon  deviate 
from  the  course  of  the  vein,  thus  necessitating  the  driving  of  cross- 
cuts, which  with  considerable  depth  will  become  unduly  long.  This 
difficulty  can  be  largely  obviated  by  sinking  the  shaft  in  the  hanging- 
wall,  and  at  such  a  distance  from  the  vein  as  to  properly  proportion 
the  length  of  cross-cuts,  both  above  and  below  the  intersection  of  the 
shaft  with  the  vein.  Further,  with  due  regard  for  other  controlling 
factors,  the  distance  of  the  shaft  from  the  vein  outcrop,  must  bear  a 
definite  relation  to  the  proposed  depth  of  the  shaft  or  development  of 
the  property. 

Inclined  shafts  are  usually  sunk  in  the  vein  for  various  reasons, 
the  more  important  being  ease  of  sinking,  as  the  vein-filling  is  usually 
softer  and  more  easily  worked  than  the  country-rock,  and  the  value  as 
a  means  of  ascertaining  the  extent  and  character  of  the  deposit.  How- 
ever, when  sunk  in  the  vein,  more  care  must  usually  be  taken  in  the 
support  of  the  excavation,  which  involves  the  leaving  of  pillars  of 
mineral  standing  in  the  vein,  and  the  consequent  reduction  of  the 
percentage  of  extraction.  The  loss  of  mineral  may  be  largely  over- 
come by  sinking  the  shaft  in  the  foot-wall,  although  the  advantage  of 
sinking  in  the  vein  material  is  thus  largely  offset,  but  the  inclined  still 
has  the  advantage  over  the  vertical  shafts,  in  that  the  length  of  cross- 
cuts is  considerably  less. 

Shafts  should  be  located  in  the  foot-  rather  than  the  hanging-wall 
owing  to  the  fact  that  there  is  less  danger  of  movement.  Further, 
to  prevent  reversing  the  grade  or  direction  of  hoisting,  when  inclined 
shafts  are  employed,  it  is  necessary  to  place  the  ore  bins  and  surface 
work  on  the  foot-wall  side  of  the  outcrop. 

The  considerations  outlined  above  may  be  considerably  modified 
by  prevailing  conditions,  such  as  fissuring  and  faulting  of  the  vein,  and 
its  intersection  with  one  or  more  productive  or  non-productive  veins. 

Having  made  connection  between  the  surface  and  vein  by  means  of 
shafts  and  cross-cuts,  levels  are  formed  in  the  vein  by  driving  drifts 


420  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

at  the  points  of  intersection  of  cross-cuts  or  shafts  with  the  vein.  The 
levels  are  in  turn  connected  by  other  opening  in  the  vein,  which  accord- 
ing to  whether  they  are  sunk  or  driven  upward,  are  called  winzes  and 
raises.  The  secondary  connecting  passages  are  usually  spaced  at 
more  or  less  regular  intervals  along  the  line  of  the  levels,  and  on  either 
side  of  the  shafts. 

Beginning  with  the  levels,  their  roofs  are  attacked,  which  work  is 
continued  upward  until  the  level  above  is  reached.  The  process  of 
removing  the  valuable  portion  of  the  vein  lying  between  levels,  is 
known  as  stoping,  being  designated  as  over-  and  under-hand  stoping, 
according  to  whether  the  work  is  done  by  breaking  down  the  roof,  or 
heaving  up  the  floor. 

The  following  interesting  summary  was  made  regarding  the  devel- 
opment work  in  precious  metal  mining  of  the  United  States: l  "There 
were  in  1886,  920  mines  hi  the  various  States  and  Territories,  of  which 
195  were  opened  by  shafts,  86  by  inclines,  91  by  shafts  and  inclines, 
202  by  shafts  and  tunnels,  40  by  shafts,  inclines  and  tunnels,  1  by 
shaft,  incline  and  opencut,  12  by  shaft,  tunnel  and  opencut,  2  by 
shaft,  incline,  tunnel,  and  opencut,  151  by  tunnel,  49  by  tunnel  and 
incline,  20  by  tunnel  and  opencut,  6  by  incline  and  opencut,  3  by 
incline,  tunnel  and  opencut,  and  50  by  opencut  alone.  Of  the  85 
mines  in  California,  23  were  opened  by  shaft,  17  by  inclines,  9  by 
shaft  and  inclines,  7  by  shaft  and  tunnels,  21  by  tunnels,  7  by  tunnels 
and  inclines,  and  1  by  shaft,  incline  and  tunnel.  Of  the  825  deep 
mines  reported  on,  the  total  length  of  shafts  and  inclines  aggregated 
399,686  feet,  total  length  of  tunnels  and  galleries  1,992,191  feet, 
total  length  of  winzes  and  raises  221,071  feet,  while  the  greatest  ver- 
tical depth  of  workings  was  3027  feet,  and  the  greatest  horizontal 
development  was  4000  feet.  These  distances  expressed  in  miles, 
neglecting  fractions,  would  be  as  follows:  length  of  shafts  and  inclines, 
76  miles,  tunnels  and  galleries  377  miles,  winzes  and  raises  42  miles, 
giving  a  total  of  495  miles.  In  the  above,  tunnels  and  galleries 
include  all  horizontal  openings.  The  development  of  mines  in  Nevada 
was  of  the  most  importance,  having  a  length  of  shafts  and  inclines  of 
119,547  feet,  of  tunnels  and  galleries  794,914  feet,  of  winzes  and  raises 
100,133  feet.  The  greatest  vertical  depth  of  shaft  and  horizontal 
development  are  also  found  in  this  state,  the  entire  development  work 
representing  an  aggregate  length  of  185  miles." 

The  remarkable  progress  in  development  of  the  mines  of  the  Com- 
Btock  lode  is  shown  in  the  following  list  of  depth  of  shafts  for  the  year 
»  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  52,  p.  224. 


MINING   GOLD   AND   SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.  421 

1881.  The  datum  line  for  depths  was  the  Gould  and  Curry  croppings. 
On  the  23rd  of  November,  1879,  the  incline  of  the  Belcher  mine  had 
reached  a  depth  of  3,000  feet,  and  had  the  distinction  of  being  the 
deepest  mine  in  the  United  States.1 

DEPTH 

Utah,  bottom  of  incline  which  ran  south  from  vertical  shaft  2250  feet 

Sierra  Nevada,  bottom  of  joint  Union  Consolidated  winze .  2700  " 

Union  Consolidated,  bottom  of  joint  Sierra  Nevada  winze.  2700  " 

Mexican,  Bottom  of  joint  Ophir  winze 2860  " 

Ophir,  bottom  of  joint  Mexican  winze  .    . 2860  " 

California  and  Consolidated  Virginia,  each 2500  " 

Best  and  Belcher,  bottom  of  Consolidated  Virginia  winze    .  2300  " 

Gould  &  Curry,  Osbiston  shaft      1980  " 

Savage,  Hale  &  Norcross,  Chollar  &  Potosi,  each       ....  2400  " 

Julia    .    .   . 2900  " 

Bullion .    .    .    .    .    .  2800  " 

Imperial  Consolidated     *   .   .    ...   .   .   .  ^ 2800  " 

Yellow  Jacket .   .   . 3000  " 

Crown  Point .    .; 2760  " 

Belcher 3090  " 

Overman 2275  " 

Alta 2065  " 

Foreman  shaft 1980  " 

Owing  to  the  scarcity  of  published  records  it  is  difficult  to  give  a 
comprehensive  account  of  the  development  work  in  the  various 
states  and  territories,  for  any  given  time  or  period;  however,  an 
occasional  enumeration  is  given  as  the  following  for  Utah : 2 

Depth  May  1,  1900, 

Mammoth  mine,  Tintic  district,  Utah 2000  feet 

Horn  Silver  mine,  Frisco,  Utah 1630  " 

Ontario,  Park  City,  Utah 1600  " 

Centennial  Eureka,  Tintic 1600  " 

Daly  West,  Park  City      ........    .    '.   . 1400  " 

Silver  King,  Park  City _ 1300  " 

Daly,  Park  City 1200  " 

Grand  Central,  Tintic  .   .  •. 900  " 

Bullion  Beck,  Tintic     ......    ...    .,.  ...    .....  1350  " 

Eureka  Hill,  Tintic .   ..:,*.....    .   . '..   .  1500  " 

Dixie  copper  mine,  Washington  County  .    . .  400  " 

Mining  by  tunnels  is  the  usual  and  preferred  method  of  develop- 
ment in  the  Coeur  d'Alene  region,  Idaho,  and  up  to  1903,  it  was 
claimed  that  at  least  70  per  cent  of  the  ores  mined  there  had  been 
extracted  through  tunnels,  while  of  the  remaining  30  per  cent,  two- 
iifths  was  raised  in  underground  shafts,  and  thence  hauled  to  the 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  38,  p.  249,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  43,  p.  76. 
3  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  20,  p.  524. 


422  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

surface  through  tunnels.     The  Tiger-Poorman  was  the  only  mine 
having  employed  surface  shafts  from  the  beginning  of  operations. 
Below  is  given  a  list  of  the  principal  tunnels  in  this  region : l 

FEET  IN  LENGTH 

The  Sweeney,  Wardner,  about 5000 

The  Reed,  Wardner,  about 5500 

The  Kellogg,  Wardner,  about       ". 12000 

The  Frisco,  Gem,  about         ...*..• 1200 

The  Standard,  Mace,  about 3000 

The  Mammoth,  No.  6,  Black  Bear,  about  ...'.. 3600 

The  Hecla  No.  3,  Burke 2400 

The  Morning  No.  5,  Mullen 3000 

The  Morning  No.  6,  Mullen       ..........  ....  ....  10000 

A  list  of  shafts  in  the  same  district  is  in  part  as  follows: 

FEET  IN  DEPTH 

Tiger-Poorman,  from  the  surface »..-...       1700 

Hecla,  from  surface 300 

Standard,  in  Campbell  tunnel,  3000  feet  from  the  surface  .    .  V         850 
Frisco,  in  Frisco  tunnel,  1200  feet  from  surface 1400 

As  measured  from  the  surface  the  mines  of  the  Tiger-Poorman, 
Frisco  and  Standard  are  practically  of  the  same  depth,  being  about 
2000  feet  deep. 

In  the  Cripple  Creek  district  practically  all  of  the  shafts  are  vertical 
and  sunk  from  the  surface.  The  following  list  gives  a  fair  idea  of  the 
development  work  that  has  been  done  (1903),  especially  in  some  of 
the  larger  mines:2 

DEPTH 

Portland 1200  feet 

Stratton's  Independence 1400 

Gold  Coin .    .    .    .    .  1200 

Golden  Cycle .<  .    .    .    .  1000 

Vindicator .....    .  V .    .x  .    .    .  1200 

Eagles 1500 

Doctor-Jackpot .   . 700 

Gold  Ring      >..... 920 

Shurtloff '. 920 

Findley -."."... 1300 

Blue  Bird       '.....;. 1350 

Last  Dollar        .  *,..'..  „  -v"l  ... -^ ,-..r 1220 

Princess  Alice ......        ....  1000 

Wild  Horse        ' 1250 

Isabella,  Victor  &  Empire  State,    .    -.    .  V 1000        (?) 

Elkton 800 

Hull  City .  :.>.   .",.,- 1180 

Ajax    ......    .   .    .;.}.  . 1200 

Midget        .    .   .    .   ,  v  / 750 

C.  O.  D 1000 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  250-251,  1903. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  76,  p.  86. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.          423 

Methods  of  Extraction.  —  Special  methods  employed  in  break- 
ing down  and  handling  the  ore;  commonly  known  as  stoping,  are 
discussed  in  this  connection.  Such  methods  as  have  been  success- 
fully employed  in  the  large  gold  and  silver  mines  of  the  United 
States  are  given,  no  attempt  being  made  to  describe  in  detail  all  of 
the  principal  processes,  but  rather  the  more  typical  ones. 

Further,  the  occurrence  of  the  ore  together  with  the  methods  of 
development  are  of  necessity  considered,  but  only  in  so  far  as  to  be 
of  service  in  elucidating  the  methods  of  extraction  or  mining  proper. 

For  convenience  the  methods  are  described  as  applied  to  narrow- 
veins,  wide  veins,  bedded  deposits  and  masses.  Massive  deposits 
may  occur  in  stratified  formations,  in  contacts  and  in  wide  veins. 
The  principal  conditions  affecting  the  methods  of  working,  are  the 
lateral  and  vertical  extent  of  the  deposits,  which  in  turn  depend 
largely  upon  the  pitch. 

Narrow  Veins .  —  The  Southern  States :  the  Franklin  and  Cross 
Mines.  —  Quartz-veins  of  variable  width  forming  lenticular  masses 
together  with  impregnations  of  the  country-rock  constitute  the 
general  type  of  ore-bodies  worked  in  this  region.  Methods  of  mining 
employed  in  the  Franklin  mine,  Cherokee  County,  Georgia,  and  the 
Cross  mine,  Lancaster  County,  South  Carolina,  are  described  as 
typical  for  this  class  of  deposits. 

"  The  (Franklin)  mine  is  worked  entirely  through  No.  2  shaft 
driven  in  the  hanging- wall  to  a  depth  of  215  feet,  at  which  point  it 
strikes  the  vein.  From  this  level  work  is  carried  on  to  a  total  depth 
of  430  feet  by  a  slope  on  the  dip  of  the  vein  and  the  pitch  of  the 
ore-shoot,  resting  on  a  small  horse  of  poor  ore. 

"  The  method  of  mining  the  ore  is  as  follows:  Levels  are  run  every 
100  feet,  and  the  ore-lenses  are  entirely  stoped  out,  leaving  the 
intervening  bodies  of  low-grade  material  as  pillars.  The  levels  are 
connected  by  a  series  of  raises,  their  number  depending  upon  the 
length  of  the  ore-shoots.  The  ore  is  then  stoped  by  underhand 
work,  the  raises  acting  as  ore-chutes  (mill-holes),  and  the  cars  being 
loaded  directly  from  pockets  in  the  level  below.  No  pillars  are  left 
below  the  levels,  the  track  when  necessary  being  carried  over  the 
worked-out  stopes  on  stulls.  Only  such  timbers  as  are  necessary  to 
assist  the  men  in  their  work  are  used,  the  walls  requiring  no  support. 
All  the  material  stoped  is  hoisted  and  milled,  leaving  no  waste 
filling  in  the  mine.  Air-drills  are  used  almost  exclusively;  for  stop- 
ing,  a  Baby  Rand  with  J-inch  steel  is  used,  while  drifting  is  done 
with  3J-inch  cylinder  Sergeant  machines.  The  ore  is  raised  in  cars 


424  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

of  one-half  ton  capacity,  first  up  the  incline  by  underground  hoisting 
engine,  and  then  trammed  to  the  bottom  of  the  vertical  shaft,  from 
where  they  are  hoisted  to  the  surface  on  cages.  No.  1  shaft  is  used 
for  ventilation,  and  has  a  pipe-way.  The  mine  is  not  a  wet  one,  a 
small  steam-pump,  situated  immediately  below  No.  2  shaft,  taking 
care  of  the  water.  At  the  surface,  the  ore  is  run  over  a  grizzly, 
and  then  through  a  crusher,  the  jaws  of  which  are  set  1J  inches 
apart.  The  crushed  ore  is  hauled  to  the  mill  by  mules  in  cars  of  1J 
tons  capacity,  which  are  loaded  from  a  bin  below  the  crusher. 

"  Besides  the  above  deeper  developments,  exploratory  work  is 
being  pushed  at  two  other  points  along  the  outcrop  of  the  vein 
known  as  No.  3  and  No.  4  shafts,  and  located  respectively  J  and  }  of 
a  mile  to  the  southwest  of  No.  2  shaft.  At  both  points  inclined 
shafts  are  being  sunk  on  the  dip  of  the  vein  with  the  object  of 
developing  in  depth  lenses  which  have  been  worked  to  some  extent 
on  the  surface."  l 

"  The  method  of  working  these  (the  Cross  mine)  deposits  is  the 
pillar  system  (Pfeilerbau).  .  .  . 

"  The  levels  (8  by  7  feet)  are  run  70  to  100  feet  apart,  and  nearer 
the  hanging-  than  the  foot-wall.  At  intervals  of  about  50  feet 
upraises  are  made,  with  a  cross-section  of  8  by  7  feet.  These  are 
carried  forward  at  an  inclination  as  near  as  possible  to  45  degrees. 
If  necessary,  the  upper  portion  through  the  chain  pillar  left  under 
each  level  is  carried  up  vertically.  This  raise  serves  afterwards  as 
a  chute  (mill-hole).  Drifts  are  then  run  below  this  pillar  until  the 
limit  of  the  stope  in  length  (about  30  to  40  feet  in  all)  is  reached, 
leaving  a  vertical  pillar  15  to  20  feet  in  thickness  between  the  stopes. 
The  ground  is  then  cut  away  between  the  foot-  and  hanging-wall,  com- 
pletely exposing  as  roof  the  bottom  of  the  chain-pillar  above,  which 
is  sprung  in  the  shape  of  an  arch,  with  its  heavier  toe  in  the  foot-wall, 
and  a  minimum  thickness  of  15  feet.  This,  as  well  as  all  other  work 
in  tight  ground,  is  done  by  air-drills.  Stoping  is  then  carried  down- 
ward by  hand-drilling  in  circular  steps,  arranged  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  allow  the  ore  to  drop  into  the  chute  on  blasting,  without  fur- 
ther handling.  The  angle  of  45  degrees  given  to  the  latter  allows  a 
steady  flow  of  the  material  down  the  foot-wall  without  completely 
choking  it.  At  the  bottom  of  the  chute  is  a  rough  grizzly  made  of 
logs,  which  holds  back  the  larger  boulders  and  prevents  them  from 
choking  the  smaller  loading-pocket  below.  This  grizzly  is  easily 
-accessible  from  the  drift,  and  the  larger  pieces  of  ore  are  here  sledged. 
*  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  760. 


MINING  GOLD  AND   SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.  425 

The  loading-chute  and  grizzly  are  kept  up  as  long  as  possible  until 
the  stope  is  finally  broken  through  to  the  drift-level  below,  the  ore 
being  shoveled  into  cars.  As  far  as  possible,  the  pillars  are  left  in 
poor  ore,  the  diabase  dike  fulfilling  this  purpose  admirably.  No 
timber  whatever  is  used,  and  although  chambers  100  by  100  by  40 
feet  have  been  cut  out,  there  seems  to  be  no  danger  of  a  fall,  the 
country-slate  being  very  tough  and  self  supporting.  The  stopes 
from  the  100  and  200  foot  levels  are  connected  with  the  surface  by 
raises,  so  that  at  a  future  date  the  worked-out  stopes  can  be  filled 
from  the  surface  and  the  ore  in  the  pillars,  i.e.,  what  is  left  toward 
the  hanging-wall,  can  be  taken  out. 

"  Blasting  is  done  with  40  pe;  cent  Hercules  powder.  One-inch 
steel  is  used  for  both  hand-  and  machine-work.  The  number  of 
air-drills  is  limited  by  the  size  of  the  compressor  —  an  Ingersoll 
machine,  with  3-drill  capacity.  The  ore  is  carried  from  the  load- 
ing-chutes to  the  shafts  in  sheet-iron  cars  of  }-ton  capacity,  running 
on  18-inch  gauge  track.  At  No.  2,  shaft  (7  by  12  feet,  single  com- 
partment) they  are  hoisted  by  cage,  with  automatic  safety  catch. 
The  new  shaft  is  6  by  14  feet,  double  compartment,  and  the  ore  is 
raised  by  a  novel  skip  designed  by  Mr.  Thies."  * 

Colorado :  the  Standley,  Camp  Bird,  and  Cripple  Creek  Mines.  — 
An  interesting  description  of  a  typical  gold  mine,  the  Standley  Con- 
solidated Mine  at  Idaho  Springs,  Colorado,  is  given  by  Professor 
Arthur  Lakes.2 

"  Stoping  is  done  as  follows:  An  upraise  is  made  by  a  power  or 
air  drill  in  the  roof  of  the  tunnel  to  a  height  of  perhaps  50  feet.  An 
opening  upwards  is  thus  made,  the  dirt  from  the  excavation  falling 
into  the  tunnel  below.  From  this  chute  stoping  is  commenced; 
that  is  excavating  along  the  vein  on  either  side  of  this  chute,  be- 
ginning at  the  bottom.  In  doing  this,  the  drills  are  directed  in  a 
slanting  direction  downwards  so  that  water  can  be  poured  into  the 
holes  to  assist  drilling.  In  this  stope,  the  gangue  matter  of  the  vein 
is  blasted  down  first,  away  from  the  richer  streak  of  ore,  which  in 
this  mine  almost  invariaby  lies  close  on  to  either  foot-wall  or  hanging- 
wall,  generally  the  foot-w'all.  Previously,  however,  as  soon  as  stop- 
ing begins,  thick  stulls  are  laid  across  the  upper  part  of  the  tunnel 
from  wall  to  wall,  each  of  them  five  feet  apart  from  centers,  and  on 
these  is  laid  a  lagging  of  poles  15  feet  long;  forming  a  floor  on  top  of 
these  stulls.  The  cross  stulls  in  this  case  were  the  width  of  the  vein, 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  pp.  773,  775  and  777. 

2  The  Colliery  Engineer  and  Metal  Miner,  Vol.  14,  pp.  282-283. 


426  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

and  two  feet  thick.  The  butt  end  of  a  stull  is  laid  in  a  hitch  or 
square  notch,  cut  in  the  face  of  the  foot-wall,  and  the  other  end  is 
jammed  down  on  to  the  head  in  the  hanging  wall  at  a  nearly  right- 
angle  with  both  walls. 

"  These  stulls  in  this  mine,  with  inclined  walls,  have  to  be  very 
thick  and  strong  to  support  the  enormous  pressure  of  the  hang- 
ing-wall, a  pressure  in  this  mine  increased  by  the  swelling  of  a 
body  or  dyke  of  porphyry  behind  the  hanging-wall.  So  powerful 
was  this  pressure  that  I  saw  cross  stulls  two  feet  thick,  and  only 
five  feet  long;  split,  broken,  bent  and  crushed  at  the  butts  like 
tow. 

"  The  stulls  and  lagging  having  been  laid  as  a  floor,  the  work  of 
stoping  upwards  progresses.  The  dirt  falls  on  the  lagging  of  the 
floor,  but  much  of  its  pressure  is  distributed  over  the  sloping  sur- 
face of  the  foot-wall,  instead  of  all  on  the  floor  of  lagging  and 
stulls. 

"  On  top  of  the  dirt  that  falls  from  his  work  upon  the  lagging 
floor,  the  miner  stands  to  continue  his  attack  on  the  vein  in  the  roof 
of  the  stope  with  the  power  drill,  whose  pillar  may  be  placed  across 
the  stope  horizontally  or  else  vertically. 

"  After  the  poorer  rock  of  the  gangue  (i.e.,  the  vein  matter  from 
wall  to  wall)  has  been  blasted  down,  and  scaled  off  from  the  streak 
of  rich  ore  that  in  this  case  lay  close  to  the  foot-wall,  the  poor  barren 
rock  is  broken  up  small  to  make  a  somewhat  smooth  floor  to  re- 
ceive the  precious  ore  as  it  is  broken  down.  This,  if  soft,  is  either 
taken  down  with  a  pick  or  gad  or  else  blasted  down  with  a  light 
charge  of  powder. 

"  Meanwhile  to  dispose  of  this  ore,  and  get  it  down  safely  into 
the  tunnel  below,  a  chute  or  mill-hole  has  been  kept  open  and  care- 
fully timbered  with  small  cross-sets  of  timber  to  the  level  of  the 
floor  of  the  stope  where  it  is  as  an  open  chimney  down  which  to 
throw  the  ore  into  the  tunnel  below  where  a  car  stands  ready  to 
receive  it,  and  carry  it  out  on  the  dump,  to  be  wheeled  to  the  mill 
or  sorting  room  or  to  the  incline  shaft  for  hoisting.  As  the  dirt  on 
the  floor  of  the  stope  rises,  additional  cros's  pieces  are  added  to  keep 
the  mill-hole  or  ore-chute  free  and  clear  from  stones.  The  mill- 
hole  is  wider  at  the  bottom,  which  is  called  a  pocket,  than  at  the 
top.  This  enlargement  is  done  to  prevent  stones  clogging,  hence 
the  mill-hole  is  in  the  form  of  an  inverted  funnel. 

"  Down  this  ore-chute,  the  ore  is  dumped  into  the  car  in  the 
tramway  at  the  bottom  of  the  tunnel. 


MINING   GOLD   AND   SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.          427 

"  Very  rich  ore  is  sometimes  carefully  broken  down  on  a  blanket 
spread  on  the  floor  of  the  stope. 

"  The  result  of  driving  the  drill  holes  down  in  a  slanting  direction 
is  finally  to  make  one  end  of  the  stope  higher  than  the  other. 

"  On  reaching  near  the  upper  level,  if  the  ore  is  not  very  valuable, 
a  pillar  is  left  or  else  it  is  stoped  clear  up  to  the  track  and  filled  in. 
The  vacant  space  is  filled  by  stoping  on  one  side  and  filling  in,  laying 
cross  pieces  from  wall  to  wall  to  support  the  rails  of  the  upper  level 
whilst  this  is  in  progress.  Commonly  this  part  is  filled  up  during 
the  night  shift,  so  that  by  the  morning  the  cars  can  run  on  the  rails 
of  the  upper  level. 

"  Mill-holes  or  ore-chutes  as  they  are  called,  are  generally  placed 
at  every  40  or  50  feet  apart.  Men  may  be  working  at  one  end  of  a 
stope,  and  others  at  the  further  end,  the  drilling  holes  converging 
towards  the  cutter.  The  cross-section  of  the  vein  is  well  seen  on 
the  roof  and  end  faces  of  these  stopes." 

The  quartz  veins  of  the  San  Juan  region,  as  exemplified  by  those 
at  the  Camp  Bird  mine,  are  high-grade,  averaging  in  width  from 
three  to  eight  feet,  the  range  being  2  to  16  feet.  Values  are  some- 
what irregularly  distributed  throughout  the  vein,  but  when  concen- 
trated in  certain  areas  constitute  the  so-called  ore  "  shoots." 

"  The  main  cross-cut,  2200  feet  long,  at  level  No.  3,  runs  south  to 
cut  the  vein.  The  two  upper  levels,  also,  are  opened  by  cross-cuts. 
The  total  length  of  development-work,  including  cross-cuts,  drifts 
on  the  vein,  stopes,  raises,  mill-holes,  shafts  and  winzes,  is  between 
5  and  5J  miles.  In  the  west  end  of  the  workings,  over  1500  feet  of 
depth  beneath  the  top  of  the  mountain  has  been  gained. 

"  The  main  cross-cut  at  No.  3  level  is  7  by  7  feet  in  the  clear,  and 
timbered  for  the  first  420  feet  from  the  entrance  (that  is,  so  long  as 
the  tunnel  is  in  the  "  slide-rock  "),  with  square  sets  (posts  and  caps 
12  inches  square).  After  entering  the  solid  rock,  no  timbering  is 
required.  The  upper  cross-cuts,  also,  are  timbered  only  in  the 
slide-rock.  In  general,  it  may  be  said  that,  throughout  the  mine- 
workings,  timbering  is  required  only  in  the  chutes  or  mill-holes, 
raises,  winzes,  and  the  floors  of  stopes.  The  ground  in  the  mine 
stands  remarkably  well,  several  stopes  from  10  to  20  feet  wide 
having  required  no  timbering. 

"  The  main  cross-cut  is  lighted  with  incandescent  lights  100  feet 
apart.  In  the  No.  2  and  No.  3  levels  and  cross-cuts,  the  30-pounds 
steel-rail  track  is  22  inches  wide.  Compressed  air  is  conducted  into 
the  main  cross-cut  by  a  6-inch  pipe,  the  size  of  which  is  successively 


428  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

cut  down  as  the  air  passes  through  the  different  workings  to  various 
parts  of  the  mine.  A  2  by  1  feet  ditch  for  water  is  cut  in  the  lower 
cross-cut;  and  there  are  smaller  ditches  in  the  levels. 

"  From  the  upper  level,  and  stopes  above,  the  ore  is  handled 
entirely  by  gravity,  through  chutes,  to  the  lower  level,  then  trammed 
by  mules  to  the  ore-bins  at  the  mouth  of  the  main  adit,  and  dropped 
into  the  tram-buckets,  which  run  by  gravity  over  the  aerial  tram- 
line, 9000  feet  long,  to  the  mill.  From  all  other  parts  of  the  mine 
the  ore  is  similarly  handled.  No  ore  is  trammed  out  to  the  surface 
at  the  No.  2  or  No.  3  levels. 

"  From  the  lower  level,  9  end-dumping  cars,  of  a  little  over  1  ton 
capacity  each,  are  run  in  a  train.  The  installation  of  electric 
tramming  is  now  under  consideration.  The  average  quantity  of  ore 
trammed  out  is  a  little  over  200  tons  per  day.  Shafts  are  now 
being  sunk  on  the  vein  from  the  lower  level,  and  one  of  these  is 
already  200  feet  deep.  Part  of  the  tonnage  making  up  the  daily 
mill-run  is  taken  from  this  shaft. 

"  In  chutes  and  raises,  stulling  with  5-feet  centers  is  used.  Mill- 
holes  are  put  in  at  intervals  of  50  feet ;  and  as  often  as  necessary  for 
getting  the  ore  from  the  upper  levels,  these  are  continued  upward  as 
raises.  Every  alternate  chute  is  supplemented  with  a  man-way 
and  slide  for  steel. 

"  In  stoping,  it  has  been  the  custom  to  stull  and  lag  over  the  top 
of  the  drift,  forming  a  floor  for  the  power-drills.  Recently  there 
has  been  put  in  practice,  where  ground  is  sufficiently  solid  to  warrant 
it,  a  system  introduced  by  Mr.  Cronin,  the  mine-superintendent. 
When  a  new  stope  is  to  be  started,  a  raise  is  put  up  from  6  to  10 
feet,  according  to  the  solidity  of  the  ground  and  timbered  as  usual. 
From  the  top,  the  vein  is  run  on  as  if  a  drift  were  being  started. 
The  machine-men  thus  stand  on  a  solid  block  of  ore  in  place,  instead 
of  stulls  and  lagging.  The  pillar  thus  formed  is  lengthened  as  far 
as  it  is  desired  to  carry  the  stope,  say  50  feet,  to  the  place  of  the 
next  chute,  and  the  broken  ore  falls  on  the  solid  pillar,  the  timbering 
being  thus  practically  replaced.  The  pillar  is,  of  course,  always 
accessible  as  ore,  when  its  extraction  is  desired. 

"  The  mine  is  at  present  well  off  for  timber,  the  lower  level  being 
situated  below  timber-line  and  there  being,  a  fairly  heavy  growth  of 
spruce  on  the  side  of  the  mountain  near  by.  Spruce  timber  is 
plenty  along  the  mountain  sides  from  the  mine-workings  to  the  milL 

"  It  is  the  practice  in  all  the  mining  operations  to  take  out  only 
about  40  per  cent  of  the  ore  broken  in  stoping,  allowing  the  rest  to 


MINING  GOLD  AND   SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.  429 

remain  in  the  mine.  It  is  found  that  this  60  per  cent  of  broken  ore 
very  nearly  fills  the  space  occupied  by  the  total  original  ore  in  place. 
An  advantage  of  this  system  is  that  there  is  no  necessity  for  going 
into  the  walls  for  waste  to  fill  the  stopes,  since  these  are  continually 
filled  with  broken  ore.  For  the  most  part,  levels,  raises,  chutes  and 
winzes  have  been  run  in  ore;  and  at  present  the  percentage  of  waste 
trammed  out  is  very  small. 

"  Cross-cuts  and  main  levels  are  carried  7  feet  above  the  track, 
with  a  grade  of  4  inches  to  100  feet. 

"  All  drifting  and  breaking  is  done  by  machine-drills,  operated 
by  compressed  air  from  the  compressor-plant  at  the  mouth  of  the 
main  cross-cut."  1 

The  following  supplementary  description  is  taken  from  a  paper  on 
the  Camp  Bird  Gold  Mine,  by  H.  A.  Titcomb:2  "  Where  a  level  has 
run  through  pay  values  a  stope  is  commenced  about  six  to  eight  feet 
in  height  being  cut  out  above  the  level,  which  is  then  stulled  and 
lagged.  Openings  are  left  at  intervals  of  forty  to  fifty  feet  along  the 
level  for  the  chutes  and  man-ways  which  will  give  access  to  the  com- 
ing stope.  A  second  cut  of  six  to  eight  feet  of  ore  is  next  shot  down 
on  top  of  the  lagging  which  now  forms  the  roof  of  the  drift,  using 
light  charges  of  explosives  so  as  to  avoid  injury  to  the  timbering,  and 
subsequent  cuts  add  successively  to  this  broken  ore,  the  excess 
being  shoveled  down  the  ore-shoots  to  the  cars  in  the  level  below. 

"  As  the  stope  is  thus  carried  upwards  in  the  pay  ore,  the  timber- 
men  keep  pace  with  the  machine-men  and  timber  and  lag  the  chutes 
and  man-ways  so  that  they  are  kept  open  to  the  top  of  the  pile  of 
broken  ore,  which  acts  as  a  footing  on  which  the  miners  can  work 
at  the  unbroken  ground  overhead.  The  writer  has  calculated  that 
in  stoping  in  the  Camp  Bird,  from  50  per  cent  to  60  per  cent  of  the 
ore  by  weight  remains  in  the  stopes,  and  from  50  per  cent  to  40  per 
cent  is  removed  and  milled. 

"  When  the  back  of  a  stope  becomes  low-grade,  if  it  be  deemed 
advisable  to  abandon  further  stoping,  the  lagging  of  the  chutes  is 
removed  beginning  at  the  top,  and  the  ore  is  run  down  and  hauled 
out  to  the  tramway.  The  ore  finally  remaining  directly  over  the 
drift  must  be  shoveled  into  the  chutes  in  order  entirely  to  clear  the 
stope.  In  thus  drawing  a  stope  it  is  usual  to  put  in  numerous  stulls 
as  the  level  of  the  broken  ore  is  lowered,  the  stulls  being  left  to  sup- 
port the  walls  of  the  now  open  stope.  Where  waste  rock  is  available 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  523-524. 

3  School  of  mines  Quarterly,  Vol.  24,  pp.  61,  63. 


430  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

it  can  be  advantageously  run  into  an  open  stope.  .  .  .  Sullivan, 
Ingersoll-Sergeant,  and  Rand  air  drills  are  used  in  mining,  and  all 
give  satisfaction.  In  the  wider  stopes  and  in  hard  rock  as  well  as 
in  drift  work,  a  3J  inch  machine  is  employed,  requiring  two  men 
for  its  operation.  In  raises  and  in  softer  ground  or  narrow  stopes, 
a  drill  with  2-inch  or  2^-inch  piston  is  used,  one  man  alone  operating 
such  sizes.  These  small  sized  drills  are  known  to  the  miners  as 
"  Babies  "  and  "  Chippies." 

The  following  brief  description  of  the  practice  in  mining  in  the 
Cripple  Creek  district  is  taken  from  the  Professional  Paper  on  the 
Geology  and  Gold  Deposits  of  the  Cripple  Creek  District,  Colorado,  by 
Waldemar  Lindgren,  and  F.  L.  Ransome:  *  "  The  methods  of  mining 
employed  at  Cripple  Creek,  are  not  materially  different  from  those  in 
use  in  other  districts,  where  metalliferous  veins  are  exploited.  Over- 
hand stoping  with  slightly  differing  variations  is  used.  In  narrow 
veins,  short  stulls  comprise  about  the  only  timbering  used  and 
required,  but  when  the  stopes  become  over  12  feet  wide,  square  sets 
become  desirable.  The  rock  is  usually  so  hard  that  stopes  will  stand 
unsupported  for  a  remarkable  height  and  width.  Examples  of 
stopes  up  to  200  feet  high  and  30  feet  wide,  standing  without  any 
support  may  be  seen  at  the  Vindicator  and  Prince  Albert  mines.  Still 
in  many  places  the  calcite  seams  cause  a  dangerous  scaling  off  on  the 
walls,  and  partial  filling  must  be  resorted  to  in  conjunction  with  the 
square  sets.  In  the  big  stopes  up  to  50  feet  wide,  as  in  the  Portland 
mine,  from  30  to  40  per  cent  of  the  amount  broken  can  be  left 
in  the  mine  as  filling. 

"  A  favorite  method  of  stoping  is  to  break  down  the  whole  of  the  ore 
in  place  between  two  levels,  leaving  the  loose  rock  to  be  drawn  off 
through  shoots  as  rapidly  or  slowly  as  may  be  required.  This  leaves 
the  empty  stope  entirely  unsupported.  Sometimes  the  walls  are 
partly  secured  by  stulls  while  the  ore  is  being  drawn  off.  The  ordi- 
nary half  or  three-fourths  ton  cars  are  used.  The  El  Paso  is  the  only 
mine  in  which  1-ton  cars  have  been  introduced  and  hoisted  on  cages. 
Buckets  are  also  employed  very  extensively  in  the  shafts  and 
sometimes  used  to  a  depth  of  even  1,000  feet,  a  practice  which 
is  not  to  be  recommended.  Practically  all  of  the  shafts  are 
perpendicular." 

The  problem  of  working  very  narrow  high-grade  veins  is  a  difficult 
one  and  has  led  to  the  adoption  of  the  system  known  as  "  resuing." 
There  is,  however,  a  question  regarding  the  use  of  resuing  and  the 
1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Professional  paper  No.  54,  pp.  135,  136,  1906. 


OFTHE 

f    UNIVERSITY   ) 


MINING   GOLD   AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.  431 

working  of  the  vein  and  adjoining  rock  walls  together.  According 
to  F.  C.  Roberts  l  the  two  methods  gave  results  that  varied  consider- 
ably when  applied  under  the  following  conditions:  "  When  resuing 
was  applied,  the  vein  was  first  stripped  on  the  foot  wall  (which,  in 
this  case,  was  the  more  economical  to  handle)  to  a  width  of  30  inches. 
This  waste  rock  used  largely  as  filling,  although  a  certain  percentage 
was  necessarily  sent  to  the  surface.  When  some  3,600  square  feet 
of  quartz  had  been  stripped,  this  was  broken  down  as  a  clean  product 
so  that  no  sorting  was  required. 

"  In  the  second  case,  the  quartz  and  adjoining  rock  were  broken 
together  and  the  fineness  to  which  this  product  was  reduced  allowed 
of  sorting  out  only  5  per  cent  of  the  barren  rock." 

There  was  considerable  difference  in  the  profit  and  loss  obtained 
in  operating  by  these  two  methods,  but  the  results  favored  resuing. 

Wide  Veins.  —  California:  the  Utica  Mine,  Mother  Lode.  —  Mining 
practice  on  the  Mother  lode  is  given  in  a  valuable  paper  by  J.  H. 
Collier  2  in  which  the  particular  conditions  encountered  there  with 
the  manner  in  which  they  have  been  met  are  given  in  detail. 

"  It  might  more  properly  be  called  a  gold-bearing  mineralized 
zone  rather  than  a  simple  vein.  The  zone  consists  of  a  large  mass  of 
crushed  diabase  which,  under  pressure,  has  developed  a  slaty  cleavage. 
The  crushed  mass  has  been  more  or  less  altered  into  a  schist  contain- 
ing considerable  mariposite  and  white  mica.  In  this  mass  the  ore 
occurs  as  large  bodies  of  massive  quartz  of  a  brownish-grey  color; 
as  masses  of  quartz  veins  from  1  to  3  inches  wide,  interspersed  with 
micaceous  schists  in  a  distinctly  banded  structure;  as  masses  of  more 
or  less  altered  diabase,  containing  infiltrated  silica  often  in  reticulated 
veinlets;  and  as  impregnations  in  massive  diabase;  all  containing 
free  gold  and  auriferous  pyrites. 

"  In  working  upward  on  the  ore-bodies,  they  sometimes  change 
from  massive  quartz  to  a  schistose  character,  and  thin  out  toward 
the  hanging-wall.  Cross-cuts  run  into  the  foot-wall,  then  show  the 
ore  making  next  the  foot- wall,  and  soon  widen  out  to  the  original 
width  on  its  upward  course,  thus  proving  that  the  ledge  was  cut  off 
by  a  large  horse  of  diabase  split  from  the  hanging-wall  and  fallen  to 
the  foot-wall.  In  this  way,  the  ore-body  is  made  up  of  several 
parallel  lenses  or  masses,  at  different  points  dipping  at  a  high  angle 
to  the  eastward  with  a  greater  southerly  pitch,  ranging  in  all  from 
10  to  over  100  feet  in  width. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  76,  p.  882,  1903. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  pp.  97,  98,  105-109,  1899. 


432  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

I 

"  With  this  outline  of  the  general  nature  of  the  deposit,  the  diffi- 
culties of  mining,  more  particularly  stoping,  such  a  deposit  will  be 
better  understood.  Not  only  must  the  stopes  be  properly  supported 
and  economically  worked,  but  the  ground  must  be  thoroughly  pros- 
pected as  the  work  proceeds. 

"  The  prospecting  must  be  thorough  to  ensure  the  most  economical 
use  of  the  long  levels  through  which  the  ore  is  removed.  These  levels 
are  often  driven  in  extremely  hard  diabase,  and  are  not  only  costly 
in  driving  and  fitting  with  tracks  and  compressed-air  pipes,  but  are 
often  very  expensive  and  difficult  to  keep  open,  on  account  of  the 
settling  and  crushing  of  the  rock. 

"A  stope  is  started  by  breasting-out  the  ore  to  the  full  width  of 
the  deposit.  Cross-cuts  are  run  into  both  walls,  to  be  sure  that  all 
the  ore  has  been  removed.  The  opening  is  then  timbered  with  8-foot 
stope  sets.  If  the  ground  is  solid,  no  timbering  is  done,  until  the 
whole  mass  of  the  rock  covering  the  area  of  the  stope  has  been  re- 
moved. The  posts  are  then  set  in  the  solid  rock,  with  6-inch  spreaders 
and  12-inch  round  brace-sprags  between  the  posts  at  the  bottom. 
A  floor  is  then  laid  over  the  spreaders. 

"  If  the  rock  is  loose  or  soft,  one  set  is  put  in  at  a  time  as  fast  as 
room  is  made  for  them.  In  the  soft  ground  heavy  sills  are  laid,  to 
give  a  solid  foundation  for  the  posts.  Sills  are  not,  as  is  generally 
supposed,  an  advantage  in  working  up  under  an  old  stope.  Good 
floors  laid  across  the  spreaders,  even  though  they  have  been  in  place 
so  long  as  to  be  badly  decayed,  are  found  to  be  more  serviceable  than 
sills.  The  sills  are  seldom  in  place  when  reached,  and  have  to  be 
caught  up  securely,  or  they  are  liable,  by  their  own  movement,  to 
start  a  serious  run  in  the  waste  above  them.  After  the  sill  floor  is 
opened  and  timbered,  a  raise  following  the  foot-wall  is  run  up  to  the 
level  above. 

"  This  raise  is  necessary  for  the  proper  ventilation  of  the  stope,  as 
well  as  the  economical  introduction  of  timber  and  waste  into  the 
stope;  the  timber  and  waste  being  thrown  down  the  raise  into  the 
stope.  The  raise  is  located  in  the  most  convenient  part  of  the  stope, 
and,  if  possible,  where  there  is  a  seam  of  gouge  on  the  foot-wall, 
which  greatly  lessens  the  cost  of  the  work  by  lessening  the  difficulty 
of  breaking  the  ground.  If  the  rock  is  hard  and  solid,  machines  are 
used,  and  the  raise  is  timbered  with  full-sized  stope  sets,  if  timbering 
is  necessary;  so  that,  as  the  stope  is  carried  up,  the  timber  of  the  stope 
is  joined  on  to  that  of  the  raise.  If  the  ground  is  loose,  the  work 'is 
all  done  by  hand,  and  the  raise  is  built  up  solid  with  round  timber, 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.  433 

halved  together  at  the  ends,  making  the  raise  4  feet  square  in  the 
clear. 

"  The  second  floor  above  the  level  is  now  started  from  the  raise, 
the  ore  falling  to  the  sill  floors,  where  it  is  shoveled  into  cars.  After 
this  floor  is  excavated,  a  set  for  the  full  length  of  the  stope  is  lagged 
on  tops  and  sides  with  half-round  slabs,  made  by  cutting  12-inch  logs, 
8  feet  long,  in  two  lengthwise.  This  set  is  then  kept  open  for  the  gang- 
way, along  the  line  of  which  the  chutes  and  man-ways,  leading  up 
into  the  stope,  are  started.  All  the  remaining  space  to  the  top  of 
the  sill  floor  set  is  now  filled  with  waste.  This  waste  is  obtained  from 
three  sources  within  the  mine:  first,  from  the  vein-rock,  by  hand- 
sorting  in  the  mine;  second,  from  cross-cuts  run  in  the  wall-rock  from 
the  different  floors  of  the  stope,  for  the  double  purpose  of  prospecting 
the  ground  and  supplying  the  waste;  and,  third,  from  the  dead-work 
in  different  parts  of  the  mine,  which  is  brought  in  through  the  raise 
from  the  level  above. 

"  From  this  time  the  chutes  and  man-ways  are  carried  up  by  means  of 
cribbing,  to  within  one  set  of  the  back  of  the  stope.  When  the  ground 
is  heavy,  similar  cribbing  is  used  to  help  support  the  ground.  In  wide 
and  heavy  stopes,  a  row  of  such  cribbing  is  generally  put  in  extending 
the  full  length  of  the  middle  of  the  stope,  and  is  stowed  with  waste  as 
rapidly  as  possible. 

"  The  different  floors  are  started  successively  from  the  raise.  As 
soon  as  a  floor  has  been  advanced  far  enough  from  the  raise  to  prevent 
the  mixing  of  the  quartz  and  waste,  filling  is  commenced  by  throwing 
waste  down  the  raise.  When  the  floor  is  completed,  the  lower  floor, 
remote  from  the  raise,  is  stowed  with  waste  from  the  cross-cuts.  In 
order  to  supply  sufficient  material  for  this  purpose,  the  cross-cuts, 
which  start  out  with  small  dimensions,  are  widened  out  into  large 
chambers.  In  this  way  no  opening  in  the  stope  is  kept  open  to  a 
greater  vertical  height  than  16  feet. 

"  When  a  level  is  being  worked,  a  large  mass  of  rock  is  left  in  place 
in  the  ledge,  opposite  the  shaft,  until  the  last  thing  before  the  level  is 
abandoned.  This  precaution  protects  the  shaft,  which  is  already 
weakened  by  the  cutting  of  the  station. 

"  When  the  vein-matter  is  badly  crushed  and  broken  up,  an  ingen- 
ious system  of  lagging,  called  poling,  is  used.  Poles  are  run  out  over 
a  cap  or  sprag  —  depending  on  the  direction  of  the  work,  whether 
with  or  across  the  vein  —  which  supports  the  ground  until  the  timber 
is  in  place.  In  some  cases  the  poles  are  a  necessity  to  prevent  the 
ground  from  running,  in  others  they  are  put  in  more  for  a  protection 


434  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

to  the  miners  working  beneath  them.  In  the  latter  case  the  trouble 
is  caused  by  detached  pieces  which  continually  slack  away,  due  to  the 
presence  of  water  and  slight  settling. 

"  In  running  ground,  the  poling  has  to  be  performed  with  great 
care.  The  ends  of  the  poles  are  sharpened  and  worked  in  over  cap 
all  together  by  working  the  rock  loose  around  the  points  with  a  bar, 
and  driving  the  poles  ahead  with  a  hammer.  As  the  poles  are 
advanced  over  the  cap,  the  broken  rock  is  raked  back  from  the  points 
of  the  poles,  and  left  standing  on  the  natural  slope  to  prevent  its 
running.  Also  side-poles  are  put  in,  if  necessary,  beginning  next  the 
roof  and  working  them  in  as  the  rock  is  removed,  and  the  face  breast 
boarded  to  prevent  the  loose  rock  running  around  the  points  of  the 
poles.  Proceeding  in  this  way,  room  is  made  for  one  set  at  a 
time." 

The  most  serious  obstacle  encountered  in  mining  on  the  Mother 
lode  is  swelling  ground  and  although  it  is  difficult  to  combat  yet  the 
work  of  development  and  extraction  is  in  many  instances  success- 
fully carried  on.  Methods  employed  in  overcoming  swelling  ground 
are  given  in  a  paper 1  appearing  in  the  publications  of  the  State  Mining 
Bureau  to  which  the  reader  is  referred. 

Alaska:  the  Alaska- Treadwell  Mines.  —  Much  interest  is  attached 
to  the  working  of  the  Treadwell  mines  owing  to  the  successful  oper- 
ation on  low-grade  ores.  The  following  abstract  is  taken  from  a 
paper  by  Robert  A.  Kenzie: 2  "  Formerly,  it  was  the  custom  to  open 
up  a  level  every  110  feet;  but  below  the  440-foot  level  the  distance 
between  levels  in  the  Treadwell  will  be  150  feet  from  now  on.  By 
this  method  a  large  development-expense  will  be  avoided. 

"  At  each  level  a  station  is  cut  out,  the  width  of  the  shaft,  from  40 
to  60  feet  long  and  with  an  average  height  of  8  feet.  In  the  Treadwell 
the  main  cross-cuts  run  parallel  to  the  wall-plates  of  the  shaft,  and 
as  far  as  possible  it  is  aimed  to  have  the  station  on  the  side  opposite 
from  that  toward  which  the  skips  dump.  .  .  In  cutting  out  the 
station,  a  drift  is  run  from  the  shaft  a  distance  of  25  feet.  .  .  The 
main  cross-cut  is  then  started  at  right-angles  to  the  station-drift.  .  . 
At  the  hanging-wall  end  of  the  cross-cut,  a  station  is  cut  for  the  wind- 
ing-engines that  operate  the  tail-rope  haulage;  and  directly  opposite 
the  sinking-compartment,  on  alternate  levels,  a  station  is  cut  for  the 
sinking-hoist.  Beneath  the  floor  of  each  station  an  ore-bin  is  cut 

1  Bulletin  No.  18,  Cal.  State  Mining  Bureau  and  reprinted  in  the  Min.  and  Sci. 
Press,  Vol.  82,  p.  37. 

8  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  34,  pp.  345,  347-350,  352-354. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.          435 

out  with  a  capacity  of  from  500  to  1,500  tons,  according  to  the 
quantity  of  the  ore  to  be  handled.  .  .  . 

"  In  the  Mexican  and  '  700-foot '  mines,  the  main  cross-cuts  start 
directly  from  the  shaft,  and,  as  a  consequence,  the  station-cutting  is 
much  simplified.  .  .  .  When  the  ore  bin  and  station  are  completed, 
the  main  cross-cut  is  driven  to  the  foot-wall.  It  thus  serves  the 
double  purpose  of  determining  how  the  level  can  be  developed  in 
the  most  economical  way  and  of  permitting  a  thorough  sampling  of 
the  ore,  so  that  a  fair  idea  of  its  value  can  be  obtained.  The  fol- 
lowing rule  is  almost  axiomatic  in  its  applicability  to  the  ore  bodies 
on  the  island:  Start  the  first  drift  along  the  foot-wall,  and  keep  it 
there.  ...  It  is  imperative  that  the  ore  be  drawn  from  the  stopes 
by  gravity,  and  this  cannot  be  applied  to  the  ore  along  the  foot- 
wall  unless  the  chutes,  and,  consequently,  the  drifts,  are  kept  as 
close  to  it  as  possible.  ...  At  intervals  of  25  feet,  raises  are  put  up 
on  alternate  sides  of  both  the  main  cross-cuts  and  drifts.  These 
raises  are  15  feet  high,  and  are  designed  to  accommodate  the 
chutes  for  drawing  the  ore  from  the  stopes.  They  are  put  up  while 
the  drift  is  run,  and  given  a  slope  of  60  degrees  from  the  horizontal, 
so  that  the  ore  will  run  freely  in  them.  In  the  Treadwell,  Ready 
Bullion  and  '  700-foot '  mines,  the  drifts  and  chute-raisers  are  in 
ore;  but  in  the  Mexican,  on  account  of  the  flatness  of  the  vein,  they 
are  run  in  the  foot-wall  slate,  and  the  chute-raises  put  up  to  the  ore 
at  an  average  height  of  20  feet  above  the  track.  At  the  same  time, 
as  the  main  drift  and  the  chute-raises  are  being  run,  a  second  drift, 
called  the  intermediate,  is  driven  directly  above  the  main  drift  and 
separated  from  its  back  by  a  pillar  of  rock  10  feet  thick.  This  drift 
is  the  same  in  size  as  the  lower  one,  and  is  so  driven  that  it  con- 
nects with  the  top  of  each  chute-raise  as  it  progresses. 

"  At  the  ends  of  the  main  cross-cuts,  and  at  intervals  varying  from 
200  to  500  feet  along  the  deposit,  the  different  levels  are  connected 
by  winzes.  These  winzes  are  used  as  man-ways,  and  as  a  medium 
of  ventilation.  It  might  be  well  to  add  that  they  are  always  raised 
from  the  lower  level,  and  not  sunk  from  above  unless  circumstances 
absolutely  require  it.  While  running  the  main  drifts  and  cross-cuts 
close  attention  is  paid  to  the  grade.  The  standard  grade  in  all 
mines  is  0.5  per  cent.  This  grade  favors  the  loaded  car  going  to  the 
station,  while  it  does  not  retard  it  too  much  on  its  return  trip. 
Cross-cuts  are  used  for  connecting  the  various  drifts  and  for  pros- 
pecting. They  are  the  same  in  size  as  the  drifts.  When  used  for 
the  first  purpose  they  are  at  the  level  of  the  drift,  but  when  the 


436  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

second  object  is  the  incentive,  they  are  usually  driven  from  the 
level  of  the  intermediate,  so  that  the  broken  rock  can  be  stored  and 
handled  through  chutes.  The  usual  size  for  drifts,  cross-cuts  and 
intermediates  is  10  by  7  feet  in  the  clear,  and  for  raises  6  by  8  feet 
in  the  clear,  no  timber  being  used.  .  .  . 

"  The  future  economic  workings  of  the  mines  depend  on  no  one 
factor  more  than  on  the  success  attending  the  carrying  of  the  pres- 
ent system  of  stoping  to  the  lower  levels  of  the  mines.  The  surface 
pits  are  practically  exhausted,  and  the  value  of  the  ore  does  not 
allow  of  timbering  or  any  extensive  method  of  filling.  So  far,  the 
present  method  has  proven  applicable  to  the  lowest  levels,  and  I  do 
not  hesitate  to  say  that  it  will  be  equally  successful  at  any  depth  to 
which  it  may  be  desired  to  carry  it. 

"  It  was  explained  above  that  the  object  of  the  intermediate 
drift  is  to  open  communication  with  the  ore-chutes  and  to  furnish  a 
large  facial  area  for  the  machine  drills  to  work  upon,  in  cutting  out 
or  under-cutting  the  ground  floor  for  the  stopes.  When  the  inter- 
mediate has  advanced  about  50  feet,  the  work  of  cutting  out  the 
stope  is  started.  This  consists  of  mining  out  a  chamber  7  feet  high, 
from  150  to  300  feet  long,  and  with  a  width  varying  with  the  width 
of  the  ore-body.  In  the  past  it  has  been  customary  to  cut  out  the 
stopes  with  a  level  floor,  but  experience  has  shown  that  it  is  more 
economical  to  cut  the  floor  so  that  it  slopes  from  the  parallel  lines  of 
chutes  at  an  angle  of  about  30  degrees.  This  does  away  with  a 
large  amount  of  shoveling,  and  the  ore  thus  left  is  ultimately  obtained 
through  the  stopes  from  the  next  lower  level. 

"  When  the  ground-floor  has  been  cut  out,  the  work  of  stoping 
upon  the  ore  is  immediately  begun.  The  roof  of  the  stope  is  arched, 
thus  serving  the  double  purpose  of  supporting  the  back,  and  offer- 
ing a  better  surface  for  the  attack  of  the  machine-drills.  The  ore  is 
shot  down  in  large,  thin  slabs,  so  that  the  shock  of  falling,  com- 
bined with  that  of  the  blasting,  breaks  it  up  as  much  as  possible. 
The  pieces  of  rock  too  large  to  pass  through  the  ore-chutes  are 
broken  by  hand,  and  '  bull-dozed  '  with  powder  to  the  required 
size.  When  starting  from  the  floor,  the  machine  drills  cut  out  a 
trench  along  the  center  of  the  back  to  form  the  arch,  its  height 
varying  with  the  character  of  the  rock.  Two  sizes  of  machine- 
drills  are  used:  the  3J-inch  and  3f-inch  Ingersoll-Sergeant,  and 
the  holes  are  drilled  to  an  average  depth  of  8  feet.  A  machine- 
stoping  will  drill  an  average  of  28.69  feet  per  shift  of  ten  hours, 
and  break  34.96  tons  of  ore  with  the  consumption  of  12.53  pounds 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.          437 


of  No.  2  dynamite.  The  cost  of  breaking  up  the  rock  after  it  has 
been  blasted  down,  is  a  large  item  in  the  expense  of  stoping.  One 
rock-breaker  is  usually  required  to  each  machine,  and  it  takes  0.85 
pounds  of  powder  in  '  bull-dozing  '  for  each  ton  of  rock  broken. 


Sur-faee. 


en 


level 


Ore, 

Method  of  Over-hand  Stoping  Employed  at  the  Combination  Mine,  Nevada. 
(From  Mining  and  Scientific  Press.) 

"  As  no  timber  is  used,  it  is  compulsory  that  a  sufficient  quantity 
of  broken  ore  be  left  in  the  stopes  to  form  a  solid  working-floor  for 
miners.  It  has  been  found  that  one-third  of  the  broken  ore  can  be 
drawn  off  while  the  stope  is  being  worked,  and  the  surface  of  the 
broken  ore  kept  within  working  distance  of  the  back.  In  other 
words,  by  the  above  methods,  two-thirds  of  the  ore  broken  must  be 
left  in  the  stope,  and  cannot  be  drawn  off  until  the  stope  is  worked 


438  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

up  to  the  next  higher  level  and  finished.  In  the  Treadwell  and 
Ready  Bullion  mines  the  slate-horse  forms  a  natural  division  be- 
tween the  stopes  of  the  north  and  the  south  ore-bodies.  The  walls 
of  the  ore-body  are  supported  by  vertical  pillars,  or  ribs,  15  feet 
thick,  and  from  200  to  300  feet  apart.  For  means  of  communica- 
tion and  ventilation,  man-way  raises  are  put  up  in  these  pillars 
and  connected  with  the  levels.  At  intervals  of  25  feet,  short  drifts 
are  run  in  opposite  directions  from  the  man-way  raise;  so  that,  as 
the  working  floor  of  the  stope  advances,  each  of  them  is  used  suc- 
cessively when  the  workings  connect  with  the  main  raise,  and  in 
turn  abandoned  and  closed  up  as  connection  is  made  with  the  next 
higher  one.  The  levels  are  protected  by  horizontal  pillars  from  20 
to  30  feet  thick.  Heretofore  these  pillars  have  been  left  at  each 
level,  but  from  now  on  only  the  pillars  at  every  other  level  will  be  left 
in  place;  yet  even  with  this  saving,  fully  20  per  cent  of  the  ore 
must  remain  in  the  mine  in  the  shape  of  pillars  and  ribs  to  support 
the  ground  and  prevent  caving." 

South  Dakota:  the  Homestake  Mines.  —  Not  unlike  the  Alaska- 
Treadwell  mines  both  in  character  and  extent  of  deposit  and  magni- 
tude of  operations  is  the  Homestake  mine  of  South  Dakota.  A 
special  method  of  mining  has  been  evolved  and  successfully  em- 
ployed in  this  mine.  It  is  known  as  the  "  Homestake  System  of 
Stoping." 

Levels  are  formed  in  the  lode  which  are  laid  out  in  squares  or 
blocks,  and  sill  timbers  are  placed.  Three  lines  of  track  are  then 
laid  running  in  the  direction  of  the  lode,  and  are  connected  by  such 
cross-tracks  as  are  deemed  necessary.  Sets  are  then  placed  and 
securely  lagged  above,  and  on  the  sides  of  the  car-ways  in  order  to 
protect  the  tracks  from  materials  loosened  by  the  mining  opera- 
tions carried  on  above,  while  spaced  lagging  is  placed  on  the  sets 
between  the  car -ways.  It  is  then  evident  that  with  the  breaking 
down  of  ore  the  space  not  occupied  by  the  car- ways  will  be  filled, 
none  of  it  is  removed,  however,  until  the  filling  has  been  completed. 
The  lagging  serves  as  a  false  floor  upon  which  the  miners  work,  and 
is  removed  on  the  completion  of  the  filling  of  the  sets.  This  filling 
of  ore  is  not  disturbed  until  during  the  next  operation  of  cutting  out 
the  stope  it  may  be  necessary  in  order  to  make  room  for  the  miners. 

This  method  is  conducive  to  rapid  work  owing  to  the  fact  that 
little  or  no  attention  need  be  paid  to  the  timbers,  and  therefore  large 
charges  may  be  fired  knocking  down  large  masses  of  rock  and  ore. 

Two  or  more  sets  are  placed  next  to  each  wall  of  the  stope,  keep- 


MINING  GOLD   AND   SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.  439 

ing  pace  with  or  in  advance  of  the  stoping  operations,  which  are 
kept  open  and  serve  as  ladder  and  pipe-ways,  also  as  a  means  of 
facilitating  ventilation. 

Ore-chutes  may  or  may  not  be  employed  depending  on  the  size  of 
ore  produced  in  blasting.  With  softer  ores  the  size  may  be  such  as 
to  warrant  the  use  of  chutes,  but  with  hard  ores  the  large  masses 
broken  down  do  not  permit  of  the  use  of  chutes.  The  ore  is  then 
usually  shoveled  from  the  floor  on  a  level  with  the  tracks  in  the 
car-ways,  there  being  as  many  places  to  shovel  from  as  there  are 
spaces  between  the  posts  of  the  sets. 

When  a  height  of  some  85  feet  has  been  attained  in  stoping,  the 
stope  worked  and  the  level  above  are  connected  by  raises  which 
are  to  serve  as  means  of  introducing  filling  into  the  stope.  The 
work  of  removing  the  ore  is  begun,  the  walls  being  examined  in  the 
meanwhile  in  order  that  serious  falls  may  not  occur.  Having 
emptied  one  end  of  the  stope  the  floor  is  lagged,  and  the  filling  from 
the  stope  above  is  run  in.  As  the  work  progresses  a  stope  will  be 
partially  filled  with  broken  ore  and  filling,  but  occupying  opposite 
ends  of  the  stope.  The  walls  are  thus  well  supported,  and  the 
miners  are  provided  with  support  for  drills  and  staging  upon  which 
to  stand. 

To  effect  a  still  further  saving  in  timber  the  above  described 
method  has  been  modified  by  employing  only  two  lines  of  track  in 
the  stopes,  one  being  in  the  middle  of  the  stope  while  the  other  is 
laid  in  a  drift  cut  in  the  pillar  to  the  side  of  the  stope.  No  sets  are 
used  between  these  two  lines  of  car-ways  as  was  formerly  the  prac- 
tice.1 

Idaho:  the  Coeur  d' AUne  Mines.  —  The  lead-silver  ores  of  the 
Coeur  d'Alene  region  occur  in  typical  fissure-veins  and  are  asso- 
ciated with  considerable  quantities  of  siderite.  The  fissures  occupy 
fault-planes  which  have  suffered  more  or  less  displacement.  As  a 
usual  thing  there  is  only  one  principal  plane  of  fissuring  in  each  vein 
which  generally  occurs  near  the  middle  of  the  vein,  but  often  forms 
one  of  the  walls. 

The  following  brief  description  of  the  methods  of  mining  is  taken 
from  a  paper  by  J.  R.  Finlay.2 

"  At  least  70  per  cent  of  all  the  ore  thus  far  mined  in  the  Coeur 
d'Alenes  has  been  extracted  through  tunnels  without  hoisting  or 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  88,  pp.  177,  178,  1904.     For  details  of  stoping  in 
the  Homestake  mine  see  pp.  165-166. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  250-252,  and  255. 


440 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


pumping.  Of  the  remaining  30  per  cent,  which  has  been  hoisted, 
at  least  two-fifths  has  been  hoisted  through  underground  shafts, 
to  be  subsequently  hauled  out  through  tunnels.  The  Tiger-Poorman 
is  the  only  mine  which  has  always  been  operated  by  shafts  from  the 
surface.  This  large  proportion  of  tunnel-work  has  been  a  great 
advantage  to  the  district.  .  .  . 

"Three  methods  of  mining  are  used  in  the  district:  (1)  back- 
stoping  and  timbering;  (2)  back-stoping,  timbering  and  filling; 
and  (3)  back-stoping  and  filling  without  timbering. ...  At  the  Bunker 
Hill  and  Sullivan,  the  most  interesting  feature  of  the  underground 
mining  is  the  extraction  of  wide  bodies  of  low-grade  ore  by  stopes 
which  are  filled,  as  the  work  progresses,  with  waste  rock  sorted  from 


fractured  Ouartzife  witri-Ore 


Milling  with  Square  Sets  and  Filling,  Bunker  Hill  Lode,  Coeur  d'Ale"ne  Region. 
(From  Mines  and  Minerals.) 

the  broken  ore.  There  is  usually  more  than  enough  of  such  material 
to  keep  the  stopes  full,  and  provision  has  to  be  made  for  tramming 
the  surplus  waste  away.  Sometimes  this  back-stoping  is  done 
without  any  timbering,  other  than  an  occasional  prop  to  support  a 
suspicious-looking  piece  of  ground  in  the  roof;  but  more  commonly 
the  stopes  are  timbered  with  light  square  sets. 

"  In  stoping  the  ore  at  the  Standard  it  has  been  found  necessary 
to  fill  up  the  stopes  with  barren  material  from  the  vein.  This  is 
done  by  the  simple  process  of  sorting  out  part  of  the  waste  rock 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES   AND  GRAVELS.  441 

from  the  barren  streaks  and  from  the  walls,  and  throwing  it  down 
among  the  timbers  below.  It  is  quite  easy,  in  most  parts  of  the 
mine,  to  secure  in  this  way  enough  filling  to  keep  the  stopes  full 
within  two  or  three  floors  of  the  back.  As  the  levels  are  200  feet 
apart,  it  is  necessary  to  build  massive  cribbed  chutes  up  through 
the  timbers.  ...  In  the  Mammoth  mine,  the  ore  almost  invariably 
lies  in  a  single  streak  in  immediate  contact  with  the  fissure.  The 
shear-zone  is  much  narrower  than  elsewhere;  and  the  mining  is 
simpler,  in  that  no  filling  on  an  extensive  scale  is  required.  .  .  . 

"  At  the  Tiger-Poorman,  Hecla,  Frisco  and  Morning  mines,  all 
the  stoping  is  done  with  stull-sets,  about  as  in  the  Mammoth.  Very 
little  effort  is  made  to  sort  the  ore  before  concentrating,  or  to  fill  the 
stopes  systematically." 

For  a  further  detailed  account  of  the  mining  practice  in  this 
region  the  reader  is  referred  to  a  paper  by  R.  N.  Bell  in  the  Seventh 
Annual  Report  of  the  Mining  Industry  of  Idaho  1905.1 

Bedded  Deposits. —  Utah:  the  Mercur  mines.  The  essential  features 
of  the  mining  practice  in  the  Mercur  mines  as  given  herein  are  taken 
from  a  paper  by  Geo.  H.  Dern:2  "  The  ore- veins  of  Mercur,  Utah, 
.  .  .  consist  of  parallel  blanket  deposits,  dipping  at  a  slight  angle  from 
the  horizontal.  The  upper  vein  is  usually  from  12  to  20  feet  thick, 
though  often  much  thicker.  The  middle  vein  is  situated  about  40  feet 
lower,  and  is  from  12  to  30  feet  thick.  The  mineralization  sometimes 
extends  throughout  the  entire  intervening  space,  forming  a  continuous 
ore-body,  from  the  floor  of  the  middle  vein  to  the  roof  of  the  upper 
vein.  The  dip  varies  from  nearly  horizontal  to  25  degrees.  .  .  .  The 
veins  outcrop  on  the  sides  of  Mercur  and  Marion  hills.  Naturally, 
the  original  prospecting  and  development  work  consisted  of  driving 
tunnels  on  the  veins,  following  the  ore  on  its  strike.  The  tunnels 
were  close  enough  together  to  make  it  convenient  to  stope  out  the 
ore  between  them.  .  .  . 

"The  original  method  of  mining  consisted  of  advancing  large  stopes, 
leaving  pillars  of  ore  to  hold  up  the  ground,  and  supporting  the 
roof  by  means  of  stulls.  The  pillars  were  subsequently  withdrawn, 
so  far  as  practicable.  Usually  this  method  admitted  of  clean  mining 
though  sometimes  cave-ins  caused  loss  of  a  good  deal  of  ore.  As  a 
general  rule,  it  was  "  good  ground  "  and  there  was  little  difficulty 
in  holding  the  roof  and  keeping  the  stopes  from  caving,  which  was 
at  that  time  not  desired.  In  the  Marion  mine,  which  has  not  been 

1  Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  13,  pp.  306-307. 

2  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  25,  pp.  1-3. 


442  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

operated  for  several  years,  and  in  the  old  workings  of  the  Sacramento 
mine,  there  are  still  vast  chambers  from  which  the  ore  has  been 
extracted,  which  show  no  signs  of  closing,  and  in  which  the  timbers, 
when  any  are  present,  have  taken  very  little  weight.  .  .  .  With 
increased  output,  and  enforced  economies  due  to  lower-grade  ores, 
the  mining  methods  were  necessarily  changed  and  improved." 

The  following  description  of  methods  is  that  of  the  Consolidated 
Mercur  Gold  Mines  Company  in  the  Mercur  and  Golden  Gate  mines. 

"  In  the  Mercur  mine,  the  hanging-wall  is  usually  very  hard  and 
firm,  so  that  it  does  not  cave  readily. 

"  In  fact,  it  is  often  difficult  to  make  a  stope  cave  in,  even  when 
such  action  is  desired.  Hence  the  method  of  mining  hitherto 
employed  in  this  mine  differs  somewhat  from  the  more  typical  caving 
system  worked  in  the  Golden  Gate  mine.  The  latter  system,  how- 
ever, is  now  being  more  generally  adopted  in  the  Mercur  mine  on 
account  of  its  superiority. 

"  Let  us  assume  that  there  is  a  certain  body  of  ore  to  be  stoped  out 
with  a  definite  boundary,  caused  by  a  fault,  a  lean  streak,  or  an  old 
stope.  A  drift  is  driven  into  this  body  until  the  boundary,  or  end 
of  the  values,  is  reached.  Then  stoping  is  commenced  by  '  swiping  ' 
on  both  sides  of  the  drift.  An  open  stope  is  thus  formed.  This  is 
supported  by  stulls  so  long  as  necessary  for  the  safety  of  the  men. 
The  stope  is  drawn  backward  toward  the  place  where  the  drift 
started.  The  men  work  for  the  most  part  in  the  drift,  and  the  l  back  ' 
is  blasted  down  in  front  of  them.  Of  course  with  the  width  of  such  a 
stope  limited,  and  if  the  block  of  ore  be  large,  the  same  operations 
must  perforce  be  carried  on  in  two  or  more  drifts,  so  as  to  draw  back 
all  the  ore.  As  the  stope  is  drawn  back  a  large  chamber  is  left, 
which  is  expected  to  cave  in. 

"  The  advantages  of  this  system  are  that  the  place  where  the  ore 
is  coming  from  is  in  plain  view  of  the  miner,  and  the  ore  is  always 
mined  clean  up  to  the  hanging-wall.  A  disadvantage  is  that,  with 
an  inclined  vein,  the  drift  cannot  always  be  kept  upon  the  foot-wall, 
hence  there  is  danger  of  leaving  a  layer  of  ore  in  the  floor  of  the 
stope.  Also,  a  premature  cave  often  causes  the  loss  of  valuable 
pillars  of  ore.  This  can  hardly  be  called  a  true  caving  system, 
because  the  only  caving  about  it  is  that  the  stopes  are  allowed  to 
cave  in  after  the  ore  has  been  extracted.  In  the  Golden  Gate  mine, 
the  ore  itself  is  partly  caved,  at  least  enough  to  crush  it  and  minimize 
the  amount  of  explosives  required  to  mine  it. 

"  In  working  the  latter  system,  the  extent  of  the  ore-shoot  is  first 


MINING   GOLD   AND   SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS.  443 

proven  up  by  development-work,  in  the  shape  of  an  incline  with  its 
levels,  or  whatever  method  may  be  applicable.  Then  sublevels 
are  driven  through  it,  to  block  it  out  properly  for  economical  extrac- 
tion, and  to  make  the  country  '  work.'  This  crushes  the  ore  and 
gets  it  ready  for  mining,  and  it  is  then  stoped  out  by  men  working 
in  the  faces  of  these  various  '  subs.' 

"  The  ore-body  has  first  been  followed  down  by  an  incline.  Such  an 
incline  is  frequently  run  along  the  hanging-wall  instead  of  on  the 
foot-wall,  and  we  will  assume  that  this  was  done  in  the  example 
given.  The  first  South  level  from  the  incline  followed  the  ore  on 
the  strike  until  it  struck  a  fault,  which  definitely  cut  off  the  ore.  The 
first  North  level,  farther  down  the  incline,  followed  the  ore  on  the 
other  side.  Neither  level  was  kept  on  the  foot-wall,  because  in 
prospecting  or  development  it  is  not  always  satisfactory  to  confine 
workings  to  a  definite  portion  of  the  vein. 

"  We  will  assume  that  the  workings  above  the  level  from  which 
the  incline  was  started  are  sufficiently  advanced  so  that  they  will  be 
all  stoped  out  in  a  few  months.  It  is  therefore  desirable  to  get  a 
new  block  of  ore,  down  the  incline,  ready  for  stoping.  Accordingly, 
a  point  is  selected  in  first  North  level,  and  a  cross-cut  is  driven  to  the 
foot-wall.  When  the  foot-wall  is  reached,  an  incline  raise  is  started, 
kept  strictly  upon  the  foot-wall  and  continued  to  the  upper  level. 
From  this  incline,  a  series  of  4-foot  by  6-foot  sublevels  are  run, 
about  15  feet  apart,  on  the  foot-wall  to  the  south,  until  they  reach  the 
fault  which  terminates  the  ore.  The  '  subs '  are  numbered  1,  2, 
and  3,  from  the  top  down.  They  are  timbered  with  tunnel  sets, 
lagged  over.  These  subs  cut  the  ore-body  up  to  such  an  extent  that 
it  begins  to  '  work/  and  the  pillars  of  ore  left  between  the  different 
subs  begin  to  crack,  and  crush,  and  crumble.  As  the  timbers  begin 
to  take  weight,  and  a  sub  shows  signs  of  caving  in,  it  is  often  neces- 
sary to  take  out  a  set,  relieve  it  by  taking  down  some  dirt  above  it, 
and  put  it  back.  This  '  crushing  '  operation  is  usually  slow,  and 
often  a  '  country'  has  to  be  left  alone  for  two  or  three  months  after 
the  subs  are  driven  before  the  ore  is  broken  enough  for  easy  mining. 
If  necessary  the  long,  narrow  pillars  may  be  further  weakened  and 
the  crushing  hastened  by  transverse  cuttings. 

"  When  at  last  it  is  ready,  and  the  main  level  has  been  worked 
out  and  caved  in,  the  incline  is  abandoned,  chutes  are  provided  to 
receive  the  ore  from  the  subs,  and  stoping  is  begun  in  the  face  of 
sub  No.  1.  A  set  of  timber  is  taken  out  and  the  ore  begins  to  fall 
down  in  front  of  the  miner.  Standing  in  the  drift,  and  protected 


444  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

by  the  timbers,  he  shovels  the  ore  into  a  car,  trams  it  out  of  the  sub, 
and  dumps  it  into  a  chute.  He  shovels  as  long  as  the  ore  keeps 
coming,  though,  of  course,  some  blasting  is  necessary  to  shake  the 
ore  down  at  times,  and  the  large  boulders  have  to  be  drilled  and 
blasted.  Finally,  waste  begins  to  come,  and  the  miner  knows  that 
all  the  ore  is  down  and  that  the  hanging-wall  rock  is  coming.  He 
therefore  retreats,  takes  out  the  next  set  of  timbers,  and  lets  a  fresh 
lot  of  ore  down.  This  operation  is  repeated  until  the  sub  is  drawn 
to  the  incline  raise.  When  sub  No.  1  is  drawn  back  10  or  12  feet 
from  its  original  face,  work  is  started  in  sub  No.  2,  and  this  level  is 
kept  a  uniform  distance  behind  the  one  above  it.  Sub  No.  3  is 
started  when  sub  No.  2  is  a  safe  distance  back,  and  so  on  until  all 
the  subs  are  being  worked.  It  is  always  essential  that  an  upper  sub 
be  kept  safely  behind  the  one  below  it,  otherwise  the  lower  level 
would  cause  the  upper  one  to  cave,  and  thus  lose  the  ore.  Also  the 
man  in  the  upper  level  would  be  working  'over  caving  ground  and 
would  be  in  constant  danger  of  going  through. 

"  The  chief  advantages  of  this  system  are  the  small  amount  of 
timber  used,  diminished  quantity  of  powder  required,  assurance  of 
getting  practically  all  of  the  ore,  and  safety  of  the  men.  There  is 
far  less  difficulty  than  might  be  expected  to  keep  the  ore  free  from 
waste.  When  'the  two  veins  are  distinct,  and  both  carry  values, 
the  upper  vein  is  mined  out  first.  When  the  vein  is  more  than  15  or 
20  feet  thick,  or  where  the  two  veins  come  together  and  form  an  ore- 
body  of  great  thickness,  the  whole  body  cannot  be  mined  at  once. 
In  such  cases  the  ore  is  mined  out  in  successive  slices,  first  taking  out 
a  layer  about  15  feet  on  top,  next  to  the  hanging-wall,  then  mining 
a  second  layer  of  the  same  thickness.  In  the  Golden  Gate  mine  there 
have  been  ore-bodies  nearly  100  feet  thick,  and  several  levels  were 
required  to  mine  this  out." 

To  supplement  the  above  description  another  account l  of  the 
methods  employed  in  these  mines  a«  outlined  by  H.  L.  J.  Warren  is 
herewith  given  in  part. 

"  The  main  working  artery  is  part  shaft  and  part  incline.  .  .  verti- 
cal for  300  feet  and  then  turning  an  angle  of  29  degrees,  passing  under 
the  leaching  and  roasting  departments  of  the  mill,  whe^e  it  makes  an 
angle  of  45  degrees,  and  comes  to  the  surface;  it  then  passes  over  a 
steel  trestle  to  the  top  of  the  shaft  house,  where  the  crushers  are 
placed.  .  .  At  the  main  level  the  shaft  is  200  feet  in  the  hanging- 
wall  and  encounters  the  upper  lode  at  the  Viking  level.  A  cross-cut 
1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  68,  p.  755. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES   AND   GRAVELS.  445 

is  driven  from  the  main  level  southwest  600  feet,  encountering  the 
upper  lode  at  200  feet  from  the  main  shaft,  the  middle  lode  at  500 
feet,  and  the  lower  lode  at  600  feet.  At  200  feet  from  the  shaft  there 
is  a  drift  on  the  strike  of  the  upper  lode,  and  at  500  feet  from  the 
shaft  a  drift  on  the  strike  of  the  middle  lode.  Raises  are  put  up  from 
this  cross-cut  and  from  the  drifts  to  the  top  of  the  upper  lode.  These 
raises  are  connected,  where  it  is  practical  to  connect  them,  by  drifts 
and  the  ore-body  cut  into  blocks  as  near  50  feet  square  as  it  is  practi- 
cal to  get  them.  When  the  ore  is  cut  into  blocks  stoping  is  begun 
at  the  farthest  point  from  the  raises,  or  at  the  outside  of  the  ore- 
body,  and  the  ore  drawn  out  toward  the  raise,  cutting  it  into  small 
blocks,  and  afterward  drawing  the  pillars  and  the  ore  out  of  the  back 
of  the  drift  and  the  back  of  the  pillars.  While  this  is  in  operation 
another  sublevel  is  being  cut,  14  feet  below  the  one  being  stoped. 
This  sublevel  is  cut  into  blocks  the  same  as  the  upper  one  while  the 
upper  one  is  being  stoped.  As  soon  as  the  upper  sublevel  is  stoped 
out,  stoping  is  begun  on  the  second  and  the  third  is  started  to  be 
opened  up  in  the  same  manner  as  those  above.  The  drifts  are  4  feet 
wide  by  6J  feet  high,  and  are  timbered  with  drift  sets  and  lagged 
closely.  The  timbers  used  for  drift  sets  average  about  6  inches  in 
diameter,  while  the  lagging  averages  about  3£  inches  in  diameter. 

"As  the  ore  is  stoped  out  the  hanging-wall  is  allowed  to  fall  in  and 
take  the  place  of  the  ore  and  on  the  second  and  following  sublevels 
the  broken  ground  falls  in  as  the  ore  is  taken  out,  so  that  after  the 
first  cut,  or  the  first  sublevel  is  worked  out,  all  of  the  ground  consti- 
tuting the  hanging-wall  follows  down  as  the  ore  is  mined  out. 

"  The  above  system  works  very  satisfactorily  indeed,  excepting  in 
a  few  places,  where  the  hanging-wall  is  a  blocky  lime,  which  does  not 
cave  very  readily,  and  to  overcome  this  difficulty  the  first  sublevel 
is  taken  out  on  stulls  to  support  the  hanging.  When  sufficient  area 
is  mined  out,  so  that  these  stulls  show  distress,  they  are  blasted  and 
the  hanging-wall  allowed  to  cave  in.  After  this  the  balance  of  the 
levels  below  are  worked  out  on  the  regular  caving  system. 

"  To  accommodate  the  requirements  of  the  mill  over  700  tons  daily 
have  to  be  mined,  which  necessitates  breaking  ore  from  4  to  10 
blocks  at  a  time,  and  the  constant  blocking  out  of  new  squares  for 
the  stoping  of  different  classes  of  ore.  .  .  .  This  is  one  of  the  most 
interesting  phases  of  this  most  interesting  method  of  economic  ore 
handling.  The  check  on  the  work  is  so  close  and  accurate  that  acci- 
dents, through  the  caving  system  proper,  are  no  more  frequent  than 
in  ordinary  mining." 


446  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Masses.  —  Nevada:  the  Comstock  mines;  Surface  pits  or  Glory, 
Holes.  —  The  following  brief  statement  of  conditions  in  the  ore- 
bodies  of  the  Comstock  lode  and  the  methods  of  mining  em- 
ployed in  extracting  the  ores  in  1870,  is  taken  from  a  paper  by 
J.  D.  Hague:1  "  The  material  inclosing  the  ore-bodies,  or  *  bonan- 
zas/ is  of  a  very  unstable  character  and  involves  an  immense  cost  in 
timbering.  The  great  mass  of  vein-matter  is  composed  of  '  horses  ' 
of  country-rock,  chiefly  propylite,  associated  with  immense  sheets  of 
clay.  .  .  .  The  ore-bodies  frequently  have  selvages  of  clay  of  con- 
siderable thickness.  The  whole  is  soft,  yielding,  and  owing  to  its 
clayey  nature,  swells  on  exposure  to  the  air,  exerting  an  enormous 
pressure.  The  extraction  of  such  immense  bodies  of  ore,  and  the 
opening  of  such  extensive  chambers  with  insufficient  support  of  the 
country-rock  or  vein-matter,  induces  large  movements  of  the  sur- 
rounding masses.  In  early  days,  the  immense  stopes,  though  tim- 
bered at  an  extravagant  cost  of  material  and  labor,  were  not  filled 
with  waste-rock,  but  allowed  to  remain  open.  Great  caves  of  ground 
were,  of  course,  the  consequence,  extending  in  some  cases,  from  the 
surface  to  a  great  depth.  It  is  now  the  custom  to  fill  up  exhausted 
stopes  as  soon  as  possible,  after  the  extraction  of  the  quartz,  but  the 
necessary  outlay  for  maintaining  the  mine  in  proper  condition  for 
work  is  still  very  large.  The  means  of  obtaining  waste-rock,  as 
observed  in  the  Savage,  where  the  supply  from  the  dead-work  of  the 
mine  is  insufficient,  affords  some  indication  of  the  character  of  the 
ground  to  be  dealt  with.  For  this  purpose  drifts,  30  or  40  feet  long, 
are  driven  at  convenient  points  into  the  country-rock,  or,  more  prop- 
erly speaking,  the  barren  vein-matter.  These  drifts  are  securely 
timbered.  At  the  end  of  any  such  drift  a  chamber  is  excavated, 
about  10  or  12  feet  high,  and  20  or  30  feet  in"  diameter,  the  roof, 
during  excavation,  being  sustained  by  a  few  posts  and  plank.  When 
the  chamber  has  attained  the  desired  dimensions,  these  slight  sup- 
ports are  removed.  The  roof  and  sides  soon  begin  to  swell  and  fall  in, 
supplying  the  material  which  is  wheeled  out  and  dumped  into  the 
stopes.  The  loose  material  being  removed  from  the  chamber,  the 
swelling  and  falling  continues  for  an  indefinite  period,  affording  a 
supply  for  a  long  time." 

Stoping  is  accomplished  in  the  following  manner:     "  The  vein,  or 

its  ore-bearing  portion,  being  reached  by  a  drift  or  tunnel  proceeding 

from  the  shaft,  the  work  of  extraction  begins,  and  is  almost  invariably 

conducted   by   over-hand   stoping.     The   first   desideratum,    under 

1  Mining  Industry,  J.  D.  Hague,  pp.  109,  110  and  111,  1870. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.          447 

ordinary  circumstances,  is  to  connect  the  new  level  or  station  with 
the  one  above  it  by  a  winze,  usually  passing  through  the  ore-bearing 
ground,  by  which  means  a  circulation  of  air  is  effected,  and  the  neces- 
sary ventilation  obtained.  The  stoping  then  commences,  the  work 
progressing  from  the  level  of  the  new  station  upwards  towards  the 
station  next  above;  the  ore,  as  fast  as  it  is  removed  from  the  place, 
being  thrown  down  to  the  track-level,  and  transported  from  the  stope 
to  the  shaft  by  means  of  the  drift-cars." 

The  methods  of  mining  now  employed  on  the  Comstock  lode 
do  not  differ  materially  from  that  above  described,  except  that 
square-sets  are  almost  universally  employed,  usually  accompanied 
by  filling. 

As  previously  stated  up  to  1904,  considerably  more  than  75  per 
cent  of  the  ore  mined  at  the  Treadwell  mines,  had  come  from  surface- 
workings,  although  the  output  from  this  source  showed  a  falling  off, 
while  that  from  underground  work  was  materially  increased. 

The  following  extract  is  taken  from  Mr.  R.  A.  Kinzie's  paper  The 
Treadwell  Mines:  *  The  main  open-pit,  or  "  Glory  Hole,"  has  reached 
a  depth  of  220  feet  below  the  adit  level,  and  450  feet  from  the  surface, 
with  a  maximum  width  of  420  fet,  and  a  length  of  1,700  feet. 

"  Owing  to  the  large  slides  of  waste  rock  from  the  foot-wall,  and 
the  necessity  of  having  a  secure  pillar  of  rock  at  the  220-foot  level, 
to  protect  the  underground  workings  from  surface-water,  it  is  im- 
practicable to  carry  the  pits  to  a  greater  depth.  In  the  other  mines, 
at  present,  very  little  ore  is  being  taken  from  the  surface,  but  at  the 
beginning,  all  of  them  depended  on  the  open-pits  for  ore  on  which  to 
start  their  mills.  When  a  pit  is  to  be  opened,  a  raise  is  put  up  from 
the  nearest  level,  and  connected  with  the  surface.  This  raise  is 
started  from  the  intermediate  drift,  in  general,  directly  over  a  chute- 
raise.  The  chutes  on  each  side  then  serve  as  a  man-way  for  the 
raise  in  course  of  erection,  and  the  broken  rock  is  drawn  off  through 
the  middle  chute-raise  into  cars.  When  the  raise  has  been  connected, 
machine-drills  are  put  to  work  cutting  out  a  small  stope  at  the  bot- 
tom. This  raise  when  finished  has  the  shape  of  an  hour-glass,  the 
top  being  formed  by  the  open-pit,  arid  the  bottom  by  a  stope,  cover- 
ing three  chutes,  and  from  20  to  30  feet  high,  the  two  being  joined  by 
the  raise.  The  object  of  cutting  out  the  pit-raises  in  this  manner  is, 
first,  to  obtain  chute-capacity  in  case  of  their  being  hung  up  by  large 
pieces  of  rock,  or  by  blasting;  and,  second,  to  afford  an  opportunity 
to  break  up  any  large  piece  of  rock  that  may  have  been  overlooked 
1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  34,  pp.  351-352,  1904. 


448  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

in  the  pit,  which  would  stop  up  the  chute  unless  it  were  broken  to 
pieces  small  enough  to  pass  through  it. 

"  Machine-drilling  is  seen  at  its  best  in  these  pits.  The  3^  incb 
diameter  Ingersoll-Sergeant  drills,  set  on  tripods,  are  used  in  all  the 
pits  at  present.  The  average  number  of  feet  drilled  per  machine  in 
10  hours,  is  36.35.  The  holes  are  drilled  to  an  average  depth  of  1? 
feet,  and  each  machine  will  break  69.69  tons  of  ore  per  shift  of  10 
hours.  When  the  pits  were  smaller,  and  the  difficulty  of  setting  up 
was  not  so  great  as  at  present,  the  average  number  of  feet  drilled  was 
much  higher,  and  the  breaking  capacity  of  a  machine-drill  was  from 
150  to  200  tons  of  ore  per  shift  of  10  hours.  The  pits  are  worked  by 
drilling  and  blasting  the  ore  from  a  series  of  benches  or  terraces 
around  the  chute-raise  as  a  center,  and  when  the  ore  is  blasted  the 
broken  rock  rolls  down  to  the  bottom.  The  small  pieces  are  then 
broken  by  sledges,  and  the  larger  ones  by  placing  sticks  of  powder  on 
the  surface  of  the  rock,  tamping  with  a  little  fine  dirt,  and  blasting. 
For  blasting  holes,  No.  2,  or  40  per  cent,  dynamite  is  used,  while  for 
'  bull-dozing  '  No.  1,  or  70  per  cent,  is  the  best. 

"  When  the  rock  has  been  broken  to  the  required  size,  it  is  drawn 
off,  through  the  raises  and  chutes  described  above,  into  cars.  These 
cars  are  hauled  to  the  station  ore-bins  by  horses,  or  by  endless-rope 
haulage,  where  they  are  dumped.  The  ore  is  then  loaded  into  skips, 
hoisted  to  the  surface,  and  handled  in  the  usual  manner." 

Three  other  localities  in  which  similar  operations  are  carried  on, 
may  be  mentioned,  namely:  the  Homestake  Mines,  South  Dakota, 
the  Combination  Mine,  Nevada,  and  the  Mercur  Mines,  Utah. 

Supplementary  Mining  Methods.  —  Aside  from  the  location,  devel- 
opment and  extraction  of  ore -bodies  there  are  still  other  operations 
essential  to  the  proper  carrying  out  of  a  complete  scheme  of  mining, 
and  without  which  it  is  often  found  impossible  to  begin  operations. 
The  operations  referred  to  are  mine  timbering  or  support,  drainage 
and  ventilation.  In  special  cases  all  three  of  these  operations  must 
be  more  or  less  completely  developed,  while  the  other  extreme  would 
be  the  occurrence  of  conditions  not  necessitating  the  employment  of 
any  one  of  the  three  operations^  as  when  the  deposit  requires  for  its 
exploitation  neither  support,  drainage,  nor  ventilation. 

The  uncertainty  of  existing  underground  conditions  is  such  as 
not  to  admit  of  speculation  regarding  the  same  unless  based  upon 
geological  data  and  better  still  upon  facts  collected  from  a  careful 
examination  and  study  of  mines  in  the  same  locality. 

It  is  not  our  intention  to  enter  into  an  exhaustive  description  of 


MINING   GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS. 


449 


the  operations,  nor  does  the  scope  of  this  work  warrant  it;  but,  rather, 
brief  descriptions  of  the  work  as  carried  on  under  ordinary  condi- 
tions are  given,  which  are  supplemented  by  occasional  specific 
applications. 

SURFACE 


Glory  Hole  Mining  at  the  Combination  Mine,  Nevada. 
(From  Mining  and  Scientific  Press.) 

Mine  Support. — Kinds  of  Timber.  —  Timber  well  adapted  to  use 
underground  is  somewhat  scarce  in  the  United  States.  On  the 
Pacific  coast  oak  is  probably  the  best  to  be  had  although  a  number 
of  cone-bearing  or  coniferous  trees  are  widely  used,  and  when  these 
are  not  available  cottonwood,  ironwood,  juniper  and  yuccas  are 
resorted  to.  The  rule  usually  followed  in  the  choice  of  mine  timber 
is,  use  the  cheapest  which  is  usually  that  most  readily  obtained. 

Of  the  thirty  six  varieties  of  coniferous  trees  on  the  Pacific  coast 
the  most  important  are:  The  Oregon  pine,  spruce,  yellow  pine, 


450  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

tamarack,  sugar  pine,  pinion  pine  (bull  pine),  besides  several 
varieties  of  fir  and  redwood. 

In  Washington  and  Oregon  the  Oregon  pine  is  extensively  used  for 
both  mine  and  surface  work  and  is  known  in  different  localities  by 
various  names,  such  as,  Douglas  fir,  Douglas  spruce,  yellow  fir  or 
red  fir,  while  in  the  parlance  of  the  lumbermen  it  is  known  as  Oregon 
pine  and  Puget  Sound  pine. 

Yellow  pine  although  of  no  great  durability  or  strength  is  widely 
used. 

Sawed  timber  is  largely  used  especially  when  close  work  and 
tight  or  well  fitting  joints  are  desired;  it  is  inferior  to  either  hewn  or 
split  timber  as  it  is  more  liable  to  split.  However,  for  close  work 
as  in  shaft-timbering  squared-timber  is  necessary  and  as  hewn 
timber  is  more  expensive  than  sawed  the  latter  is  usually  preferred. 
Cypress  and  Oregon  pine  are  largely  employed  in  lining  shafts. 

Among  the  more  important  considerations  involved  in  the  choice 
of  mine  timber,  that  of  endurance  or  life  stands  first,  being  even  more 
important  than  the  cost  —  the  expense  of  removing  and  renewing 
timbers  is  often  greater  than  the  original  cost.  The  life  of  timber 
depends  largely  on  its  condition  before  and  after  being  placed  in 
the  mine;  seasoned  timber  will  last  one-half  or  as  long  again  as  green 
material,  while  timber  with  the  bark  on  is  not  in  the  condition  to 
resist  decay.  Bark  holds  moisture,  favors  the  growth  of  fungi  and 
is  unfavorable  for  examination  and  inspection. 

Moisture  and  heat  are  especially  unfavorable  to  longevity  of 
timbers,  decay  being  especially  accentuated  when  the  former  condi- 
tion fluctuates  between  mere  dampness  and  saturation. 

Timber  composed  of  alternating  rings  of  growth  of  hard  and  soft 
material  constitutes  one  of  the  poorest  forms  for  mine  support  as 
the  soft  and  spongy  growth  readily  absorbs  and  holds  the  moisture. 
Such  timber  when  used  should  be  given  only  temporary  duty,  as 
when  filling  is  employed,  thus  relieving  it  of  strain  in  a  comparatively 
short  time. 

Timber  grown  on  southern  exposures  is  claimed  to  be  superior 
to  that  from  northern  exposures  for  the  reason  that  variations  in 
moisture  cause  varying  rates  of  growth;  the  more  rapid  the  growth 
the  less  firm  the  fibre.  Further,  timber  cut  when  the  sap  is 
not  flowing  is  preferable  to  that  cut  during  the  flowing  season; 
therefore  mine  timber  should  be  cut  in  the  winter  rather  than  the 
spring. 

If  the  quantity  of  seasoned  timber  is  limited  it  should  be  employed 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS. 


451 


in  those  portions  of  the  mine  where  the  work  of  removal  and  repair 
would  interfere  most  with  the  mine  operations  —  it  should  then  be 
used  for  the  support  of  shafts,  stations,  drifts  and,  in  fact,  all  perma- 
nent openings.1 

Fir  is  quite  strong,  as  is  pine  also,  the  softer  woods  having  the 
advantage  over  the  harder  forms  in  that  they  crush  more  readily, 
thus  taking  up  the  load  more  uniformly.  For  this  reason  the  soft 
woods  are  largely  used  for  wedges. 

Timbering. —  Posts,  Stulls,  Sets  and  Square-Sets.  Under  this  head 
the  following  forms  of  mine  timbering  are  discussed;  posts  or  props; 
stulls;  sets  and  square-sets. 

Posts  are  timbers,  round  or  square,  which  are  set  normal  to  the 
roof  and  floor  of  the  workings  and  have  their  widest  range  of  useful- 
ness in  flat  or  slightly  inclined  deposits  and  are  therefore  especially 
applicable  to  bedded  deposits.  Occasionally  posts  are  provided 
with  caps,  i.e.,  short  lengths  of  plank  placed  between  the  ends  of  the 
posts  and  the  roof  and  floor,  thus  enlarging  the  bearing  surface  of 
the  support.  Posts  are  often  used  in  combination  with  other 
forms  and  arrangements  of  timbers  and  form  the  principal  element 
in  mine  timbering. 

Stulls  are  posts  applied  to  inclined  deposits  and  are  universally 
employed  in  mining  narrow  veins,  even  up  to  20  feet,  and  for  inclina- 
tions up  to  90  degrees,  or  the  vertical.  The  application  of  the  stull 
is,  however,  somewhat  different  than  that  of  the  post  owing  to  condi- 
tions brought  about  by  change  in  pitch  of  deposit.  The  stull  like 
the  post  often  has  a  cap  used  with  it,  but  it  is  placed  at  the  upper  end 
only,  the  lower  end  being  placed  in.  a  notch  or  "  hitch  "  cut  into  the 
lower  or  foot- wall  of  the  vein.  The  object  of  the  hitch  is  to  prevent 
the  timber  from  slipping  from  its  place.  Further,  stulls  are  not 
set  normal  to  the  walls  but  in  such  a  position  that  their  deviation 
from  the  normal,  called  "  angle  of  underlie  "  is  about  one-fourth  that 
of  the  angle  of  dip  of  the  deposits,  thus:2 


Dip  of  Vein. 

Angle  of  Underlie 
of  Stull. 

Dip  of  Vein. 

Angle  of  Underlie 
of  Stull. 

10° 

2*° 

40° 

10° 

20 

5 

50 

12* 

30 

n 

60 

15 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  90,  p.  240. 

2  Mine  Timbering,  p.  43,  1907. 


452  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

The  reason  for  so  setting  the  stull  is  that  if  normal  to  the  walls 
a  slight  movement,  especially  of  the  hanging-wall,  would  cause  the 
stull  to  become  loose  and  fall,  while  if  placed  at  an  angle  any 
downward  movement  of  the  hanging-wall  serves  only  to  set  more 
firmly  the  stull  in  its  place. 

Conditions  often  occur  such  as  weak  foot-walls,  excessive 
weight  of  hanging-wall  and  great  width  of  vein  necessitating  the 
employment  of  secondary  timbers  to  hold  in  place  and  supplement 
the  original  stulls,  which  must  be  maintained  in  position  as  they 
form  the  basis  for  the  levels  in  th£  stopes.  For  a  detailed  description 
of  the  various  forms  of  stulls  the  reader  is  referred  to  Mine  Timber- 
ing.1 

Extreme  conditions  in  the  use  of  props  and  stulls  occur  in  the 
Elkhorn  mine,  Montana.  As  a  rule  the  roof  is  solid  and  requires 
upright  timbers  only  for  support,  but  with  increase  in  size  of  exca- 
vations, as  is  often  the  case  as  when  the  ore-bodies  of  the  foot-wall 
come  in  contact  with  the  quartz  hanging-wall,  the  problem  of  support 
becomes  more  serious  and  the  original  timbers  must  be  supplemented 
by  others.  It  is  not  infrequently  the  case  that  the  supporting 
timbers  stand  so  close  together  that  there  is  hardly  room  for  a  person 
to  pass.2 

Occasionally  large  stopes  have  crib-works  of  timber  filled  with 
waste  placed  in  the  center  and  carried  upward  with  the  tim- 
bering. These  cribs  vary  from  10  to  20  feet  square  and  aid 
materially  in  steadying  the  timbering  in  the  stopes.3 

Sets  not  otherwise  specified  are  forms  of  timbering  employed  in 
supporting  the  roof  and  walls  of  passages  cut  in  the  rock  or  ore. 
The  simplest  form  of  set  consists  of  a  horizontal  timber  supported 
at  either  end  by  a  post,  which  may  stand  vertically  or  be  slightly 
inclined  outward  at  the  foot,  the  lower  ends  or  feet  of  the  posts 
standing  on  the  bottom  of  the  passage  or  drift.  The  roof  is  then 
supported  by  the  cap  which  in  turn  is  held  in  place  by  the  two  posts. 
When  a  number  of  sets  are  employed  and  the  roof  is  weak  it  is 
customary  to  place  on  the  caps,  planks  and  other  light  timbers 
called  lagging,  extending  longitudinally  in  the  drift.  If  the  walls 
are  also  weak  the  lagging  may  be  extended  to  the  sides  of  the  sets, 
thus  forming  a  passage  enclosed  on  three  sides  by  timbers. 
When  the  floor  is  weak  and  the  wall  pressure  is  considerable, 

1  Mine  Timbering,  pp.  44  and  45. 

*  U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  2,  pp.  474,  476. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  85,  p.  369. 


Chamber  in  1,250-Foot  Stope,  Elkhorn  Mine. 
(From  Mines  and  Minerals.) 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.          453 

timbers  are  placed  on  the  floor,  called  sills,  upon  the  upper  sides 
of  the  ends  of  which  the  feet  of  the  posts  are  placed.  A  por- 
tion of  the  still  is  cut  away  at  each  end  forming  shoulders  against 
which  the  feet  of  the  posts  rest,  thus  spacing  them.  When  conditions 
permit,  one  end  of  the  cap  may  be  set  into  one  of  the  walls  next  to 
the  roof,  the  other  end  being  supported  by  a  prop. 

Sets  may  then  consist  of  two,  three  or  four  members  which  forms 
are  usually  spoken  of  as  two-piece,  three-piece  and  four-piece  sets 
or  one-half,  three-quarters,  and  full  sets.  The  use  of  poles  or  spiles 
with  sets  constituting  the  so-called  fore-poling  method  employed 
in  drifting  in  soft  or  loose  ground  is  not  considered  in  this 
connection. 

Square-sets  were  first  employed  in  the  United  States,  in  the 
working  of  large  ore-bodies  as  the  bonanzas  of  the  Comstock  lode, 
but  in  later  years  their  use  has  been  extended  to  practically  all 
forms  of  mining,  nor  is  it  confined  to  the  working  of  any  particular 
metal.  It  has  had  extensive  use  in  the  Homestake  mines,  South 
Dakota,  in  the  lead-silver  mines  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene  region,  Idaho, 
and  in  the  mines  of  the  Cripple  Creek  district,  Colorado,  etc.,  etc. 

The  usual  practice  is  to  begin  at  the  bottom  of  a  sto^e  and  lay  long 
sill  timbers  which  are  regularly  spaced  by  other  timbers,  thus 
covering  the  floor  of  the  open  stope  with  a  system  of  timbers  arranged 
in  squares.  Upon  these  timbers  are  erected  other  timbers  which 
consist  of  posts,  caps  and  girts.  The  posts  are  placed  upright  at 
the  intersection  of  the  sills  and  cross-pieces,  and  upon  the  posts 
are  placed  caps,  the  ends  of  which  rest  on  two  adjacent  posts 
in  a  direction  transverse  with  the  vein.  The  *  girts  also  rest 
upon  the  posts  but  run  longitudinally  with  the  vein.  The  caps  and 
girts  when  placed  form  a  new  level  or  floor  and  by  successive  addi- 
tions of  posts,  caps  and  girts  the  timbering  can  be  kept  within  easy 
reach  of  the  walls  above.  In  like  manner  'by  adding  to  the  sills  the 
sets  can  be  extended  indefinitely  in  any  direction,  thus  providing  a 
staging  for  the  miner  to  stand  upon  and,  by  bracing  to  the  walls, 
support  can  be  provided  for  any  portion  of  the  roof  or  sides  of 
the  stope.  The  stopes  are  thus  filled  with  a  cellular  mass  of  timbering 
perfectly  matched  together  and  symmetrical  in  all  directions. 

When  the  ground  is  especially  heavy  diagonal  braces  are  placed 
in  the  sets,  and  in  line  with  the  greatest  pressure. 

The  length  of  the  posts  varies  largely  with  the  locality,  but  as  a 
rule  the  first  set  of  posts,  and  in  fact  the  post  at  any  level  where 
hauling  in  cars  is  done,  is  sufficient  to  permit  the  passage  of  men 


454  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

without  stooping.  Other  sets  of  posts  may  have  the  same  length 
as  the  caps,  thus  forming  actual  square-sets.  However,  the  posts 
may  all  be  of  the  same  length,  giving  a  clear  space  between  timbers 
of  6  to  7  feet,  while  the  usual  length  of  cap  is  5  feet.  The  girts  may 
be  of  the  same  length  as  the  caps  or  less,  never  more  —  4  feet  6 
inches  being  common. 

A  drift  may  be  the  starting  point  of  square-set  timbering  which  is 
extended  laterally  and  vertically  therefrom. 

Square-set  timbers  may  be  rough  and  round  or  sawed  with  a  square 
cross-section,  the  latter  is  preferable  owing  to  convenience  in  hand- 
ling and  forming  the  joints.  Methods  of  framing  are  too  elaborate  to 
give  in  detail  here,  the  reader  being  referred  to  Mine  Timbering.1 

As  has  been  previously  stated  square-sets  were  first  employed  in 
the  mines  of  the  Comstock  lode  and  probably  received  there  their 
severest  tests  as  a  desirable  form  of  mine  support.  Before  this  method 
of  joining  timbers  was  devised  so  as  to  give  great  strength  with  a 
comparatively  small  amount  of  timber  used,  an  unsuccessful  attempt 
was  made  to  splice  *  the  large  timber  props;  then  a  filling  of  timber 
was  employed,  which  occupied  fully  two-thirds  of  the  stopes,  and 
served  quite  effectively  in  preventing  a  collapse  of  the  walls.  This 
timber  filling  was  called  corduroy,  which  in  many  instances  was  com- 
pressed into  a  solid  mass  by  the  caving  in  of  the  walls.  Twelve-inch 
timbers  were  in  this  manner  reduced  to  7  inches  and  even  less  and 
following  this  shrinkage  there  were  more  cave-ins,  which  ultimately 
reached  the  surface. 

Stopes  in  the  old  bonanza  mines  were  of  enormous  size,  which  in 
one  case  extended  from  the  1200  to  1950-foot  levels,  having  a  length 
along  the  vein  of  1300  feet  and  a  width  of  from  10  to  200  feet.  Such 

1  Mine  Timbering,  pp.  50-52,  1907. 

*  "  At  the  50-foot  level  (of  the  Ophir  mine)  the  vein  of  black  sulphurets  was 
only  3  or  4  feet  thick,  and  could  readily  be  extracted  through  a  drift  along  its 
line,  propping  up  the  walls  and  roof,  when  necessary,  by  simple  uprights  and 
caps.  As  the  ledge  descended,  the  sulphuret  vein  grew  broader,  until  at  a  depth 
of  175  feet  it  was  65  feet  in  width,  and  the  miners  were  at  a  loss  how  to  proceed, 
for  the  ore  was  so  soft  and  crumbling  that  pillars  could  not  be  left  to  support 
the  roof.  They  spliced  timber  together  to  hold  up  the  caving  ground,  but 
these  jointed  props  were  too  weak  and  illy  supported  to  stand  the  pressure  upon 
them,  and  were  constantly  broken  and  thrown  out  of  place. 

The  dilemma  was  a  curious  one.  Surrounded  by  riches,  they  were  unable  to 
carry  them  off. 

The  company  was  at  a  loss  what  to  do,  but  finally  secured  the  services  of 
Philip  Deidesheimer,  of  Georgetown,  California,  who  visited  and  inspected  the 
treasure-lined  stopes  of  the  Ophir." 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS. 


455 


slopes  were  filled  with  square-sets,  and  in  many  cases  also  filled  with 
waste,  thus  preventing  the  buckling  of  the  timber  frames. 

These  timbered  stopes  almost  invariably  caught  fire,  smouldering 
for  years,  and  at  intervals  getting  a  draft  of  air  from  fresh  caves 
would  burst  out  into  a  terrible  blaze,  which  would  continue  until 
smothered  by  subsequent  falls  of  ground.  The  gases  generated  from 
this  more  or  less  incomplete  combustion,  were  of  the  deadliest  char- 
acter, and  were,  therefore,  carefully  guarded  against  and  confined 
by  bulk-heads  and  stoppings  of  timber  and  earth  often  60  feet  or 
more  in  thickness. 


Mlffft   MID  MINI  PAL*. 


Square-Set  Timbering. 


Stull  Timbering. 


The  value  of  the  ore  was  such,  often  being  worth  $126  per  ton,  that 
the  operators  were  willing  to  go  to  almost  any  expense  to  permit  its 
complete  extraction.  It  is  claimed  that  for  every  dollar  taken  from 
the  Comstock  mines,  a  foot  of  timber  was  put  in;  i.e.,  the  mines 
yielded  $120,000,000  and  there  were  120,000,000  feet  of  timber  used 
in  them  at  a  cost  of  2  cents  a  foot.1 

The  providing  of  wood  for  fuel  and  timber  suitable  for  mine  support  was  one 
of  the  most  difficult  problems  that  the  operators  of  the  Comstock  mines  had  to 
solve,  but  was  accomplished  by  the  same  indomitable  spirit  and  enterprise  as 
was  exhibited  in  all  phases  of  the  work.  The  timber  of  the  mountain  above  the 
mines,  although  excellent  for  fuel,  was  wholly  unfit  for  mine  work.  However, 
it  was  soon  exhausted,  and  attention  was  turned  to  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada,  while  as  late  as  1891  both  lumber  and  wood  for  these  mines  came 
from  the  Lake  Tahoe  basin,  on  the  California  side. 

In  transit  from  the  forest  to  the  mines  the  timber  was  handled  as  many  as 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  48,  j^  258,  Ibid.,  Vol.  70,  p.  172. 


456  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

thirteen  times,  but  so  carefully  had  the  system  been  worked  out  that  it  operated 
with  mechanical  regularity  and  precision. 

From  the  mountain  summit  the  logs  were  run  through  14  miles  of  V-flume  to 
the  valley  below.  The  flume  carried  logs  of  from  16  to  20  inches  in  diameter 
with  ease,  and  bridged  over  that  portion  of  the  mountain  which  was  inacces- 
sible to  every  other  known  method  of  conveyance.  The  flume  was  extended 
both  north  and  south  along  the  summit  of  the  mountains,  and  through  it  as  much 
as  500,000  feet  of  timber  and  750  cords  of  wood  were  delivered  daily  to  Carson 
City.  The  Virginia  and  Truckee  railway  hauled  a  large  part  of  the  timber  from 
Carson  City  to  the  mines. 

It  was  estimated  that  in  1895  fully  120,000  acres  of  the  choicest  forest  of  the 
Sierras  about  Lake  Tahoe,  and  75,000  acres  at  the  headwaters  of  the  Carson 
River,  had  been  carried  to  the  mines.  The  region  denuded  represents  an  area 
of  305  square  miles,  and  there  is  little  wonder  that  the  Comstock  lode  has  been 
called  "The  Tomb  of  the  Sierras."  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  35, p.  182;  Ibid., 
Vol.  70,  p.  172. 

The  size  of  the  mine  timbers  ranged  from  16  to  24  inches  in  diame- 
ter and  as  many  feet  long.  Cribbing  was  made  of  eight-inch  round 
timbers.  Yellow  pine,  fir  and  cedar  were  used,  and  in  the  propor- 
tion of  two-thirds  pine,  one-third  fir  and  less  than  1  per  cent  cedar. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  heat  and  vapors  of  the  mine  had  a  preserva- 
tive effect  upon  the  timbers.1 

The  California  Company  first  introduced  square-sets  into  the 
Homestake  mines  which  served  as  a  check  to  the  caving  ground,  thus 
lessening  the  losses  and  dangers  incident  thereto.  However,  square- 
setting  when  used  alone,  was  found  to  have  its  limitations,  and  would 
support  the  stopes  only  when  they  were  excavated  rapidly,  and  often 
only  small  sections  could  be  so  worked.  Subsequently,  rock-filling 
was  employed  in  conjunction  with  the  square-sets,  and  has  proven 
quite  successful. 

The  timbering  was  done  by  expert  Comstock  timbermen  and  as 
the  stopes  were  usually  large,  often  being  100  to  150  feet  long,  100 
feet  wide  and  64  to  80  feet  high,  large  timbers  were  necessary.  The 
timbers  usually  put  into  the  stopes  ranged  from  12  to  24  inches  square. 

Owing  to  placing  too  much  faith  in  square-sets,  disastrous  caves 
have  occurred  in  the  Highland,  De  Smet,  Golden  Terra,  and  Caledonia 
mines,  but  warning  of  coming  caves  was  always  given  by  the  yielding 
timbers." 

The  economical  limit  in  height  to  which  square-sets  can  be  used  in 
the  Homestake  mines  is  80  to  90  feet,  beyond  which  the  timbers  crush 
under  their  own  weight.3 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  70,  p.  172. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  90,  p.  392. 

3  Ibid.,  Vol.  88,  p.  177. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS. 


457 


It  is  not  the  depth  with  the  consequent  increase  in  pressure  so 
much  as  the  strength  and  firmness  of  the  foot-  and  hanging-walls  that 
determines  the  safety  of  square-setting.  This  was  demonstrated  in 


Square-Sets,  Gold  Coin  Mine,  Cripple  Creek,  Colorado. 

% 

the  mines  of  the  Comstock  lode,  where  the  support  of  the  upper 

working  was  often  fully  as  difficult  as  in  other  localities  at  greater 

depths. 

The  reader  is  referred  to  the  following  articles  for  descriptions  of 
standard  tunnel  and  stope-sets.1 

DESCRIPTION  OF  TIMBERING  (STULLS  AND  SQUARE-SETS)  REFERENCE. 


Homestake 

Mine,  South 

Dakota. 


Sets  have  6'  centers  and  are  7|'  high. 
Timbers  are  12"  X  12"  in  section.  Num- 
ber of  feet  B.M.  in  a  set  exclusive  of  sills, 
sprags  and  blocking,  275,  or  14  feet  per 
ton  of  ore  extracted.  First  cost  of  tim- 
ber 14  cents  and  when  placed  25  cents  per 
ton. 


Min.  and  Sci. 

Press,  Vol. 

91,  p.  4. 


Utica  Mine, 
California. 


Stope-sets  8  feet,  posts  12"  to  26"  in  diame- 
ter,  spreaders   6"  and   brace-sprags   12". 


T.A.I.M.E., 

California 

Mines  and 

Minerals, 

p.  106,  1899. 


1  Colliery  Engineer  and  Metal  Miner,  Vol.  16,  pp.  100,  101,  102,  123,  and  124, 
T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  p.  106,  1899;  Min.  and  Sci.  Press, 
Vol.  85,  p.  187;  Ibid.,  Vol.  62,  p.  377;  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Monograph  7,  p.  153,  and  Min. 
and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  58,  p.  181. 


458 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


DESCK1PTION  OF  TIMBERING.—  Continued. 


Richmond  and 

Eureka  mines, 

Eureka, 

Nevada. 


Posts  6'  between  shoulders.  Caps  and  ties 
5'  and  4'  respectively.  Timber  Sierra 
Nevada  pine,  hewn  to  12"  X  12"  or  10"  X 
12"  or  10"  X  10".  Ties  at  the  Richmond 
are  10"  X  10"  or  10"  X  12".  At  the  Eure- 
ka, 12"  X  12"  or  10"  X  12",  but  10"  X  10" 
timbers  are  used  when  possible,  although 
12"  X  12"  caps  and  posts  are  preferred. 
The  tenon  of  the  Richmond  post  is  9"  X 
6"  X  1J";  of  the  tie,  9J"  X  6"  X  H";  the 
cap,  9"  X  7i"  X  3".  Of  the  Eureka  mine, 
post,  8"  X  8"  X  2";  cap  6"  X  8"  X  4";  tie, 
12"  X  8"  X  2". 


U.  S.  G.  S., 

Monograph 

No.  7,  pp. 

156-157. 


The  Coeur 

d'Alene 
District,  Idaho. 


There  are  two  forms  of  sets:  square  and 
stull.  In  the  Standard  mine  the  square- 
sets  are  9'  X  5'  X  6'.  Stull-sets  are  mere 
caps  extending  from  wall  to  wall  of  the 
stope  and  are  supported  by  two  posts. 
Wherever  the  vein  is  over  15'  wide  the 
cap  of  a  stull-set  is  made  of  two  pieces, 
being  supported  on  a  third  post.  In  the 
Mammoth  mine  the  stull-sets  have  6' 
posts. 


T.  A.  I.  M.  E., 

Vol.  33,  pp. 
252,  255. 


Camp  Bird 

Mine,  Ouray, 

Colorado. 


Inclined  chutes  and  raises,  winzes,  mill- 
holes  and  stope  floors  are  practically  the 
only  portions  of  the  mine  workings  that 
are  timbered.  Usually  stulls  with  5-foot 
centers  are  used. 


T.  A.  I.  M.  E., 

Vol.  33,  p.  524. 


Maxwell  Gold 

Mining  Co., 

Blue  Mt., 

Oregon. 


Sets  of  stulls  put  in  levels  6'  apart  in  wide 
veins  10'.  Inside  measurements  of  sets  4' 
to  6'  in  the  clear.  Timbers  for  sets  and 
stulls  6"  to  12"  in  diameter.  Cost  2  cents 
per  foot. 


Mines  and 

Minerals, 

Vol.  19,  pp. 

14,  15. 


Horn  Silver 
Mine,  Utah. 


Posts  of  square  sets  —  10"  X  10"  X  6'  6", 
which  join  with  tenons  2"  X  6"  X  6", 
leaving  a  shoulder  2"  wide.  Ties  are  8"  X 
10"  X  4'  2".  Plan  of  set  4'  one  way  and 
5'  the  other. 


Mines  and 

Minerals, 

Vol.  19,  p.  425. 


Rossland, 

British 
Columbia. 


Sill  timbers  10"  X  10"  X  16'.  Height  of  set 
9',  length  of  caps  5'  4",  girts  4'  4",  posts 
8'  2".  Each  set  occupies  the  space  of  24 
tons  of  ore  or  240  cubic  feet.  Size  of  tim- 
bers 12"  to  20",  round.  Cost  of  framing 
per  set  .553  cents,  or  17  cents  per  ton.  Tie- 
sill  4'  4"  long. 


Eng.  and  Min. 

Jour.  Vol.  74, 

pp.  584-585. 


Little  Johnny 
Mine,  Lead- 
ville,  Colo- 
rado. 


All  timbers  10"  except  ties.  Set  is  4'  4",  cap- 
way,  X  4'  10"  X  6'10"  centers,  and  3'6", 
4'  and  6'  in  the  clear.  Posts  are  6'  4" 
long,  with  6"  X  6"  X  2"  tenons.  Ties 
are  plain  6"  X  10"  timbers  4'  4"  long. 
Caps  are  4'4"  long,  with  6"  X  6"  X  3"  ten- 
ions.  Sets  are  also  used  in  drifts. 


Colliery  Engi- 
neer and 
Metal  Miner, 
Vol.  16,  p.  125. 


MINING  GOLD   AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS. 


459 


DESCRIPTION  OF  TIMBERING.— Continued. 


El  Paso  Mine, 
Leadville, 
Colorado. 


Timbers  are  10"  except  ties.  Set  has  5'4"  x 
5'  4"X  7'  4"  centers  and  is  4'  6"X  4'6"X  6'  6" 
in  the  clear.  Posts  are  6'  8"  long,  with  8* 
X  8*  X  1"  tenons.  Caps  are  5'4"  long, 
with  8*  X  8"  X  4"  tenons.  Ties  are 
plain,  8"  X  10"  X  4'8"  long. 


Colliery  Engi- 
neer and 
Metal  Miner, 
Vol.  16,  p. 
125. 


Bingham, 

Utah. 


Sills  framed  from  6"  X  10"  timber,  cut  5' 
long,  dapered  1"  on  each  end  and  gained 
to  receive  end  of  post.  Posts  are  9"  X 
9"  or  10"  X  10"  square  and  6'  8"  long,  with 
tenons  1"  X  6"  X  7.5".  Caps  are  10"  X 
10"  square  and  4'  4^"  long. 


Eng.  and  Min. 
Jour.,  Vol. 
78,  p.  300. 


Comstock 
Mines, 
Nevada. 


Sets  4'  to  5'  square,  height  V  to  8'.  Timbers 
made  of  12"  material,  square-hewn  or 
sawed.  In  the  Savage  mine  the  posts  are 
V  2"  over  all,  the  tenons  are  8"  X  8"  or 
8"  X  10"  being  9"  long  on  upper  end  of  post 
and  2"  on  lower  end.  Caps  and  sills  have 
£-inch  shoulders  cut  to  fit  posts.  Sills  and 
caps  are  3'  9"  in  the  clear,  with  short  ten- 
ons on  each  end  to  receive  the  posts  and 
girts  or  ties. 


Mining  Indus- 
try, Hague, 
1870,  pp.  112, 
113. 


The  Timbering  of  Shafts.  —  Timbering  for  both  vertical  and  inclined 
shafts  varies  considerably  from  that  employed  in  drifts  and  slopes, 
although  the  forms  of  timbers  used  are  not  unlike  in  inclined  shafts 
and  slopes.  For  vertical  shafts  when  the  pressure  of  the  walls  comes 
on  the  two  opposite  sides  of  a  shaft  of  large  dimensions  the  full-  or 
four-piece  set  is  used,  but  is  rectangular  in  form,  the  cap  and  sill  being 
identical  in  all  respects,  as  are  the  posts.  The  former  are  called  wall- 
plates,  while  the  latter  are  end-pieces.1  When  the  pressure  of  the 
walls  is  practically  uniform  from  all  sides,  the  corners  of  the  support- 
ing frames  are  joined  by  notches,  the  cutting  of  which  is  proportioned 
to  the  amount  and  direction  of  the  pressure.  In  this  case  a  square- 
set  system  of  timbering  is  commonly  employed,  which  does  not  differ 
materially  from  that  employed  in  stopes.  However,  the  members 
known  as  posts,  caps  and  girts  or  ties  are  here  known  as  studdles, 
wall-plates  and  end-pieces. 

The  "  horn-set  "  system  of  framing  shaft  timbering  is  well  illus- 
trated in  the  Utica  mine  of  Angels,  California,  being  one  of  a 
number  of  forms  of  joining  the  wall-plates  and  end-pieces  previously 
referred  to.2 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  p.  102. 

3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  pp.  100,  and  101,  1899. 


460  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  following  references  are  given  to  assist  those  interested  in  look- 
ing further  into  the  subject  of  shaft  timbering.1 

The  question  of  mine  support  has  been  tersely  stated  by  Professor 
W.  F.  Blake,2  who  says:  "  This  extensive  .caving  and  crushing  is 
another  example  out  of  many  of  the  futility  of  attempting  to  hold  up 
a  mountain  with  timbers.  Even  on  the  Comstock  lode,  at  Virginia 
City,  within  sight  almost  of  the  superb  pine  forests  of  the  Sierra 
Nevadas,  the  transfer  of  large  portions  of  those  forests  to  the  interior 
of  the  mines  in  the  shape  of  square  sets,  framed  and  set  with  geo- 
metrical precision,  served  only  the  temporary  purpose  of  checking 
incipient  caving  of  the  walls  and  securing  the  safety  of  the  miners  for 
a  time.  But  when  heavy  splitting  off  from  the  walls  began,  with 
crowding  at  one  side  or  the  other,  the  beautiful  symmetry  of  the 
square  set  structure  was  impaired  and  the  posts  were  thrown  out  of 
plumb.  The  structure  had  more  the  nature  of  a  trap  than  a  secure 
shield. 

"  So  it  was  at  the  Emma,  in  Utah;  at  the  Silver  King  and  at  the 
United  Verde  in  Arizona,  and  ever  will  be  in  mines  where  there  are 
large  stoped  spaces,  with  walls  liable  to  split  off  and  fall  in.  It  is 
only  a  question  of  a  few  months  or  years  in  most  cases,  when  a  collapse 
must  come,  and  generally  with  fatal  suddenness,  and  great  loss  of 
property  and  life. 

"  How,  then,  shall  we  work  such  deposits?  This  is  a  question 
confronting  the  mining  engineer,  and  requiring  his  best  efforts  for  its 
solution.  It  is  not  a  new  problem,  and  each  case  has  its  peculiar 
conditions,  so  that  no  fixed  rule  or  method  can  be  insisted  upon. 
There  is,  however,  one  general  plan  which  may  be  adopted.  If  the 
walls  are  unstable  and  unsafe,  caving  should  be  regarded  as  advan- 
tageous. Let  the  ground  cave  in  and  follow  the  extraction.  Do  not 
try  to  build  it  up;  remove  the  ore  below  the  wreckage,  in  such  a  way 
that  this  wreckage  shall  follow  slowly  but  surely,  and  fill  the  spaces 
from  which  the  ore  has  been  removed.  Attack  the  unbroken  ore  in 
such  a  way  as  to  remove  it  in  blocks  or  slices  of  convenient  width, 
as  in  the  long-wall  system  of  mining  coal.  Or  drifts  may  be  run  at 
right  angles  just  under  the  wreckage,  so  as  to  block  out  regular 
squares,  one  after  the  other  being  removed. 

"  Access  may  be  had  by  side  drifts  or  galleries  in  the  firm  ground. 
The  stopes  may  be  carried  across  the  lode  or  parallel  with  the  walls. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  77,  p.  396-398;  Colliery  Engineer  and  Metal  Miner, 
Vol.  16,  p.  123,  and  Mine  Timbering,  pp.  16-31,  and  108. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  73,  p.  611. 


CAP 


WlO£.   T,£ 


Ten-Inch  Square-Set  at  Durant  Mine,  Aspe 


ow  Slit.  Tie. 


Lc/ro  Stt-t. 


-4-6- 


f        e~x/o"w-/o'-     J 


fl 


H        MlflHOW   T/f           A       gir 

1 

1 

' 

k 

*  

5'-*-"  

w 

Woe.  Ttt          -J 

m 

Colorado.     (From  Mines  and  Minerals.) 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.          461 

The  removal  of  a  small  area  of  the  solid  lode  does  not  precipitate  a 
run  or  sudden  cave.  Usually  the  movement  of  the  loose  debris  is 
gradual,  and  gives  time  for  the  removal  of  broken  ore.  If  there  are 
deads  and  waste  these  can  be  piled  back,  as  in  drift  mining  in  gold 
gravel  placers.  This  method  of  stoping  out  the  ore  in  slices  may  be 
varied  as  regards  the  breadth  of  the  slice  and  its  height,  according  to 
the  conditions.  If  the  debris  stands  up  well  and  does  not  crowd  the 
miners,  a  broad  opening  can  be  made. 

"  Temporary  protection  from  the  falling  of  small  fragments  can 
be  secured  by  a  line  of  timbers  or  supports,  covered  by  planks  or 
steel  plates,  all  of  which  may  be  withdrawn  and  moved  forward  as 
the  extraction  proceeds.  Timbers  or  steel  supports  may  be  made 
tapering,  so  as  to  be  easily  withdrawn  from  the  debris  of  rocks  and 
timbers.  Any  timbers  lost  in  the  caving  tend  to  form  a  mat  or  net- 
work, which  is  a  protection  against  the  rapid  and  sudden  fall  of  earth 
and  stones. 

"  The  plan  of  filling  in  old  stopes  by  loose  waste  or  earth,  stones  or 
broken  rock  has  the  disadvantage  that  such  stuff  runs  too  freely,  and 
cannot  be  subsequently  underrun  with  the  same  security  as  a  mass 
of  coarse  rock  and  timber  wreckage,  which  moves  slowly  downward." 

Drainage.  —  The  cost  of  the  drainage  of  mines  constitutes  one  of 
the  largest  items  of  expense  in  their  operation.  Therefore  every 
possible  precaution  should  be  taken  to  keep  surface  waters  from 
entering  the  mines  and  to  intercept  and  remove  that  occurring  in 
the  upper  levels  and  thus  prevent  it  passing  downward  to  the 
bottom  of  the  mine.  The  drainage  of  mines  then  resolves  itself 
into  excluding  surface  waters,  intercepting  the  waters  of  the  upper 
workings  and  ejecting  by  various  means  any  and  all  water  from 
the  mines. 

The  occurrence  of  water  in  mines  is  exceedingly  variable,  often 
being  confined  to  the  superficial  portions  of  the  deposit  as  one 
extreme  and  the  deepest  workings  as  the  other  extreme,  while  in 
many  cases  water  is  encountered  throughout  the  workings.  How- 
ever, it  may  be  stated  as  a  general  rule  that  the  quantity  of  water 
increases  more  or  less  in  direct  proportion  to  the  depth  attained,  and 
calculations  for  its  disposal  are  based  upon  such  observed  facts, 
unless  definite  information  to  the  contrary  is  known. 

The  deep-seated  waters  are  probably  of  the  most  importance  as 
affecting  the  workings  and  when  encountered  in  considerable  quanti- 
ties their  expulsion  from  deep  mines  involves  a  large  outlay  of  money 
in  first  cost  and  maintenance. 


462  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  means  employed  in  freeing  mines  from  water  may  be  grouped 
under  two  heads,  namely,  the  gravity  and  power  systems.  Both  of 
these  systems  are  as  old  as  mining  itself  and  are  new  only  in  the 
extent  and  ingenuity  of  their  application.  When  the  position  of 
the  ore-bodies  is  such  that  they  can  be  reached  and  worked  to 
advantage  by  drifts  and  tunnels,  that  portion  of  the  workings  lying 
above  the  level  of  the  tunnel  can  be  drained  by  gravity.  Such 
openings  when  employed  partially  or  exclusively  for  drainage  pur- 
poses are  properly  known  as  adits  or  adit-levels,  but  are  commonly 
miscalled,  drifts  and  tunnels  in  the  United  States,  which  misuse  of 
the  name  probably  results  from  the  double  use  to  which  they  are 
put,  being  employed  both  for  haulage  and  drainage.  When,  how- 
ever, the  mine  workings  extend  below  the  adit-level  some  other 
means  of  removing  the  water  must  be  resorted  to,  to  supplement 
the  adit  drainage.  When  adits  are  not  available  the  power  system 
must  be  employed,  which  has  so  many  forms  of  application  that  a 
complete  discussion  is  out  of  the  question  here  and  only  a  few  typical 
forms  are  given. 

Pumps  are  almost  universally  employed  in  freeing  mines  from  water, 
being  used  wholly  or  in  part.  The  common  practice  in  the  use  of 
pumps  consists  in  installing  a  large  pump,  at  or  near  the  bottom 
of  a  mine,  the  suction  of  which  extends  to  and  enters  the  main  well 
or  sump  at  the  foot  of  the  shaft.  Waters  collected  in  this  sump 
from  the  lower  levels  of  the  mine  are  raised  and  discharged  at  the 
surface  or  into  another  sump  located  in  an  upper  level.  The  upper  or 
level-sump  is  a  large  reservoir  cut  in  the  floor  of  a  level  into  which 
all  water  from  the  upper  portion  of  the  mine  is  caught  and  raised 
to  the  surface  by  a  pump  placed  at  that  level.  Often  as  many  as 
three  and  four  pumps  are  installed  at  various  levels  in  order  to  save 
the  expense  of  pumping,  which  may  be  considered  as  dead-work, 
as  little  or  no  advantage  results  from  the  work  done  other  than 
ridding  the  mine  of  water 

Pumps  are  driven  by  water,  electricity,  steam  and  air,  which  is 
employed  depending  largely  upon  its  cheapness  and  availability. 
Water  is,  however,  seldom  used  in  driving  pumps  in  the  mines  of  the 
United  States.  Electricity  is  being  extensively  used  in  various 
localities  and  is  rapidly  growing  in  favor.  Steam  and  air  are  widely 
employed  as  the  motive  power  of  pumps,  the  latter  being  preferred 
as  the  escaping  air  serves  both  to  ventilate  the  workings  and  reduce 
the  temperature,  which  are  often  important  considerations. 
Further,  air  is  employed  to  a  limited  extent  in  the  so-called  air-lift 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.          463 

pumps,  which  have  not,  however,  received  much  attention  in  this 
country. 

Water-lift  or  jet  pumps,  although  only  occasionally  used  in  the 
mines  of  the  United  States,  have  proven  their  efficiency  and 
adaptability  under  most  severe  and  extreme  conditions. 

To  illustrate  the  manner  in  which  the  drainage  of  mines  has 
been  effected  by  the  means  outlined  above,  a  few  specific  cases  are 
given,  which  although  peculiar  and  possibly  extreme  in  character 
are  interesting  and  instructive. 

The  drainage  of  the  Comstock  mines  presented  one  of  the  most 
difficult  problems  that  mining  engineers  have  been  called  upon  to 
solve,  owing  to  the  large  volume  of  water  that  had  to  be  handled 
and  raised  to  the  surface  from  great  depths  (which  was  still  further 
complicated  by  the  excessive  heat  encountered  in  the  mines, 
especially  in  the  lower  levels).  In  1879  the  mines  were  raising 
approximately  five  million  tons  per  year  (a  large  amount  for  that 
time),  to  which  should  be  added  the  immense  but  unknown  quantity 
expelled  in  the  form  of  vapor  which  was  continuously  given  off  by 
the  heated  water  and  wet  walls  and  rose  from  the  shafts  to  a  height 
of  40  feet  or  more  in  dense  clouds.  The  great  lateral  extent  of  the 
working,  which  in  1879  aggregated  200  miles  in  length  and  was 
increased  by  the  amount  of  12  miles  yearly,  together  with  depth  and 
an  abundant  rainfall,  was  responsible  for  the  apparently  unlimited 
amount  of  water  that  entered  the  mines.1 

The  mines  of  the  Comstock  were  flooded  by  the  tapping  of  an 
immense  pocket  or  reservoir  of  water  by  a  drift  at  a  point  some 
350  feet  above  the  bottom  of  the  Yellow  Jacket  shaft.  This  occurred 
on  February  13,  1882,  when  a  connecting  passage  was  being  driven 
on  the  2700  foot-level  from  the  Yellow  Jacket  to  the  Exchequer 
mine,  and  owing  to  the  difference  in  level  between  the  two  workings, 
there  was  a  tremendous  flow  of  water  from  the  latter  into  the  former. 
All  operations  excepting  pumping  were  at  once  suspended,  and 
although  pumping  and  bailing  were  energetically  carried  on  for 
many  days,  the  water  steadily  gained  on  them,  eventually  raising 
to  the  source  of  the  supply,  which  was  the  2700  foot-level  of  the 
Exchequer.  The  mines  of  the  south  end  of  the  lode  or  the  Gold 
Hill  end  were  then  flooded  and  abandoned,  except  for  pumping, 
which  was  continued  with  the  hope  of  ultimately  exhausting  the 
subterranean  reservoirs  of  the  Exchequer.  On  March  28,  the 
water-level  had  been  lowered  to  a  point  950  feet  above  the  3000-foot 
1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  28,  p.  36. 


464  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

level  of  the  Yellow  Jacket  shaft.  However,  as  no  arrangement 
whereby  the  expense  of  pumping  could  be  distributed  among  the 
several  companies  affected,  the  Yellow  Jacket  Company  stopped 
pumping  *  and  abandoned  the  lower  levels  of  their  mine  to  the 
water.  .  Thus  it  came  about  that  the  whole  line  of  south-end  mines 
had  their  operations  limited  to  the  level  of  the  Sutro  tunnel,  which 
condition  of  affairs  continued  until  1898.  It  is  needless  to  state 
that  had  proper  precautions  been  taken  by  the  Exchequer 
operators  this  great  waste  in  time  and  effort  might  readily  have  been 
obviated.1 

Prior  to  the  flooding  and  abandonment  of  the  lower  levels  of  a 
number  of  the  Comstock  mines,  the  Sutro  tunnel  was  projected  to 
handle  the  water  encountered.  Wheil  this  tunnel  reached  and 
made  connection  with  the  mine  workings  the  water-level  was  lowered 
100  feet  during  a  period  of  8  hours,  thus  conclusively  demonstrating 
the  success  of  the  undertaking.2 

An  attempt  was  made  to  keep  the  water-level  of  the  mines  of  the 
north  end  of  the  lode  at  the  3300-foot  level  by  means  of  Cornish 
and  hydraulic  pumps,  but  owing  to  the  great  expense  involved  the 
mines  were  allowed  to  fill  up  to  the  1600-foot  level.  The  installation 
in  1899  of  a  large  hydraulic  jet  or  lift  in  the  C.  and  C.  shaft  marked 
another  epoch  in  the  operation  of  these  mines  and  was  a  bold  and 
hazardous  undertaking,  only  warranted  by  the  magnitude  of  the 
work  and  future  possibilities  of  the  mines.  By  this  system  the 
water-level  of  the  north  end  mines  was  maintained  at  a  point  2150 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press.,  Vol.  76,  p.  155. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  39,  p.  9. 

*  The  pump  of  the  Yellow  Jacket  mine  may  be  described  briefly  as  follows: 
The  foundations  of  the  pumping  engines  and  walking-beam  were  35  feet  high, 
in  and  extending  through  which  were  4-inch  anchor-bolts.  The  engine  was  a 
duplex  cross-compound,  condensing  form,  the  cylinders  being  water-jacketed. 
The  high  and  low  pressure  cylinders  were  32  and  64  inches  in  diameter,  with  a 
12-foot  stroke.  Being  cross-compounded  the  cylinders  stood  side  by  side,  the 
pistons  of  which  were  connected  by  a  cross-head.  In  order  to  equalize  the 
movement  of  the  engine  the  ends  of  the  cross-head  were  connected  with  two 
large  fly-wheels  30  feet  in  diameter,  and  of  36  tons  weight  each.  The  walking 
beam  consisted  of  a  single  stick  of  timber,  38  by  48  inches  in  section  by  42  feet 
long.  It  was  claimed  that  this  was  the  largest  piece  of  timber  ever  brought  to 
Comstock  mines,  and  came  from  Oregon.  It  weighed  12  tons.  The  other  tim- 
bers were  proportionate  in  size  to  the  walking-beam.  The  stroke  of  the  pump 
was  10  feet,  the  water  being  lifted  by  a  rod  16  by  16  inches,  and  put  together  in 
sections  of  60  feet  in  length.  The  column  pipe  was  14  inches  inside  diameter. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  36,  p.  6. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND  GRAVELS.  465 

feet  below  the  Sutro  tunnel.  Encouraged  by  the  success  attained, 
the  work  of  still  further  lowering  the  water-level  was  begun.  For 
which  purpose  three  Reidler  pumps  were  installed  which  are  elec- 
trically driven,  each  having  a  200-horsepower  induction  motor. 
These  pumps  receive  the  water  from  the  2150-foot  level  and  deliver 
it  to  the  Sutro  tunnel.  A  volume  of  4500  gallons  per  minute  is  thus 
discharged  into  the  tunnel  under  a  head  of  430  feet.  The  hydraulic 
pumps  serve  as  sinking  pumps  raising  the  water  from  below  and 
discharging  it  into  the  sump  from  which  the  Reidler  pumps  draw 
their  supply. 

With  an  expenditure  of  less  than  $100,000  the  hydraulic  jet-lift 
system  was  discharging  more  water  into  the  drainage  tunnel  than 
had  ever  been  handled  by  the  $5,000,000  equipment  of  former 
years.1 

In  the  mines  of  the  Comstock  lode  there  has  then  been  exemplified 
as  extensive  and  varied  practice  as  can  be  found  in  any  other  mining 
region  in  the  world,  for  which  reason  it  has  been  given  in  considerable 
detail.  However,  the  practice  in  the  Cripple  Creek  district,  Col- 
orado, illustrates  remarkably  well  the  use  of  tunnel-drainage  in 
precious  metal  mining  —  the  existing  conditions  and  practice  there 
are  briefly  given.  Extracts  from  the  paper2  on  the  Geology  and 
Gold  Deposits  of  the  Cripple  Creek  District,  by  Messrs.  Lindgren 
and  Ransome,  are  given:  "  Although  the  annual  precipitation  at 
Cripple  Creek  is  not  heavy  and  the  conditions  for  rapid-run  off  are 
unusually  favorable,  standing  water  was  originally  encountered  in 
the  mines  at  moderate  depths.  At  the  beginning  of  mining  opera- 
tions the  underground  water  surface  stood  at  an  elevation  of  about 
9,500  feet  in  the  western  part  of  the  district  and,  on  an  average,  fully 
100  feet  higher  in  the  eastern  part.  Several  mines  began  pumping 
about  the  year  1895,  but  it  was  soon  found  that  this  mode  of  lowering 
the  water  was  slow  and  costly.  Attention  was  directed  to  tunnel- 
ing, and  the  Ophelia  tunnel  was  driven  into  Gold  Hill  at  an  elevation 
of  9,268  feet.  This  tunnel  drained  the  western  part  of  the  district 
until  1898,  when  the  Standard  tunnel,  over  200  feet  lower,  tapped 
the  phonolite  of  Beacon  Hill  and  became  the  chief  effluent.  Finally 
the  El  Paso  tunnel,  with  its  portal  at  an  elevation  of  8,783  feet, 
was  driven  under  Beacon  Hill  in  1903  and  has  since  been  the  main 
drainage  outlet  of  the  district.  Prior  to  January  1,  1905,  this 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  90,  p.  73,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  78,  p.  373. 

2  Geology  and  Ore  Deposits  of  the  Cripple  Creek  District,  Colorado,  U.  S.  G.  S.f 
Professional  Paper,  No.  54,  p.  9,  1906. 


466  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

tunnel  is  estimated  to  have  discharged  about  3,550,000,000  gallons 
or  nearly  15,000,000  tons  of  water. 

"  The  records  of  the  pumping  operations  and  tunnel  projects 
show  that  the  underground  water  is  for  the  most  part  held  within 
open  fissures  and  cavities  in  the  rocks  of  the  volcanic  neck.  It  is 
stored  water,  inclosed  by  the  relatively  impervious  rim  of  granite 
and  schistose  rocks  that  form  the  general  Cripple  Creek  plateau, 
and  has  been  supplied  by  the  rain  and  snow  thai!  fell  upon  the  surface 
of  the  plateau. 

"  Drainage  and  pumping  have  both  shown  that  the  underground 
water  does  not  flow  freely  through  the  rocks  in  all  directions. 
Neighboring  mines  in  some  cases  show  marked  differences  in  water 
level,  and  the  drainage  tunnels  on  the  west  side  of  the  district  have 
but  slightly  benefited  the  mines  on  the  east  side.  The  behavior 
of  the  water  shows  that  the  unfissured  breccia  is  practically  almost 
impervious  and  that  artificial  drainage  affects  only  those  parts  of 
the  district  that  are  connected  by  fissures  with  the  tunnel  or  shaft 
whence  the  water  is  drawn  off."  * 

The  new  drainage  tunnel  projected  and  begun  by  the  mine  owners 
of  Cripple  Creek  will  cost  approximately  $800,000  and  is  expected 
to  drain  the  whole  productive  area  in  the  district.  It  will  have 
a  length  of  27,140  feet,  having  as  a  starting  point  the  bed  of  Cripple 
Creek  some  3  miles  below  the  El  Paso  shaft.  From  its  mouth  or 
portal  its  course  will  be  northeast  to  the  El  Paso  shaft,  a  distance  of 
14,000  feet,  thence  continuing  in  a  direction  slightly  north  of  east 
to  the  Vindicator  property,  some  12,640  feet.  Its  approximate 
depth  at  the  El  Paso,  Elkton,  Portland  and  Vindicator  mines  will 
be  1325,  1680,  2000,  and  2125  feet.  The  cost  will  be  borne  by  the 
owners  of  the  principal  properties  drained.2 

Data  regarding  the  drainage  tunnels  of  Cripple  Creek  are  given 
in  the  table  on  following  page: 3 

The  great  advantage  accruing  from  the  organization  of  the  owners 
of  mines  in  a  district  into  associations  for  the  purpose  of  draining 
the  properties  of  a  district  has  been  well  illustrated  by  the  work 
done  in  various  localities.4  The  following  statement  regarding  the 

1  Geology  and  Gold  Deposits  of  the  Cripple  Creek  District,  Colorado,  U.  S.  G.  S., 
Professional  Paper,  No.  54,  pp.  9  and  10,  1906. 

2  Mineral  Industry,  1904,  pp.  173-174. 

3  Geology  and  Gold  Deposit  of  the  Cripple  Creek  District,  Colorado,  U.  S.  G.  S., 
Professional  Paper,  No.  54,  p.  235,  1906. 

4  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  27,  p.  219,  and  Am.  Min.  Congress,  Denver,  Colo., 
Oct.,  1906. 


MINING  GOLD  AND  SILVER  ORES  AND   GRAVELS. 


467 


operations    of    such   an   organization    in  the  Leadville  basin  may 
serve  as  an  example.1 


Tunnel. 

Date  of 
beginning 
Work. 

Slevation 
(in  Feet). 

Length 
(in  Feet). 

Discharge 
(in  Gallons  per 
Minute). 

Remarks. 

Blue  Bell  
Ophelia        .  . 

Prior  to  1894. 

9,335 
9,268 

(Dec.,  1896) 

200 

(Dec.,  1896) 

Became   dry 

Standard  
Newell  

January, 
1896. 

9,027 
8,930 

2,600. 
Work  aban- 
doned in 
June,  1899. 
2,800. 

2,000  to  2,100. 
Feb.  1896,  250; 
1898,  1000; 
1899,  12,000 
to  18,000. 

in   1898. 
Became   dry 
in  1901. 

No  important 

El  Paso  

January, 
1903. 

8,783 

Less    than    1 
mile. 

Prior  to  Jan.  1, 
1905,  the 
estimated  dis- 
charge was 
3,550,000,000 
gallons  (total 
output)  . 

flow  of 
water. 
Completed 
Sept.  6, 
1903. 

"  This  association  includes  nearly  all  the  leasing  companies,  as 
well  as  the  owners  of  territory  embraced  in  the  Leadville  basin. 
All  mines  operating  within  the  association  territory  bear  the  cost  of 
pumping  in  proportion  to  their  output,  based  on  net  smelter  returns 
less  cost  of  haulage.  By  means  of  counters  on  these  pumps  the 
amount  pumped  is  computed  in  gallons  and  charged  to  the  association 
at  the  rate  of  10  cents  per  1,000  gallons.  Those  mines  which  pump 
are  credited  with  the  amount  of  water  they  have  raised.  Taking 
the  entire  district,  investigation  shows  that  the  flow  of  water  which 
must  be  handled  is  not  less  than  15,000,000  gallons  a  day.  Compar- 
ing this  amount  of  water  with  the  average  daily  tonnage  of  the 
district  for  the  past  year,  we  find  that  28.6  tons  of  water  are  raised 
for  every  ton  of  ore  raised.  Careful  estimates  of  the  cost  of 
pumping  have  been  compiled  and  show  that  it  costs  4  cents  to 
pump  each  ton  of  water  to  the  surface.  Hence,  the  cost  of  pumping 
referred  to  the  ore  makes  a  charge  of  $1.14  per  ton  extracted." 

Ventilation. —  As  a  usual  thing  the  ventilation  of  metal  and 
especially  precious  metal  mines  is  easily  accomplished.  There  are 
special  cases,  however,  where  ventilation  is  exceedingly  difficult, 
one  of  the  most  prominent  cases  in  the  history  of  mining  in  the 

1  Special  Rept.  Census  Bureau>  Mines  and  Quarries,  1902,  p.  575,  and  Kept. 
Director  of  Mint  on  the  Production  of  the  Precious  Metal,  1900,  p.  118. 


468  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

United  States  was  that  of  the  mines  of  the  Comstock  lode,  but  the 
conditions  of  excessive  heat  encountered  there  were  exceptional  and 
cannot  be  cited  as  other  than  unusual  in  practically  every  respect. 

With  the  introduction  of  compressed  air  drills  the  problem  of 
mine  ventilation  has  been  materially  simplified,  as  the  exhaust  of 
a  number  of  drills  is  often  sufficient,  especially  when  supplemented 
by  natural,  ventilation.  Under  ordinary  conditions,  then,  gold 
and  silver  mines  may  be  ventilated  by  two  shafts,  preferably  with 
the  mouth  of  one  elevated  somewhat  above  the  other,  or  by  one 
shaft  in  which  is  placed  a  vertical  partition  or  dividing  extending 
from  the  surface  to  the  workings  below.  When  tunnels  or  drifts 
are  employed  in  opening  a  deposit,  ventilation  can  readily  be  main- 
tained by  running  a  wooden  or  metal  pipe  into  the  workings  along 
the  line  of  the  drift  and  blowing  air  in  with  a  blower  or  forcing  it  in 
with  a  jet  of  compressed  air.  Tunnel  ventilation  is  most  advantage- 
ously accomplished  when  the  inner  end  of  the  tunnel  or  the  workings 
are  connected  with  the  foot  of  a  shaft  sunk  from  the  surface  above. 
The  one  essential  condition  is  that  there  must  be  a  motive  column 
of  air,  i.e.,  that  one  of  the  two  columns  of  air  necessary  for  a  move- 
ment of  air  currents,  must  be  heavier  than  the  other,  which  may 
result  from  greater  length  or  density  of  the  column. 

In  mining  districts  where  considerable  development-work  has  been 
done  the  ventilation  of  the  mines  is  disposed  of  as  soon  as  connection 
is  made  with  other  workings  in  the  immediate  vicinity  —  a  usual  and 
legitimate  method  of  procedure.  However,  when  the  atmosphere 
of  the  mine  is  close  and  warm  or  hot,  owing  to  chemical  change  in 
the  rock-walls  or  heat  emanating  from  uncooled  masses  of  igneous 
rocks,  the  problem  of  providing  a  sufficient  volume  of  cool  and 
fresh  air  becomes  more  difficult.  The  usual  method  of  procedure 
under  such  circumstances  is  to  install  a  blower  at  one  of  the  mine 
openings  thus  aiding  natural  ventilation,  or  placing  small  fans, 
usually  of  the  high  speed  type,  at  or  near  the  localities  where  the 
greatest  inconvenience  is  experienced.  These  fans  are  driven  by 
air  or  electricity  and  have  practically  solved  the  difficulty  of 
poor  ventilation  in  metal  mines.  They  are  also  used  quite  exten- 
sively in  coal  mines. 


CHAPTER   VI. 
EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES. 

THE  extraction  of  values  from  gold  and  silver  ores  may  be  accom- 
plished by  mechanical  or  chemical  means,  the  choice  of  the  process 
depending  largely  upon  the  occurrence  and  condition  of  the  ore. 
In  general  it  may  be  said  that  free-gold  and  silver  may  be  extracted 
by  the  former,  while  when  chemically  combined,  chemical  means 
must  be  resorted  to. 

Another  important  consideration  in  the  extraction  of  values  from 
ores  is  their  reduction  to  a  size  suitable  for  the  removal  of  the 
individual  particles  of  useful  metal  or  mineral.  It  is  evident  then 
that  the  size  of  the  particles  and  their  matrix  are  important  factors 
in  the  economical  working  of  a  given  ore. 

The  mechanical  treatment  of  ores  may  be  considered  as  milling, 
while  the  chemical  treatment  is  usually  spoken  of  as  metallurgy. 
However,  there  is  no  sharp  line  dividing  the  two  processes  and  they 
are  probably  more  often  used  together,  as  supplementary  processes, 
than  separately,  although  in  smelting  there  is  often  no  connection, 
except  in  some  instances  a  slight  hand  treatment,  as  sorting. 

As  between  mining  and  milling  the  latter  is  probably  of  the  most 
importance  as  a  factor  in  the  growth  of  the  mineral  industry. 
Means  of  winning  ores  from  the  earth  naturally  antedated  the 
extraction  of  values  therefrom,  for  which  reason  attention  was 
first  turned  to  improvements  in  mining  the  ores.  Another  important 
factor  was  the  condition  of  the  metal  sought  in  the  ore  —  little  or 
no  attention  was  at  first  paid  to  those  deposits  in  which  the  metals 
occurred  other  than  in  the  free  or  native  state.  The  extraction  of 
the  values  of  such  ores  meant  only  a  simple  reduction,  but,  then 
as  now,  the  methods  of  extracting  the  ores  from  the  ground  were 
largely  independent  of  the  after-treatment  and  were  the  immediate 
object  of  improvement.  It  is  not  surprising,  then,  that  mining  should 
have  reached  a  comparatively  high  state  of  perfection  at  an  early 
date,  while  the  advance  made  in  extraction  of  values  has  been  by 
slow  and  devious  ways,  and  even  yet  is  wanting  in  many  details. 
However,  it  has  been  largely  .through  the  overcoming  of  apparently 

469 


470  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

impossible  conditions  in  extraction  of  values  that  the  remarkable 
and  phenomenal  growth  of  mining  in  all  its  phases  has  been  due. 

The  reduction  of  working  costs  of  the  Comstock  ores  of  from  $50 
to  $30  was  considered  both  remarkable  and  extraordinary.  The 
cost  has,  however,  been  still  further  reduced  to  $10  and  even  $7 
and  $6  per  ton,  which  under  the  present  conditions  of  low-grade  ore 
is  considered  high,  but  could  it  have  been  effected  during  the  produc- 
tion of  the  high-grade  ores  it  would  have  meant  not  niillions  but 
billions  saved. 

The  economical  working  of  low-grade  ores  is  becoming  of  more 
and  more  importance  and  will  continue  to  draw  the  attention  of 
mill  men  and  metallurgists  until  a  point  has  been  reached  when  ore 
containing  values  worth  $l.and  even  less  per  ton  can  be  worked  with 
profit.  Such  a  process  would  be  tantamount  to  the  discovery  of  new 
mines  of  the  precious  metals  and  would  be  a  potent  factor  in  maintain- 
ing if  not  materially  increasing  the  production  of  gold  and  silver. 

For  convenience  of  discussion  in  this  connection,  extraction  is 
considered  under  the  two  general  heads  of  milling  and  metallurgy, 
but  it  is  obviously  impossible  to  treat  of  them  exhaustively,  and 
therefore  typical  examples  are  given  of  the  various  methods  and 
processes  which  have  proven  to  be  especially  suited  to  the  classes 
of  ores  mined. 

HISTORICAL    SKETCH. 

The  washing  of  gravel  for  gold  dust  and  nuggets  constitutes 
probably  the  first  attempt  at  extraction  of  values  from  their  natural 
and  crude  surroundings.  Further,  this  may  be  considered  the  first 
method  employed  in  each  new  locality  in  which  gold,  especially, 
is  discovered. 

Where  free-gold  occurs  in  the  upper  oxidized  portions  of  veins  its 
extraction  from  the  loosely  associated  matrix  of  weathered  rock 
is  a  comparatively  easy  operation  and  does  not  involve  extensive 
and  costly  appliances.  Later,  when  considerable  depth  is  reached 
and  the  free  metal  gives  way  to  combined  forms,  as  auriferous 
sulphides,  in  which  the  gold  and  silver  occur  in  smaller  quantities 
and  from  which  it  is  more  difficult  to  recover,  the  problem  of  extrac- 
tion becomes  more  complicated.  Improved  methods  both  mechani- 
cal and  chemical  must  be  employed,  thus  elaborate  and  costly 
equipments  are  necessary,  which  are  planned  as  much  with  an  idea 
of  preventing  loss  as  ensuring  rapid  and  economical  work. 

If,  at  the  present  time,  auriferous  'deposits  are  found  and  give 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  471 

evidence  of  permanence,  the  crude  methods  are  soon  replaced  by 
highly  efficient  and  labor-saving  devices.  This  was  not,  however, 
the  case  in  the  early  days  of  the  mining  industry  and  that,  too,  even 
as  late  as  the  discovery  of  gold  and  silver  in  the  United  States,  with 
which  this  treatise  is  particularly  confined.  Nevertheless  the 
history  of  mining  and  milling  and  metallurgy  of  South  America, 
Mexico,  and  the  United  States  is  so  closely  connected  and  intimately 
interwoven  that  casual  mention  of  the  two  former  countries  is  not 
out  of  place  here. 

The  reduction  of  ore  was  first  accomplished  by  hand  mortars 
which  were  used  in  the  Southern  goldfields  of  the  Appalachian 
region  as  early  as  1825,  or  about  the  time  that  vein-mining  began, 
and  were  employed  in  reducing  the  silver  sulphurets  of  the  Comstock 
lode  in  order  that  the  gold  might  more  readily  be  extracted.  The 
hand  mortar  was  replaced  by  the  Mexican  drag-stone  mills  and 
wooden  stamps. 

Another  Mexican  method  of  reducing  ore,  which  in  many  instances 
was  employed  in  place  of  hammers,  was  the  use  of  a  boulder  attached 
to  a  balanced  pole,  the  ore  being  placed  upon  a  large  stone  and 
pounded  by  the  spring-pole  hammer. 

The  following  interesting  description  is  given  of  the  early  methods 
of  reduction  employed  in  1835  by  the  United  States  Mining  Company, 
at  their  mine  on  the  Rappahannock  River,  Virginia:  l 

"  The  plant  consists  of  a  crushing-mill  (rolls)  and  a  vertical  mill 
(stamp-mill)  in  a  building  26  by  36  feet.  Both  mills  are  located  on 
the  ground  floor,  and  are  propelled  by  a  water-wheel  11  feet  in 
diameter,  with  a  11-foot  face.  The  crushing  mill  has  three  sets  of 
cylinders  2  feet  in  length  and  15  inches  in  diameter,  the  first  or 
upper  set  fluted,  the  other  smooth.  The  ore  is  thrown  into  a  hopper 
on  the  upper  floor,  from  which  it  is  conducted  over  an  inclined 
shaking  table  to  the  fluted  cylinders  by  which  it  is  crushed  to  a 
size  from  J  to  1  inch  in  diameter.  The  crushed  material  is  equally 
divided,  and  goes  to  the  two  sets  of  smooth  cylinders.  By  them  it 
is  further  greatly  reduced,  ranging  from  impalpable  powder  to  grains 
as  large  as  coarse  hominy.  From  these  cylinders  it  falls  into  a 
sifter  having  the  fineness  and  motion  of  the  common  meal  sifter, 
from  whence  the  material  which  passes  through  is  conducted  to  12 
amalgamators,  constructed  upon  the  principle  of  the  Tyrolese 
bowls,  making  from  90  to  100  revolutions  per  minute.  They  per- 
form the  office  of  washing  and  amalgamating.  The  sand  discarded 
1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  682. 


472  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

by  them,  after  being  washed,  is  conducted  through  troughs  to  the 
vertical  mill,  where,  being  reduced  to  an  impalpable  powder,  it 
passes  in  the  shape  of  turbid  or  muddy  water  to  another  set  of 
amalgamators  similar  to  those  above  mentioned,  and  thence  to  the 
river.  The  portion  of  the  ore  reduced  by  the  cylinders,  which  passes 
over  the  sifters,  is  conducted  to  the  vertical  mill,  and  is  treated  in 
the  same  manner." 

The  drag-stone  mills  are  probably  the  oldest  form  of  reducing 
apparatus,  power-driven,  that  was  used  in  the  United  States.  They 
probably  originated  in  Mexico,  at  least  were  introduced  into  the 
States  by  Mexicans.  Briefly,  a  drag-stone  mill  consists  of  a  circular 
bed  of  stones  some  8  to  12  feet  in  diameter,  and  enclosed  within  a 
vertical  wall  of  stones,  or  timber  standing  on  edge.  In  the  center  is 
a  bearing  for  a  vertical  post,  which  is  supported  at  the  upper  end  by 
a  second  bearing,  maintained  some  distance  above  the  bed  by  a 
rude  frame-work  of  timbers.  A  number  of  arms  extend  from  the 
post  a  foot  or  more  above  the  bed,  to  which  are  attached  by  ropes 
or  chains  drag-stones  weighing  from  200  to  800  and  1000  pounds. 
Other  longer  arms  or  sweeps  are  attached  to  the  post  by  means  of 
which  it  is  rotated,  and  the  stones  attached  to  the  arms  caused 
to  move  around  upon  the  bed  or  pavement  of  rock.  In  the  earliest 
use  of  this  apparatus  it  was  occasionally  operated  by  man-power, 
later  by  animals,  and  subsequently  by  water  and  steam-power;  the 
latter  method  of  driving  is,  however,  comparatively  rare. 

It  is  essential  that  both  the  pavement  and  drag-stones  be  of  hard 
material,  in  order  that  the  expense  of  renewal  may  be  small. 

Ore  and  water  fed  in  the  proper  proportion  to  the  drag-stone  mill 
or  arrastra  when  in  operation  result  in  a  reduction  by  slow  attri- 
tion, thus  effecting  a  separation  of  the  values. 

The  arrastra  was  probably  first  used  within  the  borders  of  the 
United  States  in  the  Southern  Appalachian  gold  fields,  although  it  is 
not  improbable  that  it  was  employed  at  an  earlier  date  even,  in 
the  states  and  territories  bordering  on  old  Mexico.  It  was  found 
operating  on  the  gold  quartz-veins  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Comstock 
lode  as  early  as  1848. 

Its  simplicity  and  cheapness  make  it  pre-eminently  a  poor  man's 
mill,  for  which  reason  it  was  largely  used,  and  still  continues  in  favor 
in  those  regions  where  mining  operations  are  conducted  on  a  small 
scale,  and  transportation  facilities  are  wanting.  Even  as  late  as 
1880  the  arrastras  outnumbered  the  stamp  mills.1 

1  Tenth  Census,  Vol.  13,  Report  on  Precious  Metals,  pp.  282,  283. 


EXTRACTION   OF   VALUES.  473 

Stamps  did  not  originate  in  America,  but  were  used  in  Europe 
even  before  the  discovery  of  gold  in  the  United  States.  Probably 
the  first  stamp  mill  erected  in  the  present  borders  of  the  United 
States  was  operated  at  the  Tellurium  mine,  Virginia,  in  1835  or  1836. 
It  was  a  6-stamp  mill,  the  individual  stamps  weighing  50  pounds. 
During  the  following  year  a  stamp  mill  was  built  at  the  Haile 
mine,  South  Carolina,  by  a  Frenchman. 

In  general  these  early  stamps  were  all  wood,  except  the  shoes  and 
dies,  i.e.,  the  crushing  parts.  The  stems  were  square,  and  the  cams 
operated  in  slots  in  the  stems. 

Shortly  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  a  regular  California  stamp 
mill  was  erected  at  King's  Mountain  mine,  North  Carolina,  and 
in  1866  another  was  built  at  the  Singleton  mine,  Georgia,  by 
Dr.  Hamilton. 

Rotary  pulverizers  and  pan  amalgamators  have  been  employed 
extensively  in  the  Southern  states,  the  more  important  forms  of 
mills  being,  the  Rowland,  a  circular  disk  revolving  in  an  iron  shell; 
the  Crawford,  with  revolving  iron  balls;  the  Huntington,  with  pen- 
dulum rollers;  the  Parson,  with  the  interior  grinding  surfaces 
coated  with  lead  amalgam;  the  Meech,  in  which  the  mercury  was 
comminuted  by  superheated  steam;  the  Wiswell,  practically  an 
iron  Chilean  mill  in  which  was  placed  corrosive  sublimate  in  con- 
nection with  an  electrical  current;  and  the  Nobles  process  in 
which  a  buhr  stone  mill  was  employed,  the  pulp  being  run  over 
amalgamated  slabs  of  zinc  or  lead.1 

Two  Germans  are  said  to  have  built  the  first  quartz-mill  used  in 
California,  as  early  as  1850.  This  mill  was  patterned  after  the 
German  form  of  stamp,  and  was  erected  in  Grass  Valley,  being 
followed  by  another  in  the  following  year,  both  of  which  were 
practically  failures. 

These  mills  consisted  of  tree-trunks  shod  with  iron,  by  the  raising 
and  dropping  of  which  upon  an  iron  or  stone  block  or  anvil,  to  which 
the  ore  was  fed,  its  reduction  was  accomplished.  These  mills  were 
but  little  removed  from  the  wooden  stamp  mills  of  the  Southern 
gold  fields.2 

An  earlier  report  states  that  machinery  for  a  small  mill  was  sent 
to  Mariposa  County,  California,  for  Colonel  Fremont  in  1849.  The 
mill  was  an  arrastra  probably  and  not  a  stamp  mill  if  the  report 
is  true  —  it  has  not  been  substantiated.  However,  in  1850,  a  2-  or 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  6,  p.  119,  1898-99. 
3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  81,  p.  120. 


474  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

4-stamp  mill  was  erected  in  Mariposa  County  for  an  operator  named 
John  Bennett.  These  stamps  were  of  the  Stockton  make,  consist- 
ing of  a  single  stamp  in  a  single  mortar  box.1 

The  Gold  Hill  mill,  Grass  Valley,  California,  contained  18  stamps 
and  although  not  particularly  successful,  was  purchased  in  1852  by 
the  Agua  Fria,  an  English  company,  and  was  enlarged  in  1853  to  21 
stamps,  with  which  were  also  employed  Cornish  rolls.  The  system 
of  reduction  employed  in  this  mill  consisted  of  breaking  the  ore  by 
sledges,  then  passing  it  through  the  rolls,  and  finally  through  the 
stamps.  The  screens  used  in  the  stamps  were  punched  copper 
plates  and  brass  wire  cloth  of  24  mesh.  After  passing  over  blanket- 
covered  tables,  and  through  amalgamators  the  remaining  pyrites 
were  roasted,  and  still  further  reduced  in  a  Chilean  mill.  This  mill 
was  in  1858  awarded  the  first  premium  (a  gold  cup)  as  being  the 
best  equipped  and  efficient  stamp  mill  in  the  state.  Further,  an 
award  of  a  silver  medal  was  also  given  for  the  best  amalgamator  and 
gold  saving  devices.2 

A  4-stamp  mill  was  erected  at  Dayton*  in  the  Washoe  region,  in 

1859,  and  in  the  following  year  A.  B.  Paul  of  Nevada  City,  organized 
a  company  known  as  the  Washoe  Gold  and  Silver  Mining  Company, 
who  erected  a  mill  of  24  stamps  in  Gold  Canon,  in  which  work  was 
begun  on  August  11,  1860.     The  ore  was  crushed  dry  in  this  mill.3 

Several  years  prior  to  1860,  Georgia  miners  had  built  numerous 
3,  4  and  6  heads  of  stamps  in  Gilpin  County,  Colorado,  which  were, 
however,  soon  replaced  by  the  improved  California  forms.  In  July, 

1860,  60  mills  were  operating  in  Gilpin  County,  and  in  1861  copper 
plates  were  first  used  there.4 

The  first  stamp  mill  was  built  at  the  Wide  West  mine,  in  the 
Esmeralda  district,  Nevada,  in  1861,  and  by  the  spring  of  1864  there 
were  fully  17  mills  in  the  district  although  not  all  operating.5 

By  1855  there  was  considerable  change  made  in  the  character  of 
the  stamp  mills  of  California;  the  most  important  improvements 
were  an  increased  height  of  mortar  box  in  order  that  the  feed  open- 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  76,  p.  108. 
3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  70,  p.  360. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  51,  p.  205. 

4  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  54,  p.  198. 
6  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  36,  p.  409. 

*  It  is  possible  that  arrastras  and  stamps  may  have  been  confused  by  various 
writers.  It  appears  that  Judge  James  Walsh  and  his  partner,  Joseph  Wood- 
worth,  built  an  arrastra  mill  at  Dayton,  in  1850,  the  power  for  driving  which 
came  from  damming  the  Carson  River.  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  34,  p.  81. 


EXTRACTION  OF   VALUES.  475 

ing  and  screen  frames  might  be  contained  within  it,  and  an  increase 
in  the  number  of  stamps  to  the  unit  or  battery  —  four  and  five 
stamps  being  common.  Five  stamp  units  were  grouped  by  twos  into 
units  of  ten  stamps  each.  Owing  to  the  growing  dissatisfaction  of 
wooden  stamps  and  mortar  boxes,  resulting  from  the  unwieldy  stamp 
stems,  leaky  boxes  and  square  stamps,  all-iron  batteries  were  de- 
vised in  1853,  and  soon  entirely  replaced  the  wooden  forms.1  Square 
iron  stems  of  the  Cornish  type  were  used.  The  first  straight-frame 
battery  was  built  for  Joseph  Moore  in  1853. 

The  Rowland  circular  battery  had  round  iron  stems,  which  were 
rotated  when  in  operation.  This  is  said  to  have  been  the  first 
revolving  stamp  to  stand  the  test  of  practical  work,  and  was 
constructed  in  1858  —  Isaac  Fisk  is,  however,  credited  with  the 
idea  of  revolving  stamps.2 

Copper  plates  were  introduced  about  1850,  and  by  1853  were  be- 
ginning to  be  generally  used.  The  advantage  of  silver  plating  cop- 
per plates  was  not  thought  of  until  the  silver  ores  of  the  Comstock 
were  operated  upon  by  stamps.3 

An  important  labor  saving  device,  in  the  shape  of  the  automatic 
feeding  apparatus,  was  invented  and  introduced  into  California,  in 
1855,  by  C.  P.  Stanford.  As  this  feeder  was  operated  by  a  lever 
actuated  by  the  stamp  tappet,  it  possessed  the  essential  feature  of 
all  similar  apparatus  that  followed.4 

Aside  from  the  invention  of  the  stamp,  probably  no  other  single 
form  of  ore  reducing  apparatus  has  had  such  a  far-reaching  influ- 
ence on  the  mining  and  milling  industries  as  has  the  Blake  crusher. 
It  was  invented  in  1852  by  Eli  Whitney  Blake,  and  was  probably 
first  employed  in  breaking  ore  in  1860. 

The  first  mill  built  on  the  Blake  system  was  for  crushing  iron  ore, 
being  erected  for  the  Chateauga  Ore  and  Iron  Company,  in  1882. 
It  was  also  employed  in  crushing  gold-quartz  ores  in  the  Southern 
states,  and  was  installed  at  the  Haile  mine  in  1884.  The  Blake 
crusher  was  introduced  into  California  in  1861. 5  It  has  been  changed 
in  form  a  number  of  times,  although  the  principle  has  remained 
the  same.  To  increase  the  capacity  the  multiple-jaw  form  -was 

1  Comstock  Mining  and  Miners,  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Monograph  No.  4,  p.  82,  1883. 

2  Ibid.,  p.  82. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  76,  p.  108. 

4  Ibid.,  Vol.  76,  p.  109. 

5  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  16,  p.  755 ;  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  6,  pp.  118-119, 
and  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  11,  p.  352. 


476  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

devised,  but  did  not  prove  a  great  success.  Following  the  intro- 
duction of  the  Blake  crusher,  and  owing  to  its  great  success, 
various  other  forms  were  invented  in  which  were  employed  ingenious 
combinations  of  eccentrics  and  levers  in  order  to  obtain  sufficient 
crushing  force  to  reduce  the  ore. 

Rolls  were  first  used  in  Cornwall,  in  1800,  for  which  reason  they 
were  known  as  Cornish  rolls  until  comparatively  recent  times.1 
Now  only  the  simplest  forms  are  so  designated.  Rolls  were  first 
introduced  into  gold  milling  practice  in  the  Southern  Appalachian 
states,  and  later  in  California  about  the  same  time  as  stamps.  Eng- 
lish buddies  and  jigs  were  also  given  a  trial,  but  were  not  considered 
suitable,  although  they  were  quite  extensively  employed  at  a  later 
date.2  Stamps  were  replaced  by  Krom  rolls  at  the  Bertrand  and 
Cory  mills,  Nevada,  in  1883.  The  first  tube  mill  employed  in  metal- 
lurgical work  was  operated  at  Butte,  Montana,  by  the  Moulton 
Mining  Company  in  November,  1894,  and  was  designed  by  R.  F. 
Abbe.3 

The  next  operation  following  the  reduction  of  the  ore,  especially 
after  passing  the  crushers  and  stamps,  and  in  some  cases  tables  and 
other  concentrating  apparatus  was  amalgamation. 

It  is  claimed  that  an  amalgamation  process,  in  which  gold  and 
silver  are  collected  by  quicksilver  and  commonly  known  as  the 
"  patio  "  or  "  yard  "  process,  was  invented  by  Barthlome  de  Medina, 
a  Mexican  miner,  about  1551. 

The  old  town  of  Pachuca,  State  of  Hidalgo,  Mexico,  is  noted  as 
the  locality  where  the  patio  process  was  first  applied  (probably 
invented)  by  Medina  in  1551  and  applied  in  1557. 4  During  the 
next  two  centuries  it  was  extensively  employed  throughout  that 
country  and  subsequently  was  introduced  into  Europe  where  it 
was  rather  extensively  used  but.  was  soon  replaced  by  other  more 
improved  and  modern  methods.  It  is  also  known  that  the  Incas  of 
Peru  were  acquainted  with  the  action  of  mercury  on  gold  as  they  used 
it  in  riffles  in  the  washing  of  gold  gravel,5  as  early  as  1557. 

Probably  the  first  application  of  the  amalgamation  process  in  the 
United  States  was  at  the  Vaucluse  mine,  Virginia,  where  it  was 
employed  in  1847. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  81,  p.  813. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  76,  p.  109. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  81,  p.  1010. 

4  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  79,  p.  564. 

5  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  59,  p.  153,  and  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  79,  p.  564. 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  477 

The  patio  process  of  amalgamating  gold  and  silver  ores  has  been 
practiced  in  Mexico  from  the  earliest  times  and  consists  in  mixing 
pulverized  ore  on  a  paved  floor,  called  a  patio,  or  a  circa,  when  in  a 
circular  form.  Salt,  blue  vitriol  and  quicksilver  are  added  to  the 
ore,  which  is  thoroughly  mixed  and  stirred  by  driving  horses  and 
cattle  around  in  the  patio.  The  Mexicans  have  become  very  expert 
in  this  work  regardless  of  whether  the  operations  are  conducted  on  a 
large  or  small  scale.  The  process  is  slow  often  extending  over  a 
period  of  20  to  30  days  before  the  final  wash  up  and  collection  of 
amalgam  is  attempted.  The  constant  treading  of  the  ore  charged 
with  salt,  blue  vitriol  and  quicksilver  soon  causes  the  hair  to  come 
off  and  sores  to  form  on  the  feet  and  legs  of  the  animals.  Absorp- 
tion of  quicksilver  by  the  open  sores  soon  reduces  the  poor  beasts 
to  walking  skeletons  and  ultimately  relegates  them  to  the  bone-yard. 
Therefore  only  poor  and  cheap  animals  are  employed.1 

The  Freiberg,  German  barrel  process  was  also  used  in  California 
contemporaneously  with  the  yard  or  patio  process,  and  in  the 
Southern  states  at  an  early  date,  exact  date  of  introduction  not 
known.  Both  of  the  processes  are  described  briefly  under  their 
respective  heads. 

Amalgamation  was  also  effected  in  the  arrasta  by  adding  quick- 
silver to  the  charge  of  mineral. 

Amalgamating  pans  were  first  used  in  the  United  States  in  1835, 
in  the  gold  mills  of  the  Southern  Appalachian  states,  but  as 
employed  there  resembled  the  Tyrolese  bowls.2 

The  great  disadvantages  of  the  early  methods  of  amalgamation 
were  that  too  much  time  was  consumed,  with  a  consequent  small 
capacity,  and  the  expense  was  excessive  especially  in  the  barrel 
process. 

The  Washoe  or  pan  process  is  in  reality  an  Americanized  Mexican 
patio  process,  employed  in  treating  raw  silver  sulphurets,  in  which 
machinery  has  replaced  animals  in  stirring  and  artificial  heat  that 
engendered  by  the  sun,  to  hasten  chemical  action.  The  period  of 
treatment  was  then  reduced  from  20  or  30  days  to  5  or  6  hours. 
Further,  the  chemicals  used,  although  many  and  varied  at  various 
times,  were  practically  the  same  as  those  employed  in  the  original 
patio  process.3 

In  the  Washoe  process,  however,  there  was  no  grinding  attempted, 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  54,  p.  80. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  6  p.  117,  1898-99. 

8  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  88,  p.  180,  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  54,  p.  80. 


478  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

but  a  simple  stirring  action;  in  the  California  pan  process  there  was 
both  a  grinding  and  stirring  action,  the  stirring  arms  having  shoes 
attached  which  rubbed  oh  the  bottom  of  the  flat  bottomed  iron  pan. 

It  is  claimed  on  good  authority  that  Almarin  B.  Paul  of  Nevada 
City,  conceived  the  notion  to  employ  the  chemicals  used  in  the 
patio  process  in  the  grinding  pan,  with  the  shoes  detached.  The 
first  mill  employing  the  process  was  erected  in  Gold  Canon  on 
August  9th,  1860,  by  the  Washoe  Gold  and  Silver  Mining  Company 
and  contained  24  stamps,  the  Knox  pans  being  used  for  amalgama- 
tion.1 

C.  S.  Goover  and  E.  B.  Harris  erected  an  8-stamp  mill  at  the  same 
time  and  began  operation  three  hours  after  Mr.  PauPs  mill,  a  good- 
natured  race  having  been  run  to  see  which  mill  would  have  the 
distinction  of  first  beginning  work.2 

The  pan  employed  in  Mr.  PauPs  mill  for  amalgamation  was 
designed  by  I.  W.  Knox  of  San  Francisco  in  1858.  This  pan 
was  not  intended  to  grind  or  otherwise  reduce  the  ore,  but  simply 
to  amalgamate. 

Another  pan  was  designed  in  1860  by  Mr.  Brevoort,  a  mill  man 
fcf  Sonora,  California,  the  object  of  this  pan  being  to  both  grind 
and  amalgamate. 

It  appears,  however,  that  J.  E.  Clayton  had  previously  hit  upon 
the  same  idea  and  had  employed  a  similar  apparatus  in  reducing 
ores,  at  Tallahoosa,  Alabama,  as  early  as  1845.3 

The  first  clean-up  made  by  Mr.  Paul  in  his  mill  amounted  to 
several  thousand  dollars  and  was  carried  to  Rhuling's  assay  office, 
in  Virginia  City,  in  iron  kettles.  The  bullion  produced  from  this 
clean-up  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  produced  in  this  country.4 
This  success  in  treating  the  Comstock  ores  gave  a  great  impetus  to 
mining  silver-bearing  ores. 

According  to  another  authority  the  Washoe  process  was  first 
used,  at  Silver  City,  in  1860  being  installed  by  Captain  Hatch  in  the 
mill  of  Colonel  Trench,  where  it  was  known  as  the  "  Hatch  "  process. 
It  is  possible,  however,  that  the  Washoe  pan  process  has  been  confused 
with  the  German  Barrel  process.5 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  51,  p.  205. 

2  Comstock  Mining  and  Miners,  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Monograph  No.  4  p.  86,  1883; 
The  Big  Bonanza,  p,  69,  and  Nevada  Directory,  1863. 

8  Comstock  Mining  and  Miners,  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Monograph  No.  4,  pp.  82-83 
1883. 

4  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  34,  p.  73. 
6  Ibid.,  Vol.  18,  p.  178. 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  479 

Owing  to  the  success  of  the  Washoe  pan  process  many  mills  were 
erected  on  the  territory  adjacent  to  the  lode.  In  1861  there  were 
76  mills  erected  for  the  treatment  of  the  Comstock  ores  which  had  a 
daily  capacity  of  1,200  tons  and  employed  1,153  stamps.  Besides 
these  there  were  forty  or  fifty  arrasta  and  patio  yards.  The 
building  mania  grew  with  the  mining  excitement  but  culminated 
in  1863,  being  followed  by  a  panic  in  stock  in  1864.  In  1864  there 
were  700  mining  companies  incorporated  to  operate  the  Comstock 
mines  of  which  100  held  prospected  mines  and  only  14  paid  dividends. 
The  number  of  mills  built  for  these  mines  was  150,  far  exceeding  the 
capacity  of  the  working  mines.1 

One  of  the  first,  if  not  the  first,  steam  stamp  invented  and  em- 
ployed in  the  mines  of  California  and  Nevada  for  reducing  gold  and 
silver  ores  was  devised  by  T.  R.  Wilson  in  1870.  Not  long  after 
this  steam  stamps  were  given  a  trial  at  Silver  City,  but  were  soon 
discarded.2 

As  an  illustration  of  the  extreme  measure  resorted  to  by  the 
early  miners  to  collect  gold  from  gravels  and  ores,  the  attempt 
made  to  amalgamate  gold  with  lead  instead  of  mercury  may  be 
cited.  The  auriferous  gravel  or  reduced  ore  was  run  through  a  bath 
of  molten  lead.  The  result  was  far  from  satisfactory,  owing  to  an 
incomplete  combination  of  the  gold  and  lead  and  the  great  loss  of 
lead  by  volatilization. 

Following  the  reduction  of  ores  by  stamps,  and  the  collection  of 
values  by  amalgamation,  both  within  and  without  the  batteries,  an 
attempt  was  made  to  reduce  the  losses  resulting  from  escape  of 
mercury  and  amalgam,  and,  probably  to  a  greater  extent,  the  gold 
enclosed  by  or  attached  to  sulphides  of  the  base  metals.  These 
sulphides  comprise  the  so-called  sulphurets  which  usually  ac- 
company gold  in  its  various  occurrences  and  often  contain  the 
largest  part  of  the  values.  The  free-milling  ores  of  the  upper  or 
oxidized  portion  of  a  vein  may  be  nearly  free  of  sulphides,  but  with 
depth  their  occurrence  is  ensured.  In  fact  the  ores  may  become 
wholly  sulphide  in  character,  when  they  are  known  as  rebellious 
ores  as  they  resist  all  attempts  at  amalgamation. 

At  an  early  date  the  attention  of  mill  men  was  directed  to  a  solu- 
tion of  the  problem  of  saving  the  rich  auriferous  and  argentiferous 
sulphides,  and  at  the  same  time  the  collection  of  fine  gold  escaping 


1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  51,  p.  205. 

Silver  and 
Vol.  51,  p.  205. 


2  Silver  and  Gold  Report  for  1872,  Raymond,  p.  33,  and  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 


480  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

amalgamation  in  the  mortars  and  on  the  outside  amalgamating 
plates,  together  with  amalgam  that  was  not  retained  in  the  mortars 
or  on  the  plates. 

Owing  to  the  crude  methods  of  concentration  employed  in 
the  early  mills  considerable  trouble  was  experienced  in  saving 
the  fine  gold;  often  particles  of  gold  as  large  as  a  pin's  head  were 
allowed  to  go  to  waste,  thus  materially  reducing  the  capacity  of  the 
mills. 

Concentration  of  sulphurets  was  probably  first  accomplished  at 
the  Vaucluse  mine,  in  1847,  by  the  use  of  tables  or  strakes,  which 
were  followed  by  buddies,  crude  bumping  tables  and  blanket  tables 
and  sluices;  log  rockers  were  also  employed.1 

The  practice  at  the  Vaucluse  mine,  Virginia,  was  as  follows : 2 

"  The  machinery  consists  of  a  condensing  Cornish  mining-engine 
of  120-horsepower;  the  mill  house  contains  six  large  Chilean  mills; 
the  cast-iron  bed-plate  of  each  is  5  feet  6  inches  in  diameter,  and  on 
it  are  two  cast-iron  runners  of  the  same  diameter,  the  total  weight 
of  the  mill  being  67200  pounds.  The  ores  on  arriving  at  the  sur- 
face, are  divided  into  two  classes: 

"1.  The  coarse  and  hard  ore  for  the  stamps.  2.  Slate  and  fine 
ore  for  the  Chilean  mills.  This  is  done  by  means  of  a  large  screen. 
The  very  large  pieces  are  first  broken  by  a  hammer  before  they  are 
fed  to  the  stamps.  All  of  the  ores  are  ground  with  water,  each  mill 
being  supplied  with  hot  and  cold  water  at  pleasure.  Twelve  inches 
from  the  top  of  the  bed-plate  there  is  a  wide,  open  mouth,  from 
which  the  turbid  water  escapes  to  tanks.  On  the  south  side  of  the 
steam-engine  is  the  stamp-house  and  amalgamation-mill,  contain- 
ing six  batteries  of  three  stamps  each;  these  stamps,  with  the  iron 
head  of  125  pounds,  weigh  350  to  380  pounds  each.  Each  battery 
is  supplied  with  water,  and  at  each  blow  of  the  stamp  a  portion  of 
the  fine  ore  passes  out  of  the  boxes  through  the  grates  to  the  amal- 
gamation-room. Here  are  stationed  18  small  amalgamation-bowls 
of  cast-iron,  30  inches  in  diameter.  The  bowls  are  supplied  with 
runners  which  move  horizontally;  in  the  center  of  these  runners  is 
an  eye  or  opening  like  that  in  the  runner  of  a  corn  mill.  The  ground 
or  finely-stamped  ore,  gold,  and  water  pass  into  this  eye,  and  by  the 
rotary  motion  of  the  same  are  brought  into  contact  with  the  quick- 
silver deposited  in  the  centre,  forming  amalgam.  From  the  amal- 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  6,  p.  119,  1898-99. 

2  Plan  and  description  of  the  Vaucluse  mine,  Orange  County,  Virginia,  Phil- 
adelphia, 1847. 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  481 

gamators  the  pulp  passes  through  three  dolly-tubs  or  catch-alls, 
acting  as  mercury  and  gold  tubs.  After  this  the  whole  mass  passes 
to  the  strakes  or  inclined  planes,  where  the  sulphurets  are  deposited 
and  the  earthy  matter  washed  away.  These  sulphurets  were  for- 
merly treated  in  two  heavy  Mexican  drags  or  arrastas;  but  not  answer- 
ing so  good  a  purpose,  they  have  been  altered  into  three  heavy 
Chilean  mills." 

The  first  attempt  made  in  California  to  save  the  auriferous  sul- 
phurets was  by  the  Chavanne  brothers,  together  with  William  and 
Robert  Watt,  at  Grass  Valley,  California,  in  1857.  Rockers  were 
used  here,  while  Mr.  Soggs,  at  Nevada  City,  used  the  Bradford 
shaking  table  which  was  introduced  by  a  Mr.  Ferre,  Shaking 
tables  (copper  plates)  were  used  in  Montana  in  1878.1 

The  Frue  Vanner  was  devised  by  Captain  Frue  in  1874  to  treat 
the  silver  ores  of  the  Silver  Islet  mine,  Ontario.  It  is  a  modifica- 
tion of  the  old  Brunton  table. 

Blankets  were  first  employed  in  the  mills  of  Grass  Valley,  in  1853, 
and  were  in  general  use  in  1873,  being  used  in  troughs  and  on  tables. 
The  head  blanket  troughs  were  made  in  sections  of  six  feet  each, 
and  were  given  an  inclination  of  three  to  five  degrees,  with  a  drop  of 
six  inches  between  sections.  Ordinary  red  bed  blankets  were  first 
used,  those  with  long  nap  being  preferred.  The  expense  in  the  use 
of  these  blankets  was  considerable,  owing  to  the  cutting  to  fit  vari- 
ous sized  surfaces,  also  to  the  wearing  off  of  the  nap.  W^hen  the 
demand  for  blankets  became  great  enough  to  warrant  it  woolen 
mills  were  established  at  San  Francisco,  and  blankets  were  furnished 
in  long  lengths  and  standard  widths  to  fit  standard  sizes  of  tables. 
These  special  blankets  were  made  of  very  coarse  wool,  the  nap 
being  thrown  to  one  side.  Blankets  were  used  with  stamps  with 
or  without  battery  or  outside  plate  amalgamation. 

A  number  of  the  first  operated  stamp  mills  of  California  used 
blankets  alone  to  save  the  gold,  this  being  the  practice  in  the  French 
and  Gold  Hill  mills.  In  this  process  the  pulp  from  the  stamps  passed 
directly  into  a  trough  in  front  of  the  battery,  and  thence  to  the 
blankets.  Every  20  to  30  minutes  the  blankets  were  changed  and 
rinsed  in  order  that  their  surfaces  should  remain  in  proper  condition 
to  catch  the  gold  and  sulphurets.  When  amalgamation  either  in  or 
outside  the  batteries  was  practiced  the  work  of  the  blankets  was 
materially  reduced.  The  practice  at  the  Empire  mill,  Grass  Valley, 

1  Gold  Amalgamation  and  Concentration,  McDermott  and  Duffield,  1890, 
p.  16. 


482  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

was  to  discharge  the  batteries  directly  into  tubs  of  quicksilver, 
after  which  it  passed  to  the  blanket  tables.  At  the  Mount  Hope 
mill  blanket  troughs  were  employed  in  two  sections  placed  in  tan- 
dem, between  which  was  a  vessel  of  quicksilver.  This  was  really 
the  beginning  of  the  use  of  mercury  wells  or  traps  in  the  milling 
practice  of  the  United  States.1 

Blankets  were  used  in  the  Homestake  mill,  South  Dakota,  the 
first  mill  built  on  the  gold  belt.  This  mill  was  erected  during  the 
summer  of  1878  and  had  80  stamps.  It  was  enlarged  shortly  to 
200  stamps  and  concentrators  were  added,  but  proving  unsatisfac- 
tory a  "  blanket  house  "  was  built.  In  this  house  were  series  of 
shallow  sluices,  about  22  inches  in  width,  in  which  were  placed  strips 
of  Brussels  carpet.  The  concentrates  obtained  from  these  sluices 
were  principally  iron  oxide,  metallic  iron,  from  the  wear  of  stamps 
and  coarse  sands.  The  carpets  were  washed  from  three  to  four 
times  a  day  in  tanks  of  water.2 

A  rule  generally  followed  in  the  early  use  of  blankets  was  not 
to  amalgamate  before  running  the  pulp  over  the  blankets  for  the 
reason  that  the  angularity  of  the  gold  grains  would  be  considerably 
reduced  thereby,  thus  increasing  the  loss  on  the  blanket  tables.  How- 
ever, the  Wiggam's  mill  at  Nevada  City  amalgamated  within  the 
batteries  in  1885. 

The  Cornish  miners  employed  the  tye  (a  form  of  hand  buddle) 
and  the  ordinary  stationary  rectangular  buddle.  These  were  sup- 
plemented by  kieves,  which  were  introduced  into  California  by  a 
Mr.  Houk,  also  a  Cornish  miner. 

Convex  buddies,  mechanically  driven,  soon  replaced  the  hand 
forms.  They  were  in  use  in  California  as  early  as  1865  and  prob- 
ably earlier,  although  no  definite  record  to  such  an  effect  is  at  hand. 
Buddies  and  tables  were  also  used  in  Gilpin  County,  Colorado,  in 
the  pioneer  gold  mills.  Concave  buddies,  with  centrally  placed 
riffles  were  also  used  with  the  convex  form.  The  Hendy  shak- 
ing table  was  introduced  at  the  Keystone  mine,  Amador  County, 
California,  by  Captain  Faull  in  1863.  This  table  although  quite 
extensively  used  for  many  years  was  ultimately  succeeded  by  the 
Frue,  Triumph,  Woodbury  and  Johnson  vanners.,  all  of  which  were 
widely  used  in  1 890-95. 3  At  a  later  date  the  Frue,  Embrey  and 
Triumph  concentrators  were  used  in  the  Southern  states. 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  54,  p.  20. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  90,  p.  392. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  58,  p.  390. 


EXTRACTION  OF   VALUES.  483 

Following  the  use  of  blankets  as  gold  savers,  reservoirs  were  em- 
ployed in  collecting  slimes  and  tailings.  The  development  of  the 
process  is  due  to  Mr.  Janin,  who  became  metallurgist  for  the  Mexican 
mill  of  the  Comstock  lode.  The  tailings  were  dried,  roasted  and 
amalgamated  in  barrels.1 

Slime  tables,  usually  stationary  with  wooden  or  canvas  surfaces, 
were  subsequently  employed  in  handling  slimes.  As  large  quan- 
tities of  slimes  must  of  necessity  be  handled  in  the  larger  plants, 
floors  are  laid,  upon  which  rectangular  sheets  of  canvas  are  stretched 
which  receive  the  slimes  and  concentrate  the  values.  The  use  of 
canvas  tables  has  been  so  satisfactory  that  they  have  been  employed 
in  handling  slimes  and  fine  sands  in  the  treatment  of  all  kinds  of  ores, 
both  precious  and  base  metals. 

Sulphurets  were  at  an  early  date  treated  by  raw  amalgamation, 
roasting  and  amalgamation  and  smelting.  The  Southern  Appala- 
chian states  led  in  this  work  owing  to  the  occurrence  of  gold  in 
sulphides  at  comparatively  shallow  depths. 

When  it  is  considered  that  to  leave  a  profit,  the  sulphurets  so  saved 
had  to  have  a  value  of  fully  $200  per  ton  in  order  to  bear  shipment 
to  Swansea,  their  separation  became  an  important  problem.  It  is 
said  that  Messrs.  Chavanne  and  Watt,  of  the  Rocky  Bar  mine,  near 
Grass  Valley,  California,  had  at  one  time  several  hundred  tons  of 
sulphurets  stored  at  the  mill  and  were  at  a  loss  to  know  what  to  do 
with  them.2 

In  1874  the  price  of  mercury  more  than  doubled,  rising  from  60 
cents  to  $1.30  per  pound,  which  with  the  fall  in  the  value  of  silver 
and  troubles  experienced  by  the  tailing  mills,  in  working  low-grade 
materials,  so  crippled  the  milling  industry  that  practically  all  of  the 
mills  in  the  Washoe  region  closed.  The  Lyon  mill  was  the  single 
exception;  all  of  the  others  closed,  some  permanently,  others 
temporarily.  The  Lyon  mill,  located  at  Dayton,  was  built  in 
1865,  and  was  in  charge  of  George  Langtry,  who  was  said  to 
be  the  most  successful  tailing  man  of  Washoe.  The  Omerga 
mill,  erected  in  1877,  was  probably  the  most  successful  mill  on 
the  Comstock.3 

Of  the  mills  built  prior  to  1870  for  reducing  the  Comstock  ores 
eight,  carrying  114  stamps  and  costing  $2,000,000,  were  located  in 
Ormsby  County,  Nevada;  six,  carrying  106  stamps  and  costing 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  51,  p.  231. 
3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  58,  p.  390. 
8  Ibid.,  Vol.  51,  p.  231. 


484 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


$1,200,000,  were  in  Washoe  County;  forty,  carrying  573  stamps  and 
costing  $3,700,000,  were  in  Storey  County;  twenty-two  carrying 
360  stamps  and  costing  $1,000,000,  were  in  Lyon  County;  and  ten 
carrying  84  stamps  and  costing  $300,000,  were  located  in  Esmeralda 
County.1 

For  an  excellent  historical  account  of  milling  operations  on  the 
Comstock  see  reference.2 

In  the  early  days  of  mining  in  the  Tintic  district,  Utah,  only 
the  rich  ores  could  bear  transportation  charges  to  San  Francisco, 
California;  Reno,  Nevada;  Baltimore,  Maryland;  and  occasion- 
ally to  Swansea,  Wales.  The  ores  of  average  and  low  values 
were  then  left  in  the  mines  or  thrown  on  the  dumps.  As  soon 
as  it  was  practicable  mills  and  smelters  were  established  in  the 
district. 

The  first  mill  was  erected  at  Homansville,  Utah,  May,  1871. 
Another  was  built  in  the  same  locality  during  the  same  year.  The 
Wyoming,  Miller,  and  Shoebridge  were  built  in  1873,  the  latter 
being  at  or  near  Diamond.  The  Copperopolis  was  erected  in  1873, 
and  the  Mammoth,  at  Tintic,  in  1879.  The  Roseville,  located  in 
southeast  Mammoth,  was  put  up  the  same  year  as  the  Mammoth. 
These  early  mills  were  crude,  and  were  failures  when  economically 
considered.3 

The  following  table  gives  the  stamp  mills  erected  on  the  gold  belt 
of  South  Dakota  between  the  years  1878-1894.4 


Name. 

Date 
of 
Erec- 
tion. 

Location. 

Number   of 
Stamps. 

Owners. 

1888 

1895 

Homestake  
Golden  Star  .  .  . 
Highland  

1878 
1879 
1880 
1879 

1880 
1878 

1879 
1894 

Lead  City  
do  
....do  
Terraville  .... 

....do  

80.. 
120.. 
120.. 
80  ) 

80) 
100.. 

80.. 

..100 
..160 
..140 
..160 

..100 

..80 
...10 

The  Homestake  M.  Co. 
do. 
The  Highland  M.  Co. 
The  Dead  wood  Terra  M. 
Co. 
do. 
The  Father  de  Smet  M. 
Co. 
The  Caledonia   M.  Co. 

Dead  wood  

Golden  Terra  .  . 
Father  de  Smet 

Caledonia  

Central  City 

Terraville  
Central  City  .  . 

Columbus  

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  34,  p.  81. 
3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  19,  p.  204. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  19  Geol.  Kept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  613,  1898. 

4  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  60,  p.  221. 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES. 


485 


The  mills  operating  in  a  number  of    the  districts  of  Arizona  in 
1872  are  given  in  the  following  table: l 


District. 

Name  of  Mine. 

Company. 

Ore. 

Mill. 

Bradshaw  . 

Tiger  .... 

Tiger     . 

Galena  and 

None 

Do  

Del  Pasco 

Jackson 

silver. 
Gold 

5  stamps 

Big  Bug  .. 

Biff  Buff 

Gray    &    Hitch- 

Gold 

10    do 

Hassyampa  . 

Sterling  

cock. 
Sterling       

Gold  .  . 

10    do. 

Do  

Davis  

C.  C.  Bean     

Silver  

Do  
Lynx  Creek. 
Do    .   . 

Benjamin...    . 
Vernon  
Pointer 

Noves  &  Curtis  .  . 
C.  Y.  Shelton.... 
William  Pointer 

....do  
Gold  
do 

Arrastra. 
Do 

The  stamp  mills  installed  in  the  Cripple  Creek  district  during  the 
first  three  years  of  its  existence  as  a  mining  camp  have  been  given 
as  follows:2 


Name  of  Mill. 

Locality. 

Date  of 
Erection. 

Number  of 
Stamps. 

Lawrence 

Lawrence 

1892 

20 

Summit  

Gillett  

1892 

30 

Gold  and  Globe 

Cripple  Creek 

1892 

40 

Beaver  Park 

Beaver  Park 

1893 

20 

Colorado  Springs              

...  do      

1893 

25 

Denver  

....do      

1893 

20 

Hartzell  

Anaconda 

1893 

20 

Gold  Geiser                 

Cripple  Creek 

1892 

15 

Crammer  

Arequa  

1893 

20 

Rosebud 

Mount  City 

1893 

60 

The  first  mill  was  built  in  Idaho,  at  the  Oro  Fino  and  War  Eagle 
mines  in  1864. 

As  previously  pointed  out  the  silver  and  gold  in  the  sulphurets 
was  saved  by  raw  amalgamation,  roasting  and  smelting,  the  choice 
of  treatment  depending  largely  upon  the  character  of  the  ore  to  be 
treated,  while  in  many  instances  no  attempt  was  made  at  the  extrac- 
tion of  the  contained  values,  the  concentrated  sulphides  being  shipped 
to  Europe  for  metallurgical  treatment.  However,  the  great  expense 
involved  in  this  long  distance  transportation  and  consequent 
handling  and  rehandling  necessitated  a  relatively  great  reduction. 

1  Silver  and  Gold  Kept.,  1872,  Raymond,  p.  333. 
3  Inst.  Min.  and  Met.,  Vol.  8.,  p.  80,  1899-1900. 


486  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

in  volume,  which  in  turn  resulted  in  considerable  loss.  With  the 
growth  of  the  mining  industry  and  a  greatly  increased  output  of 
refractory  products  came  a  demand  for  less  expensive  methods  and 
more  rapid  disposal,  which  naturally  resulted  in  the  establishment  of 
facilities  for  treatment  closer  home.  With  the  growth  of  such 
facilities  their  application  was  extended  to  the  treatment  of  lower- 
grade  products  as  slimes  and  tailings.  Janin  was  a  pioneer  among 
the  workers  who  inaugurated  such  methods  in  the  West. 

The  methods  employed  in  extracting  the  values  from  the  refrac- 
tory ores  or  sulphurets  were,  in  the  order  in  which  they  were  applied, 
smelting,  chlorination  and  cyanidization. 

Raw  amalgamation  as  practiced  in  the  Vaucluse  mine,  Virginia, 
in  1847,  previously  described,  is  probably  the  first  application  of 
the  process  in  this  country.  However,  a  roasting  process  had  been 
applied  to  the  pyritic  concentrates  at  Charlotte,  North  Carolina,  by 
Dr.  Holland,  of  Massachusetts,  as  early  as  1852-53.  He  roasted  a 
mixture  of  potassium  or  sodium  nitrate  and  the  sulphurets  in  a 
reverberatory  furnace  employing  a  low  heat.  While  according 
to  Lieber,  Mr.  C.  Ringel  roasted  and  amalgamated  suphurets  at  a 
mine  near  Rutherford,  North  Carolina.  It  is  also  stated  that  the 
process  was  successfully  employed  elsewhere  in  the  State.1 

Heap  roasting  with  salt  was  also  early  tried  at  Silver  Hill,  North 
Carolina,  which  was  followed  by  wet-stamping.  The  ores  treated 
were  galena-blende  carrying  both  gold  and  silver.  The  zinc  oxide 
was  dissolved  and  recovered  separately,  following  which  the 
residues  were  smelted  in  old-fashioned  Scotch  open-hearth  lead 
furnaces,  the  precious  metals  being  recovered  from  the  lead  by 
refining  in  a  cupellation  furnace. 

Pyritic  smelting  was  given  a  trial  in  1847  at  the  Vaucluse  mine 
by  Commodore  Stockton,  but  was  abandoned.  In  1881-82  matte 
smelting  and  refining  in  reverberatory  furnaces  was  practiced  on  the 
ores  of  the  Conrad  Hill  and  the  North  State  mines,  in  North  Carolina. 
Mr.  E.  G.  Spilsbury  experimented  on  matting  auriferous  sulphides 
at  the  Haile  mine,  South  Carolina,  in  1886,  but  without  success. 

A  successful  method  of  smelting  galena-blende  ores  was  installed 
at  the  Silver  Valley  mine,  North  Carolina,  in  1895,  by  Mr.  Nininger 
of  Newark,  New  Jersey,  which  consisted  of  a  down-draft  jacketed 
furnace,  through  which  the  lead  and  zinc  fumes  were  carried  into 
condensers,  where  saturated  with  water  the  lead  oxide  was  deposited 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  6,  p.  120,  1898-99,  and  Report  on  the  Survey 
of  South  Carolina  for  1856,  p.  47. 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  487 

from  the  resulting  liquor,  having  been  run  into  tanks.  The  zinc  oxide 
remaining  insolution  was  subsequently  precipitated  out.  The  matte, 
carrying  gold,  silver  and  copper  was  drawn  from  the  furnace  and 
cast  into  ingots.1 

G.  F.  Deetkin  in  1858  attempted  to  smelt  the  sulphurets  of  Grass 
Valley  in  reverberatory  and  blast  furnaces,  but  owing  to  the  scarcity 
of  lead  ores  and  cheap  fuel  the  results  were  not  satisfactory.  In 
1866  a  smelting  furnace  was  built  at  Galena,  Nevada,  to  treat  the 
Comstock  ores,  but  after  a  struggling  existence  of  one  or  two  years 
it  was  abandoned,  the  Washoe  process  becoming  practically  universal.2 

The  almost  universal  failure  of  milling  enterprises  due  to  the 
mill-building  habit  was  largely  responsible  for  a  depression  in  mining 
in  the  early  days  of  the  Comstock  lode.  As  an  example  of  the 
credulity  of  the  public  and  even  the  operators  of  properties  and  plants 
the  case  of  the  Bunker  Hill  mine,  Nevada,  can  be  cited.  "  A  man 
who  pretended  to  be  an  assayer  and  chemist,  induced  the  company 
to  build  huge  furnaces  out  of  fire-brick,  at  a  dollar  and  a  half  apiece. 
What  for?  To  melt  the  quartz  and  find  the  gold  at  the  bottom  of 
the  molten  mass,  when  it  had  cooled.  This  was  actually  tried;  the 
result,  of  course,  zero,  plus  a  heap  of  slug."3 

The  change  from  oxidized  ores  in  the  upper  portions  of  the  veins 
of  Gilpin  County,  Colorado,  to  less  quartzose  and  more  sulphide 
ores,  together  with  considerable  country-rock  caused  a  decided 
check  to  the  mining  industry  there. 

Amalgation  by  copper  plates  and  the  saving  of  sulphurets  by 
buddies,  tables  and  other  concentrating  apparatus,  which  formerly 
gave  an  extraction  of  60  to  75  per  cent,  under  the  new  conditions  gave 
but  30  to  40  per  cent  extraction,  therefore,  none  but  the  richest 
ores  would  pay  for  the  treatment.  It  took  two-thirds  of  the  profits 
to  operate  the  mills  and  the  result  was  that  many  of  them  were  forced 
to  close. 

In  1867  the  Boston  and  Colorado  Smelting  Works  were  erected 
at  Black  Hawk,  in  which  the  Swansea  process  of  copper  smelting 
was  employed.  For  a  number  of  years  this  smelter  took  the  place  of 
the  stamps  mills,  but  as  it  operated  on  the  richest  ores  mainly  it 
did  not  solve  the  problem  for  the  district. 

By  dint  of  much  experimenting  a  milling  method  was  worked  out 
by  which  the  ores  of  the  district  could  be  .milled  economically. 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  6,  pp.  122-123,  1898-99. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  58,  p.  390;  Ibid.,  Vol.  51,  p.  205. 

3  Twelve  Years  in  the  Gold  Mines  of  California,  1862,  p.  83. 


488 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


The  essential  features  of  the  new  method  consisted  of  slow  drop  of 
stamps  and  deep  discharge  of  products.  Inside  plate  amalgamation 
collected  a  large  part  of  the  free-gold  in  the  mortar  box,  a  further 
saving  being  effected  by  blankets  and  concentrators.  Buddies  and 
tyes  were  also  used  to  supplement  the  work  but  were  soon  discarded.1 

The  exceeding  fine  condition  of  the  gold  necessitated  fine  crushing 
in  order  to  separate  the  gangue,  but  as  the  discharge  from  the  batteries 
was  too  rapid  to  permit  the  gold  to  settle  to  the  bottom  of  the 
ordinary  form  of  mortar,  where  the  mercury  was  more  plentiful,  and 
owing  to  the  presence  of  large  quantities  of  sulphurets,  increased 
depth  of  discharge  from  mortar  box  was  adopted.  Under  these 
conditions  the  sulphurets  although  sufficiently  fine  to  pass  the 
screen,  settled  and  became  more  thoroughly  amalgamated,  thus 
increasing  the  percentage  extraction  of  the  gold.  Slow  drop  and 
roomy  mortar  box  also  contributed  to  the  efficiency  in  extraction. 
Black  Hawk  lead  in  gold  milling  in  Colorado  in  1892,  being 
pre-eminently  a  custom  milling  locality,  which  practice  led  to  careful 
work  and  attention  on  the  part  of  both  mine  operator  and  millman.2 

In  the  following  table  is  given  a  number  of  the  smelters  built  in 
Colorado  with  the  date  of  installation.3 


Name  of  Company. 

Location. 

When 
built. 

When  closed. 

Boston  &  Colorado      

Black  Hawk  

Jan.  1868 

Removed  in  1878. 

Smelting. 
Grant  Smelting 

Lead"ville 

Sept  1878 

Burned    in    May, 

Do 

Denver  

1883  (?) 

1882. 

Do 

Durango      

1883 

Philadelphia     Smelting     & 
Refining. 
Pueblo  Smelting  &  Refining. 
Colorado  Smelting    

Pueblo 

Pueblo  
Pueblo  

1888 

1878 
1883 

Arkansas  Valley 

Leadville 

1897 

Sold  in  1882. 

Bimetallic                     .    ... 

Leadville  

American  zinc-lead          

Canon  City      .... 

Omaha  &  Grant 

Durango 

Silverto'i 

Tailings  of  the  Mexican  mill,  Comstock  lode,  were  in  1862  dried 
and  roasted  in  reverberatory  furnaces  after  which  they  were  amalga- 
mated in  barrels.  In  1866  the  Gould  and  Curry  company  built 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  54,  p.  198. 

3  Ibid.,  Vol.  54,  p.  246. 

3  Mines  and  Minerals,  vol.  19,  pp.  97,  99. 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  489 

the  Reservoir  mill  for  the  treatment  of  tailings,  probably  the  first 
of  its  kind  in  the  United  States.1 

An  O'Harra  mechanical  furnace  was  erected  in  1862-63  at  Dayton, 
Nevada,  to  treat  the  Comstock  ores.  This  was  the  first  furnace  of 
the  kind  to  be  erected  in  the  West.  Later  three  other  similar 
furnaces  were  installed  at  Flint,  Idaho.  The  O'Harra  furnace  was 
also  employed  in  drying  ores,  a  40-ton  plant  was  built  for  that 
purpose  near  Shasta,  California,  in  1880. 

Bruckner  furnaces  were  introduced  into  Colorado  in  1867  and  were 
successfully  operated  on  gold  and  silver  sulphurets. 

A  Stetefeldt  furnace  was  installed  and  operated  on  argentiferous 
ores  at  the  Ontario  Mill,  Utah,  in  1877.  The  ores  of  the  upper  or 
oxidized  portions  of  the  mines  ran  high  in  silver  which  could  be 
treated  by  raw  amalgamation.  With  depth  the  ores  became 
sulphide,  necessitating  roasting  with  salt  before  amalgamating. 

A  Stetefeldt  furnace  was  used  in  treating  the  cupriferous  ores  of 
Panamint,  California,  at  the  Surprise  mill  and  at  Austin,  Nevada, 
prior  to  1880.2 

A  Pardee  furnace  was  installed  in  the  Algonquin  mills,  at  Phillips- 
burg,  Montana,  in  1880. 3 

The  Plattner  chlorination  process  was  first  employed  in  Germany, 
in  Silesia,  in  1851,  where  it  operated  on  auriferous  arsenical  residues. 
It  was  later  introduced  into  Saxony,  Hungary  and  Transylvania. 
In  1838  it  made  its  appearance  in  California.4 

The  chlorination  process  was  first  successfully  applied  to  the 
treatment  of  auriferous  sulphurets  in  the  Southern  states  in  1879. 
A  Mears  chlorination  plant  was  installed  at  the  Phoenix  mine, 
North  Carolina,  by  Mr.  A.  Thies  and  under  his  direction  was 
improved  and  was  subsequently  known  as  the  Thies  process. 

The  Davis  and  Tyson  Metallurgical  Works  was  built  near 
Salisbury,  North  Carolina,  in  1880.  This  was  a  chlorination  plant, 
the  process  employed  being  known  as  the  Davis  process,  and  differed 
from  the  Thies  process  only  in  the  method  of  precipitation  of  gold  — • 
charcoal  being  employed  instead  of  ferrous  sulphate.  Another 
Davis  plant  was  installed  at  the  Reimer  mine,  North  Carolina, 
in  1881. 

The  Plattner  chlorination  process  was  employed  at  the   Tucker 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  51,  p.  231. 

8  Roasting  of  Gold  and  Silver  Ores,  G.  Kustel,  1880,  pp.  77,  84,  88,  97,  98,  99. 

8  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  18,  p.  242. 

4  Roasting  of  Gold  and  Silver  Ores,  G.  Kustel,  1880,  p.  140. 


490  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

mine,  North  Carolina,  in  1882,  but  without  success,  the  Mears 
process  being  used  in  its  stead,  which,  too,  soon  proved  a  failure. 

Mr.  P.  G.  Lidner  experimented  at  the  Brewer  mine,  South 
Carolina,  also  at  Dahlonega,  Georgia,  on  treating  ores  in  bulk 
with  the  chlorination  process.  In  1895  a  patent  electrolytic 
chlorination  process  was  installed  at  the  Clopton  mine,  Villa 
Rica,  Georgia.  Little  success  was  accomplished  by  the  two  last 
mentioned  operations. 

As  late  as  1898  the  Thies  process  was  successfully  operated  on 
the  ores  of  the  Isenhour  mine,  North  Carolina;  the  Haile  mine, 
South  Carolina,  and  the  Franklin  and  Royal  mines,  Georgia.1 

According  to  Mr.  Ottokar  Hofmann,  who  first  introduced  the 
lixiviation  process  on  this  continent,  the  process  was  employed  at 
the  following  localities  at  the  dates  given:2  In  1868,  at  La  Dura, 
Sonora,  Mexico;  in  1869,  at  Trinidad,  Sonora,  Mexico;  in  1869,  at 
San  Marcial,  Sonora,  Mexico;  and  in  1871,  at  Bronzas,  Sonora, 
Mexico.  Further,  it  had  been  or  was  being  employed  at  other 
localities  in  Mexico  in  1884,  some  of  the  more  important  localities 
being,  La  Barranca,  Sonora;  Promontorio,  near  Alamos,  Sonora; 
Cosihuiriachic,  Chihuahua;  at  mines  near  Parral,  Durango;  Triunfo, 
Lower  California;  Las  Yedas,  Sinaloa;  and  Alameda  and  Tirito, 
Sonora. 

"  In  the  United  States  lixiviation  was  first  introduced  by  Mr. 
G.  Kuestel,  in  1874,  at  Melrose,  near  Alameda,  California.  The 
works  were  built  to  do  custom-work,  and  the  supply  of  ore  being 
limited  and  irregular,  they  did  not  prove  a  financial  success,  and 
had  to  be  abandoned.* 

"  1877.  At  Galena,  Nevada,  ores  containing  zinc-blende  and  galena 
were  concentrated  by  Krom's  dry  system.  The  galena  concentra- 
tions were  sold  to  smelting-works,  and  the  silver-bearing  zinc-blende 
treated  by  lixiviation.  The  mine  has  been  abandoned. 

"  1878.  O.  Hofmann  works  concentrations  containing  $250  silver 
and  $25  gold  per  ton  at  the  Advance  Mill,  Monitor,  California,  where 
85  per  cent  of  the  gold  has  been  extracted  by  simple  lixiviation. 

"  1879.  Introduced  at  the  Tarshish  mine,  Monitor,  California,  by 
0.  Hofmann.  Both  of  the  last-named  works  had  only  a  short 
existence. 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  6,  p.  121,  1898-99. 
3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  13,  p.  113,  1884-85. 

*  According  to  Mr.  T.  A.  Rickard,  Dettkin  first  applied  the  chlorination  pro- 
cess to  ores  in  1857  in  California  (Inst.  Min.  and  Met.,  Vol.  8,  p.  79.) 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  491 

"  1880.  First  successful  introduction,  on  a  large  scale,  at  the  Silver 
King  mill,  Arizona,  by  O.  Hofmann.  Average  of  ore  $196.92  per 
ton;  percentage  of  silver  extracted  89.2  per  cent. 

"  1882.  Lixiviation  works  of  60-ton  capacity  are  constructed  at 
the  Bertrand  mine,  Geddes,  Nevada.  Krom's  rolls  are  successfully 
introduced  for  pulverizing  the  ore. 

"  1883.  A  lixiviation  mill  has  been  built  for  the  Mt.  Cory  mine, 
Nevada,  with  Krom's  rolls. 

"  At  the  Old  Telegraph  mine,  Utah,  chloride  of  silver  has  been 
extracted  by  lixiviation  from  oxidized  lead-ores  without  roasting. 
The  residues  were  subsequently  concentrated  for  lead-minerals." 

The  O.  Hofman  chlorination  process  for  treating  gold  and  silver 
ores  was  applied  to  the  sulphurets  of  the  Tarshish  mine,  Monitor, 
Alpine  County,  California,  prior  to  1880. 

The  development  of  processes  for  treating  the  Cripple  Creek  ores 
is  both  interesting  and  instructive.  In  1892-93  ten  stamp  mills  of 
the  Gilpin  type,  i.e.,  light  stamps  and  slow  drop,  were  installed,  and 
in  a  comparatively  short  time  mills  aggregating  270  stamps  were 
operating.  The  Rosebud  and  the  Gold  and  Globe  mills  were  the 
largest  having  60  and  40  stamps,  and  were  situated  along  Cripple 
Creek.  Difficulties  of  amalgamation,  supposedly  a  coating  of  tel- 
lurite  of  iron,  so  reduced  the  percentage  of  extraction  that,  not- 
withstanding the  employment  of  various  improved  apparatus  as 
percussion  tables  and  blankets  the  milling  method  proved  inade- 
quate. Further,  the  appearance  with  depth  of  unoxidized  tellurides 
caused  the  method  to  be  abandoned. 

Smelting  of  the  ores  was  then  turned  to  as  the  proper  method  of 
treatment,  especially  of  the  rich  ores,  and  the  smelters  of  Denver 
and  Pueblo  received  increasing  amounts  of  ore  from  year  to  year. 
In  1906  fully  one-sixth  of  the  tonnage  or  approximately  100,000 
tons  was  thus  treated.  The  smelting  charges  ranged  from  $6.50 
upward,  and  therefore  were  prohibitive  for  ores  running  below  four 
ounces  of  gold  per  ton.  With  an  increase  in  the  output  of  the  dis- 
trict the  production  of  the  lower-grade  ores  became  an  important 
consideration  and  means  of  treating  them  economically  engaged  the 
attention  of  the  mining  men. 

In  1893  the  first  chlorination  plant  was  erected  at  Gillet  a  few 
miles  northeast  of  Cripple  Creek,  by  Edward  Holden.  This  mill 
followed,  and  was  based  upon  experiments  made  by  W.  S.  Morse, 
in  1893,  at  the  Russel  Lixiviation  Works  at  Aspen.  The  mill  was 
completed  by  January,  1895,  and  had  a  capacity  of  50  tons.  The 


492 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


process  employed  was  barrel  chlorination  similar  to  that  employed 
in  South  Carolina  and  the  Black  Hills,  South  Dakota. 

The  cyanide  process  was  'introduced  about  the  same  time,  the 
first  mill  having  been  built  at  Bodie  in  1892.  Another  mill  was 
built  at  Florence,  in  1895,  by  the  Metallic  Extraction  Company, 
which  when  completed  had  a  capacity  of  170  tons  per  day.  From 
that  time  on  there  grew  up  a  keen  competition  between  the  two 
processes,  and  from  appearances  the  chlorination  process  seems  to 
have  gained  the  ascendency.  Further,  improved  railroad  facili- 
ties, connecting  the  mines  with  the  low  lands  and  valleys,  where 
reduction  works  could  be  placed  to  an  advantage,  made  it  possible 
to  build  up  large  smelting  centers,  such  as  Colorado  Springs  and 
Florence,  where  the  ores  are  treated  under  the  most  favorable  cir- 
cumstances. In  1899  there  were  four  plants  operating  at  Cripple 
Creek,  while  in  1903  there  were  three,  which  included  two  small 
mills  for  direct  cyaniding.1 

In  1904  the  kind  and  distribution  of  the  plants  were  as  follows: 


Locality. 

Mill. 

Process. 

Capacity. 

Cripple  Creek 

Economic 

Chlorination 

300  tons 

Do  

Homestake  

Cyanide  (direct)  . 

200  tons. 

Do               .    . 

Sioux  Falls  .    ... 

Cyanide  (direct) 

100  tons 

Colorado  Springs  . 

Portland  .        .... 

Chlorination  .... 

300  tons 

Do     

Telluride      

Chlorination  

300  tons. 

Do     

Standard  

Chlorination  

450  tons. 

Florence  

Dorcas  

Cyanide  

150  tons. 

Do 

U.  S     Reduction 

Chlorination 

400  tons 

&  Refining  Co. 

The  combined  capacity  of  these  mills  is  over  2,200  tons,  or  about 
800,000  tons  per  year,  and  therefore  represents  a  larger  tonnage 
than  is  produced  in  the  district. 

Although  the  charge  for  the  two  processes  varies  somewhat  with 
the  grade  of  the  ore  yet  for  1904  it  did  not  exceed  $9  per  ton  for 
3  to  5-ounce  ore,  the  range  being  $5.50  to  $9  for  J  to  5-ounce  ore's, 
which  also  includes  freight  charges.2 

The  use  of  cynide  of  potassium  as  a  solvent  for  gold  had  been 
known  to  chemists  and  metal  workers  for  many  years  prior  to  its 

1  Geology  and  Gold  Deposits  of  the  Cripple  Creek  District,  Colorado. 
U.  S.  G.  S.,  Professional  Paper  No.  54,  pp.  138-139,  1906. 

3  Geology  and  Gold  Deposits  of  the  Cripple  Creek  District,  Colorado. 
U.  S.  G.  S.,  Professional  Paper  No.  54,  p.  39,  1906. 


EXTRACTION  OF   VALUES.  493 

application  to  the  extraction  of  values  from  ores.  The  adaptation  of 
this  solvent  to  the  commercial  treatment  of  ores  was  made  by 
J.  S.  MacArthur  in  1886.1 

For  an  historical  account  of  the  cyanide  process  and  its  develop- 
ment the  reader  is  referred  to  the  following  works.2 

We  are  especially  interested  in  this  connection  with  the  intro- 
duction and  development  of  the  process  in  the  United  States. 

Probably  the  first  use  to  which  potassium  cyanide  was  put  in  the 
treatment  of  ores  in  the  United  States  was  the  removal  of  the 
coatings  from  rusty  gold,  especially  in  pan  amalgamation.  It  was 
also  used  at  an  early  date  in  dressing  the  outside  .amalgamating 
plates  in  scamp  mill  work. 

The  following  summary  of  the  early  work  in  the  development  of 
the  cyanide  process  is  given  by  C.  E.  Munroe,  in  his  paper  on  the 
Cyanide  Process: 3  "  The  first  instance  of  an  attempt  to  apply  this 
solvent  action  of  the  cyanides  to  the  extraction  of  precious  metals 
from  their  ores  or  other  bodies  containing  them  appears  in  United 
States  Patents  61866  and  62776,  issued  to  Dr.  Julio  H.  Rae,  of 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  on  February  5  and  March  12,  1867.  Dr.  Rae 
claimed  the  use  not  only  of  potassium  cyanide  as  a  solvent  for  the 
precious  metals  in  the  ore,  but  also  of  an  electric  current  in  pre- 
cipitating them  from  the  solution,  and  of  rotatory  or  movable  elec- 
trodes. This  was  followed  by  United  States  Patent  229586,  of 
July  6,  1880,  to  Thomas  C.  Clark,  of  Oakland,  Cal.,  who  roasted  his 
ore  to  a  red  heat,  and  placed  it,  in  this  condition,  in  a  cold  bath  con- 
taining salt,  prussiate  of  potash,  and  caustic  soda;  United  States 
Patent  236424,  of  January  11,  1881,  to  H.  W.  Faucett,  of  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  who  subjected  hot  crushed  Oies,  under  pressure,  to  the  action 
of  sodium  cyanide  in  solution;  and  United  States  Patent  244080,  of 
July  12,  1881,  to  John  F.  Sanders,  of  Ogden,  Utah,  who  treated  his 
ore  with  potassium  cyanide  and  glacial  phosphoric  acid. 

11  In  1884  Astley  P.  Price  applied  for  British  Patent  5125  for  the 
use  of  zinc  in  a  state  of  fine  division  in  precipitating  gold  or  silver 
from  solutions  containing  them.  On  July  28,  1885,  United  States 
Patent  323222  was  issued  to  Jerome  W.  Simpson,  of  Newark,  N.J., 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  80,  p.  241. 

2  Histoire  de  Chemie,  Vol.  1,  p.  226,  The  Metallurgy  of  Gold,  1896,  p.  378; 
The  Art  of  Electro-Metallurgy,  1877,  pp.  19-20;  California  State  Bureau,  Bull. 
No.  5,  1894,  p.  9,  and  Special  Kept,  of  the  Census  Office,  Mines  and  Quarries, 
1902,  p.  595;  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  95,  pp.  655-657. 

3  Special  Kept.  Census  Office,  Mines  and  Quarries,  1902,  pp.  596-597. 


494  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

covering  the  extraction  of  gold,  silver,  and  copper  from  their  ores  by 
means  of  solutions  containing  potassium  cyanide,  ammonium  car- 
bonate, and  sodium  chloride,  and  the  subsequent  precipitation  of 
the  dissolved  metals  by  means  of  pieces  or  plates  of  zinc  suspended 
in  the  solution.  A  caveat  for  the  use  of  cyanide  was  filed  in  the 
United  States  Patent  Office  byF.  M.  Endlich  and  N.  W.  Miihlenberger, 
during  the  same  year,  but  was  subsequently  abandoned.  At  Park 
City,  Utah,  about  the  same  time,  Louis  Janin,  Jr.,  made  experiments 
with  cyanide  in  extracting  silver  and  gold  from  ores,  which  led  to 
his  filing  a  caveat  on  May  1,  1886.  He  did  not  press  this  to  an  issue, 
tut  he  published  his  results  in  the  Engineering  and  Mining  Journal, 
1888.  W.  A.  Dixon,  also  made  experiments  with  cyanide  on  Aus- 
tralian ores,  and  recorded  his  results  in  a  paper  read  before  the  Royal 
Society  of  New  South  Wales.  " 

The  development  and  application  of  the  cyanide  process  in  Eng- 
land and  South  Africa  is  given  in  the  same  paper  as  follows: l 

"  The  cyanide  process  acquired  commercial  value  in  1887,.  when 
John  S.  MacArthur  and  W.  Forrest,  of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  applied, 
on  October  19,  for  their  English  patent  covering  the  use  of  dilute 
solutions  of  cyanides  in  the  extraction  of  the  precious  metals.  Later 
they  obtained  a  patent  for  the  use  of  zinc  as  a  precipitant  in  a  par- 
ticular state  of  subdivision. 

"  The  commercial  value  of  the  cyanide  process  was  demonstrated 
by  the  tests  made  on  a  large  scale,  with  ore  from  the  New  Zealand 
Crown  mine,  in  June  and  July,  1888.  Commercial  success  dates 
from  the  introduction  of  the  MacArthur-Forrest  process,  in  1890, 
in  the  Witwatersrand  gold  fields  in  South  Africa,  the  first  cyanide 
plant  in  the  world  for  treating  tailings  having  been  erected  at  Johan- 
nesburg in  April,  -1890.  In  the  Witwatersrand  alone,  at  the  end 
of  1891,  there  were  6  companies  treating  tailings  by  the  cyanide 
process;  at  the  end  of  1892  there  were  22,  and  at  the  end  of  1893 
there  were  32,  with  a  record  of  143,500  tons  per  month  treated.  By 
the  use  of  this  process  there  were  recovered  in  the  Rand  286  ounces 
of  gold  in  1890,  34,862  ounces  in  1891,  178,688  ounces  in  1892, 
330,510  ounces  in  1893,  714,122  ounces  in  1894,  753,490  ounces  in 
1895,  and  703,704  ounces  in  1896;  the  output  then  increased  up  to 
September,  1898,  when  the  commencement  of  active  hostilities  in 
the  Boer  War  interfered  with  the  active  workings  of  the  mines." 

The  cyanide  process  was  first  successfully  and  commercially  em- 
ployed in  the  United  States  in  extracting  gold  from  ores  at  the  Mercur 
1  Special  Rept.  Census  Office,  Mines  and  Quarries,  1902,  p.  596. 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  495 

mines,  Utah,  about  1891.  The  process  was  introduced  by  Captain 
J.  R.  De  La  Mar,  owner  of  the  properties.1 

Experiments  on  Gold  Hill  mine  ores,  North  Carolina,  by  Mr.  Richard 
Eames  in  May,  1892,  gave  an  extraction  of  60  per  cent  of  the  assay 
value.  During  the  summer  of  1893  a  10-ton  cyanide  plant  was  in 
operation  at  the  Moratock  mine,  North  Carolina,  but  owing  to  the 
leanness  of  the  ore  it  was  discontinued.  In  the  same  year  another 
plant  was  operating  at  the  Gilmer  mines,  Goochland  County,  Vir- 
ginia, but  with  apparently  little  success.  At  the  Franklin  mine, 
Georgia,  work  with  the  cyanide  process  preceded  that  of  chlorina- 
tion,  and  was  successful  as  applied  to  the  more  or  less  oxidized  ore  of 
the  dumps,  but  failed  of  economical  extraction  when  applied  to  the 
fresh  sulphides. 

The  Sawyer  mine,  Randolph  County,  North  Carolina,  was  the 
scene  of  further  cyanjde  work  in  1895,  but  the  work  soon  stopped 
owing  to  lack  of  results.  Two  other  plants  were  installed  in  North 
Carolina  during  1896;  one  at  the  Russell  mine,  the  other  at  the 
Cabin  Creek  mine,  but  they  did  not  pass  the  experimental  stage  in 
their  operations. 

The  Hunt  and  Douglas  process  was  installed  at  the  Conrad  Hill 
mine,  North  Carolina,  in  1880,  which  consisted  of  treating  roasted 
sulphides  with  a  ferrous  chloride  solution,  by  which  the  copper  was 
rendered  a  soluble  chloride,  being  precipitated  by  scrap  iron  as  metal- 
lic cement. 

The  Designolle  process,  by  which  roasted  ore  was  treated  with 
corrosive  sublimate  in  iron  vessels,  was  only  partially  successful 
owing  to  the  formation  of  base  bullion,  the  iron  of  the  contain- 
ing vessel  precipitating  the  soluble  salts  resulting  from  roast- 
ing. This  process  was  applied  to  the  ores  of  Charlotte,  North 
Carolina,  during  1882-83;  also  at  the  New  Discovery  mine, 
Rowan  County,  North  Carolina,  in  1883;  and  at  the  Haile  mine, 
South  Carolina,  in  1883. 

Another  plant  for  extracting  the  gold  from  sulphurets  (concen- 
trates) together  with  the  recovery  of  sulphuric  acid  was  installed 
at  Blacksburg,  South  Carolina.  In  connection  with  this  process 
was  a  Walker-Carter  muffle  furnace  and  lead  chambers.  The  oxi- 
dized ores  being  treated  in  turn  by  the  Caloric  Reduction  Company's 
process,  which  consisted  of  volatilization  of  mercury  through  the 
mass  of  the  ore  followed  by  a  condensation  of  the  same.  The  pro- 
cess never  attained  any  success  and  was  abandoned.  The  so-called 
1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  68,  p.  754. 


496  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Phelps  process  was  similar  to  the  last  mentioned,  being  tried  with- 
out success  in  1877  at  Philadelphia,  on  North  Carolina  ores.  * 

Probably  the  first  successful  application  of  the  cyanide  process 
to  low-grade  Southern  ores  was  at  the  plant  of  the  Colossus  Gold 
Mining  and  Milling  Company  in  1904. 2 

The  Cyanide  process  was  established  at  Bodie  and  the  Smuggler- 
Union  mines,  Colorado,  in  1892  and  1902,  respectively.  A  mill  was 
built  at  Florence  in  1895.  There  were  four  cyanide  plants  at  Cripple 
Creek  in  1899,  similarly  in  1903,  three  of  the  four  in  the  latter  case 
being  direct  acting.3 

According  to  the  Report  of  the  Director  of  the  Mint  for  the  cal- 
endar year  1901,  there  were  eleven  cyanide  plants  in  active  opera- 
tion in  South  Dakota  which  had  a  capacity  aggregating  over  1;500 
tons  daily.4 

METHODS   OF   EXTRACTION. 

It  is  obviously  impossible  in  a  work  of  this  character  and  scope 
to  more  than  outline  the  methods  and  processes  employed  in  the 
treatment  of  ores  and  the  extraction  of  the  contained  values.  But, 
owing  to  the  fine  spirit  of  cooperation  exhibited  by  the  experienced 
and  highly  skilled  engineers  of  all  countries  our  technical  literature 
has  been  enriched  by  elaborate  and  painstaking  descriptions  of  the 
various  operations  of  extraction,  which  may  serve  equally  well  as 
a  guide  to  those  who  wish  to  follow  after  or  deviate  somewhat  from 
the  beaten  path  of  practice.  It  is  from  such  sources  that  much  of 
the  information  found  in  the  following  pages  has  been  derived. 
Extracts  of  papers  descriptive  of  the  various  typical  operations 
which  have  been  successfully  applied  to  certain  ores  under  fixed 
conditions  are  given,  the  selection  and  arrangement  of  which  have 
been  made  with  an  idea  more  for  brevity  and  clearness  than  techni- 
cal detail. 

MILLING. 

Reduction.  In  the  treatment  of  certain  ores,  either  owing  to  the 
fineness  of  dissemination  of  the  useful  mineral  or  metal,  or  to  its 
being  chemically  combined,  it  is  obviously  necessary  to  reduce  the 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  6,  pp.  121-122,  1898-99. 
3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  88,  p.  146. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Professional  paper  No.  54,  pp.  138-139,  1906. 

4  Special   Kept.   Office   of  the  Census  Bureau,   Mines   and  Quarries,    1902, 
p.  602,  and  Production  of  the  Precious  Metals  during  1901,  p.  201,  1902. 


EXTRACTION   OF  VALUES.  497 

ore  to  a  fine  state  of  subdivision  preparatory  to  the  extraction  of  all 
or  a  large  part  of  its  values.  Authorities  differ  widely  as  to  the 
desirable  amount  of  reduction,  when  done  either  by  stage-crushing 
or  in  one  operation.  The  following  may  be  considered  as  a  reason- 
able degree  of  fineness  for  the  various  machines  usually  employed.1 

Crushers  reducing  to  3  inches  or  1  inch;  the  former  for  stamps 
the  latter  for  rolls. 

Stamps  reducing  to  Nos.  6  and  9,  perforated  metal,  or  30  to  40 
mesh,  wire  cloth,  or  .027  to  .020  inches  for  the  former. 

Rolls  reducing  to  about  J-inch. 

Ball  mills  reducing  to  30  down  to  80  mesh  and  even  lower. 

Tube  mills  reducing  to  practically  any  degree  of  fineness. 

In  special  cases  where  reduction  must  be  carried  to  the  extreme 
limit  of  sliming  in  order  to  release  the  values,  the  ball  and  tube 
mills  should  be  employed,  which  for  efficiency  and  low  cost  of 
operation  have  not  been  excelled. 

As  a  rule  finer  crushing  should  be  resorted  to  when  a  base  silver 
or  gold  ore  is  treated  which  requires  roasting  as  a  preliminary  opera- 
tion to  lixiviation. 

Reduction  is  accomplished  in  modern  gold  and  silver  mills  by 
crushers,  stamps,  rolls  and  mills,  while  small  scale  work  may  be 
successfully  done  in  arrastras  and  crude  edge-stone  mills. 

Breakers  are  employed  for  the  preliminary  work,  the  amount  of 
reduction  depending  largely  on  the  subsequent  method  of  treat- 
ment, i.e.,  whether  the  ore  passing  the  crusher  goes  to  stamps,  rolls, 
or  mills.  There  are  two  general  types  of  crushers  used,  namely,  the 
reciprocating-jaw  and  spindle  forms  —  the  former  has  probably 
the  widest  range  of  application,  although  possibly  not  the  largest 
capacity  under  similar  conditions. 

Stamps  are  especially  suited  to  crushing  the  ores  of  the  precious 
metals,  although  under  special  conditions  their  capacity  may  be 
unduly  small.  The  California  form  of  drop  stamp,  developed  from 
the  German  and  Cornish  forms,  is  still  in  general  use  and  has 
reached  a  high  degree  of  perfection.  However,  steam  stamps  are 
now  in  common  use  and  may  in  time  practically  replace  the  more 
cumbersome  and  less  easily  regulated  drop  or  gravity  forms. 

Rolls  may  precede  or  take  the  place  of  stamps.  The  old  Cornish 
forms  are  now  seldom  used,  other  improved  forms  especially  those 
of  high  speed,  being  almost  universally  employed. 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  79,  p.  492,  and  California  Gold  Mill  Practice^ 
Preston,  1895,  pp.  24,  227. 


498  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Mills,  such  as  the  Huntington,  Bryan,  ball  and  tube  forms,  are  in 
many  localities  wholly  replacing  stamps,  but  are  probably  more 
largely  used  as  supplementary  reducers,  as  when  employed  in 
reducing  sulphurets,  -tailings,  ete. 

Owing  to  the  prominence  of  the  tube  mill  at  the  present  time, 
due  to  its  application  in  connection  with  the  cyanide  process  the 
following  description  by  F.  L.  Basqui  is  given. *  "  It  consists  of  a 
sheet  steel  cylinder  with  cast  ends,  varying  in  size  (the  largest  mills 
are  five  feet  in  diameter  by  twenty-two  feet  long),  and  supported 
either  upon  trunnions  or  upon  steel  tires  revolving  on  rollers  like 
a  chlorination  barrel.  The  interior  of  the  mill  may  be  lined  with 
cast  iron,  or  a  species  of  natural  flint,  known  as  '  Silex.'  The 
latter  is  the  more  commonly  used,  and  is  sold  in  two  sizes  —  blocks 
two  and  one-half  inches  and  four  inches  thick.  The  Silex  linings 
are  laid  in  neat  cement  and  will  last  from  four  to  eight  months, 
depending  upon  the  ore.  When  ready  to  operate,  the  mill  is 
charged  about  half  full  with  flint  pebbles.  The  product  to  be 
reground  is  fed  into  the  mill  either  through  a  spiral  feed  or  a  feed 
of  the  stuffing-box  type,  and  the  reground  material  is  discharged 
at  the  opposite  end,  being  finely  comminuted  by  attrition  against 
the  flint  pebbles  and  the  lining  during  the  slow  revolution  of  the 
cylinder.  The  average  speed  of  the  tube  mill  is  from  twenty- 
five  to  thirty-five  revolutions  per  minute.  The  fineness  to  which 
the  sand  may  be  reduced  will  depend  upon  several  factors,  chief 
among  which  is  the  amount  of  water  introduced  with  the  sand. 
The  best  proportion  has  been  found  to  be  one  part  solids  to  one 
part  water. 

"  As  a  machine  for  economical  sliming,  that  is  reducing  ore  to  an 
extreme  fineness,  the  tube  mill  has  no  equal.  The  cost  of  tube 
milling  is  variable.  In  this  country  and  Mexico  it  will  range  be- 
tween 20  and  40  cents  per  ton.  The  practice  at  El  Oro,  Mexico, 
and  at  Telluride,  Colorado,  is  representative  of  the  best  practice  on 
this  continent,  while  the  figures  on  tube  milling  at  the  Combination 
mine,  Goldfield,  Nevada,  probably  represent  the  maximum  of  cost, 
owing  to  high  price  of  power  and  labor.  A  small  4  by  12-foot 
trunnion  mill  is  installed  at  the  latter  property  for  sliming  the 
forty-mesh  product  from  a  Bryan  mill.  The  product  of  ten  stamps, 
about  thirty-five  tons  of  ore  per  day,  passes  to  the  tube  mill  classi- 
fier, and  of  this  product  about  seventy-five  per  cent  goes  to  the  tube 
mill,  or  24.6  tons  per  day." 

1  Am.  Min.  Congress  Papers,  Vol.  9,  p.  54,  1906. 


EXTRACTION    OF  VALUES.  499 

The  reader  is  referred  to  the  following  references  for  detailed 
information  regarding  reducing  machines.1 

As  stamp  mill  practice  is  intimately  associated  with  and  is  a  part 
of  battery  and  plate  amalgamation,  a  description  of  the  former  will 
be  reserved  until  similar  practice  in  amalgamation  is  given. 

Amalgamation.  —  The  paper  on  Gold  Amalgamation  by  C.  G.  W. 
Locke  is  an  excellent  summary  of  the  occurrence  of  gold,  some  of 
its  characteristics  and  the  conditions  under  which  it  can  be  treated 
to  the  best  advantage  and  with  slight  loss.  Extracts  of  this  paper 
are  given  below : 2 

"  The  natural  affinity  which  exists  between  gold  and  mercury, 
and  the  ease  with  which  their  combination  can  be  broken  up  again 
without  appreciable  loss  of  either  metal,  led  in  very  early  times  to 
the  adoption  of  mercurial  amalgamation  as  a  means  of  recovering 
gold  from  auriferous  mineral;  and,  no th withstanding  the  intro- 
duction in  recent  years  of  many  other  processes  for  extracting  gold 
from  so-called  '  refractory  ores/  it  is  probably  no  exaggeration  to 
to  say  that  nine-tenths  of  the  gold  now  being  won  is  obtained  by 
amalgamation.  The  subject  would,  therefore,  appear  still  to  be 
worthy  of  some  attention. 

"  At  the  outset  we  come  to  the  question  of  the  state  in  which  gold 
occurs  in  nature.  On  this  point  there  is  some  diversity  of  opinion, 
apparently  due  to  different  experimenters  working  on  different 
ores.  But  if  we  admit  that  in  some  cases  the  gold  is  in  chemical 
combination  with  tellurium,  and,  perhaps  also  with  antimony;  and 
that  in  other  cases  it  may  exist  as  a  sulphide  soluble  in  another 
sulphide  (on  the  authority  of  Prof.  Roberts- Austen) ;  whilst  in  a  third 
case  it  may  be  present  as  a  chloride  associated  with  silver  chloride; 
yet  the  sum  of  all  these  cases  will  give  but  a  very  small  figure  in  com- 
parison with  the  enormous  number  of  instances  in  which  it  is  only 
mechanically  associated  with  the  other  ingredients  of  the  mineral. 
It  is  in  this  predominating  case  of  the  gold  being  in  a  metallic  state 
that  the  amalgamation  process  is  applicable. 

1  The  arrastra—  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  67,  p.  277;  Ibid.,  Vol.  74,  p.  341, 
and  Ibid.,  Vol.  78,  p.  32.     Stamps  —  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  906 ;  Eng.  and  Min. 
Jour.,  Vol.  60,  pp.  221-560;  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  81,  p.  556,  and  Ibid.,  Vol. 
80,  p.  668.     Rolls  —  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  9,  p.  464;  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  82,  p. 
250,  and  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  79,  p.  77.     Mills  — T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  29,  p. 
776;  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  26,  p.  488;  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  79,  p.  511; 
Ibid.,  Vol.  81,  p.  1010,  and  Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  11,  p.  405. 

2  Institution  of  Mining  and  Metallurgy,  Vol.  1,  p.  205,  1892,  and  Gold  Amal- 
gamation and  Concentration,  McDermot  and  Duffield,  1890,  p.  2. 


500  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

"  Before  amalgamation  can  take  place,  the  mineral,  or  that  por- 
tion of  it  which  contains  gold,  must  be  reduced  to  a  size  proportion- 
ate to  the  dimensions  of  the  gold  particles.  This  is  a  self-evident 
proposition,  but  is  worth  mentioning  because  it  is  not  always  suf- 
ficiently recognized.  When  the  gold  occurs  in  relatively  coarse 
grains,  associated  only  with  quartz  or  other  equally  innocuous 
materials,  then  the  conditions  render  amalgamation  a  comparatively 
simple  and  easy  proceeding.  But,  as  a  rule,  this  is  not  the  case; 
and  it  more  often  happens  that  the  gold,  though  in  actual  metallic 
grains,  is  in  such  an  exceedingly  fine  state  of  subdivision  that  it  is 
necessary  to  reduce  the  mineral  to  a  practically  impalpable  pulp,  in 
order  to  liberate  the  metal,  while  the  presence  of  matters  other  than 
gold  and  rock  helps  to  complicate  the  process  of  amalgamation. 

"  It  would  seem  almost  superfluous  to  insist  that  in  all  cases 
amalgamation  is  a  very  delicate  metallurgical  operation,  demanding 
absolute  contact  between  the  gold  and  mercury,  and  that  failure  is 
mainly  attributable  to  imperfection  of  contact  caused  by  the  inter- 
position of  some  other  body.  So  delicate  is  it  that  the  grease  which 
may  be  imparted  to  the  surface  of  a  sovereign  by  mere  handling  in 
the  fingers  will  act  as  a  deterrent. 

"  The  chief  hindrances  to  amalgamation  having  their  origin  in  the 
ore  are: 

(1)  When  the  gold  particles  have  been  beaten  so  as  to  render 
them  very  dense  and  compact. 

(2)  When  their  surfaces  have  become  studded  with  barren  rock. 

(3)  When  they  have  been  flattened  so  as  to  render  them  abnor- 
mally buoyant. 

(4)  When  they  are  so  minute  as  to  remain  long  suspended  in 
flowing  water. 

(5)  When  they  are  coated  with  a  film,  usually  of  some  metallic 
salt,  (iron  oxide,  also  grease  and  a  film  due  to    hydrogen 
sulphide). 

(6)  When  sulphurets  present  in  the  mineral  have  commenced  to 
undergo  decomposition,  whereby  sulphates  are  liberated. 

(7)  Dirt,  etc. 

"  The  first  two  evils  are  entirely  due  to  faults  in  the  reducing 
machinery,  and  the  remedy  can  only  be  applied  there.  Probably 
their  occurrence  is  too  rare  to  be  an  important  matter. 


EXTRACTION   OF   VALUES.  501 

"  The  risk  of  '  float '  gold  (by  which  is  meant  gold  that  remains 
long  in  suspension  in  water)  arising  from  the  causes  named  in  (3) 
and  (4)  is  much  more  real,  though  some  authorities  affect  to  dis- 
believe in  its  existence.  In  my  experience,  it  is  a  potent  factor  of 
loss  in  amalgamation;  and  while  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  flatten- 
ing does,  in  some  instances,  take  place  in  the  stamp  battery,  I  am 
convinced  that  microscopic  fineness  of  the  gold  particles  is  much 
more  often  a  natural  feature  than  one  created  by  over-stamping. 
It  is  a  source  of  waste  which  is  very  generally  neglected,  partly  be- 
cause considerable  care  and  skill  are  required  to  determine  its  extent, 
and  partly  because  with  ordinary  appliances,  it  is  almost  impossible 
of  prevention.  Therefore,  where  paying  returns  are  got  from  the 
coarse  gold  saved,  no  trouble  is  taken  to  reduce  this  evil,  and  hence 
few  mill  managers  have  given  that  attention  to  the  subject  which  it 
deserves.  It  is  only  where  there  is  no  coarse  gold,  and  where  suc- 
cess consequently  depends  upon  saving  the  fine  gold,  that  the  ques- 
tion assumes  such  importance  as  to  command  study.  Quite  recently 
I  have  seen  properties  in  America  where,  despite  the  fact  that  nearly 
the  whole  of  the  gold  is  free,  yet  the  amalgamation  mills  built  to 
deal  with  the  mineral  have  failed,  owing,  it  is  said,  to  the  fineness  of 
the  gold,  and  chlorination  mills  have  been  erected  in  their  stead. 
This  you  may  consider  to  be  an  extreme  case;  but  Cosmo  Newbery 
found  gold  at  the  rate  of  42  ounces  per  ton  in  some  slimes  that 
only  coloured  the  water  from  a  New  Zealand  ore;  and  in  another  in- 
stance at  the  rate  of  20  ounces  per  ton  in  slimes  escaping  from  Frue 
vanners.  Therefore  I  repeat  that  the  '  float '  gold  difficulty  is  an 
actuality,  and  not  to  be  lightly  dismissed  as  imaginary.  And  to  go 
a  step  further,  I  contend  that  with  many  ores  the  gold  is  so  fine  that 
the  creation  of  slimes  may  be  an  absolute  desideratum,  and  that  to 
stop  short  of  it  may  mean  leaving  gold  imprisoned  in  the  grains  of 
mineral.  For  the  advocate  of  amalgamation  to  cry  out  against 
slimes  is  simply  to  admit  his  inability  to  grapple  with  the  question. 
Either  he  must  find  a  means  of  dealing  with  exceedingly  fine  and 
float  gold,  or  he  must  retire  in  favour  of  chlorination  or  some  other 
solution  process.  I  believe,  however,  that  amalgamation  can  be 
made  to  do  the  task  efficiently  and  cheaply,  though  not  on  the  lines, 
in  vogue  now. 

"  '  Coated '  gold  is  not  uncommon.  In  some  cases  the  term 
'  rusty '  is  well  applied,  the  native  gold  particles  being  shielded  by  a 
film  of  iron  oxide.  In  other  instances  the  gold  is  rendered  black  by 
a  jacket  of  manganic  oxide  of  iron;  or  the  envelope  may  consist  of 


502 


GOLD  AND  SILVER 


silica  or  a  silicate  of  iron;  while  in  the  Transvaal  it  has  been  asserted 
that  mineral  oil,  permeating  the  formation,  has  proved  a  serious 
obstacle  to  amalgamation.  Even  ores  which  have  been  roasted  to 
drive  off  sulphur,  arsenic,  etc.,  are  not  always  free  from  the  same 
drawback,  as  imperfect  roasting  may  result  in  the  gold  being  con- 
centrated in  melted  monosulphide  of  iron,  or  coated  with  a  skin  of 
magnetic  oxide.  So  pernicious  is  this  coating  of  the  gold  that,  even 
when  the  coat  is  thin  enough  to  be  transparent,  the  gold  will  resist 
amalgamation  after  weeks  of  immersion  in  mercury. 

• "  The  presence  of  only  clean  sulphurets,  especially  the  common 
cubical  iron  pyrites,  does  not  materially  interfere  with  amalgamation. 
But  it  is  rare  to  find  auriferous  mineral  which  does  not  contain  a 
larger  or  smaller  percentage  of  the  readily  decomposed  cupreous, 
or  arsenical,  or  antimonial  sulphides,  which  on  decomposition, 
seriously  affect  the  usefulness  of  the  mercury,  apparently  by  forming 
sub-sulphates  with  it,  and  adhering  to  its  surface.  They  thus  lead 
to  a  double  loss  —  of  mercury,  which  is  sulphated  and  washed  away, 
and  of  gold,  which  cannot  reach  the  mercury  through  the  film  of 
sulphate. 

"  It  may  appear  to  be  unnecessary  to  lay  stress  upon  the  urgency 
of  starting  with  clean  and  pure  mercury,  yet  that  is  a  point  often 
overlooked.  Moreover,  on  exposure  to  the  air,  the  surface  of  the 
mercury  will  become  oxidized  sufficiently  to  hinder  actual  contact 
with  gold.  Another  important  consideration,  which  is  apt  to  be 
lost  sight  of,  is  the  value  of  having  a  good  body  and  large  surface 
of  mercury.  When  the  mercury  is  broken  up  into  a  number  of  tiny 
atoms,  the  oxidation  of  the  multiplied  surfaces  must  be  enormously 
hastened,  and  the  efficiency  thereby  reduced.  When  the  particles 
become  very  fine,  they  are  rendered  actually  valueless  as  amal- 
gamators, and  finally  disappear  in  the  tailings,  especially  in  the 
presence  of  even  small  proportions  of  sulphides  undergoing  decom- 
position." * 

*  McDermott  and  Duffield  give  the  following  table,  showing  the  result  of  a 
number  of  typical  gold  mills  with  the  small  losses  experienced: 


Name  of  Mine  or  Company. 

Average  of  Ore. 

Assay  of  Tailings. 

No.  of  Stamps. 

Homestake  Company  
Alaska  Mining  Co  

4  to   4*dwts. 
5 

i  to    I  dwts. 
i  to  1         " 

120 
240 

El  Callao  

25         " 

34       " 

60 

Plumas  Eureka  

7$       " 

1         " 

60      -.  . 

Yuba  

8*       " 

15 

EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  503 

"  Amalgamation  is  essentially  a  wet  operation,  and  cannot  be 
satisfactorily  accomplished  except  in  the  presence  of  water.  Hence 
it  is  of  importance  to  secure  water  which  is  free  from  salts  in  solution 
and  solids  in  suspension.  Mine  waters  are  especially  bad  on  this 
account.  In  a  low  temperature  amalgamation  is  sluggish,  and 
therefore  it  is  customary  to  supply  heat  in  cold  weather;  but  sum- 
mer water  is  often  much  less  pure  than  winter  water,  and  decompo^ 
sition  of  the  sulphurets  is  more  rapid  in  the  presence  of  heat,  so 
that  these  two  conditions  may  combine  to  more  than  counteract  the 
advantages  of  genial  climate." 

The  ores  to  which  amalgamation  in  its  various  forms  is  appli- 
cable may  be  classified  as  follows : 1 

1.  Free  milling  ores  from  which  the  gold  can  readily  be  extracted 
by  the  application  of  mercury  to  the  pulverized  ore. 

2.  Ores  of  high-  or  medium-grade  which  do  not  amalgamate  well 
even  though  the  amount  of  sulphides  present  is  small. 

3.  Ores  running  high  in  sulphides. 

4.  Ores  in   which   the    gold-content    is   chemically   combined  or 
enclosed  in  a  coating  of  some  metallic  salt. 

Following  plate  amalgamation  the  pan  or  barrel  process  should 
be  employed  and  may  effect  an  economical  treatment  when  the 
former  method  fails.  The  patio  process  is  also  applicable  to  the 
same  ores  as  pan  amalgamation,  and  was  in  fact  the  forerunner  of 
that  method  of  treatment. 

The  various  methods  of  amalgamating  gold  and  silver  ore  are  de- 
scribed in  the  order  of  their  development,  namely,  the  patio  process, 
plate,  pan  and  barrel  amalgamation. 

As  the  patio  process  originated  in  Mexico  it  is  but  natural  to 
expect  to  find  it  developed  to  its  highest  state  of  perfection  there. 
For  which  reason  the  following  descriptions  are  taken  from  Mexican 
practice : 2 

"  The  ore  as  it  comes  from  the  mine  is  generally  sorted  near  the  top 
of  the  shaft,  and  broken  into  pieces  not  exceeding  the  size  of  a  hen's 
egg.  In  this  state  it  is  carried  to  the  hacienda  de  beneficio  or  reduc- 
tion-works: these  consist  of  a  series  of  buildings  containing  the 
various  machinery,  stores,  etc.,  placed  round  one  or  more  large 

1  Gold   Amalgamation    and   Concentration,  McDermott    and  Duffield,   1890, 
p.  25. 

2  Federated  Institute  of  Mining  Engineers,  Vol.  9,  pp.  162-167. 


504  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

stone-paved  courtyards  or  patios.  The  ore  is  then  crushed  in  a 
molino  or  mill;  usually  this  is  in  the  form  of  a  Chilian  wheel, 
consisting  of  a  circular  stone-paved  dish  about  6  to  12  inches  deep, 
and  10  to  12  feet  in  diameter,  with  a  wooden  or  stone  post  in  the 
center  3  to  5  feet  high.  To  this  is  pivoted  a  horizontal  shaft  or  axle 
on  which  runs  a  vertical  stone  roller,  6  to  10  feet  in  diameter  and 
12  to  18  inches  wide;  the  outer  end  of  the  shaft  projects  beyond 
the  circular  path  of  the  roller  and  one  or  more  mules  or  horses  are 
harnessed  to  it,  and  by  going  round  in  a  circle  cause  the  roller  to 
crush  the  ore.  One  of  these  mills  with  nine  mules,  working  three 
at  a  time  for  three  hours,  will  crush  about  6  tons  in  twenty-four 
hours,  or  one  with  a  cast-iron  bottom  will  crush  8  tons,  but  the 
presence  in  the  latter  case  of  metallic  iron  in  the  crushed  ore  is  said 
sometimes  to  interfere  with  the  reduction.  Occasionally  a  stamp 
mill  is  used  generally  of  eight  stamps,  with  wrought-iron  heads  and 
wooden  stems,  driven  by  spur-wheels,  actuated  by  mules  or  horses. 
A  mill  of  this  kind  driven  by  twelve  mules,  three  at  a  time,  will 
crush  4  to  6  tons  in  twenty-four  hours,  and  for  labor  will  require  in 
that  time  two  arreadores  or  drivers,  and  five  or  six  boys  to  feed  and 
carry  away  the  ore. 

"  The  granza,  or  crushed  ore  from  the  stamps  is  then  taken  to  the 
arrastras  or  tahonas,  where  water  is  added.  These  consist  of  a  circu- 
lar stone  pavement  about  12  feet  in  diameter,  round  which  is  a  curb 
of  wood  or  stone  forming  a  water-tight  tub  about  2  feet  deep: 
in  the  middle  is  a  block  of  wood  or  stone  containing  a  footstep  in 
which  works  the  iron  pivot  on  the  foot  of  an  upright  shaft,  the  top 
of  which  is  carried  by  a  journal  on  a  horizontal  beam.  This  upright 
shaft  carries  two  or  four  horizontal  arms  to  the  outside  ends  of 
which  mules  or  horses  are  harnessed,  and  from  each  of  these  is 
hung,  by  two  cords  or  chains,  a  voladero  or  runner  of  stone,  3  to  4 
feet  long  lj  to  2  feet  wide,  and  12  to  15  inches  thick  which  drags 
over  the  stone  bottom  and  so  grinds  the  ore  (in  some  cases  cast-iron 
bottoms  are  used). 

"  An  ordinary  arrastra  driven  by  four  mules,  working  two  at  a  time 
for  six  hour  shifts,  will  grind  from  J  ton  to  1J  tons  in  twenty-four 
hours;  at  Fresnillo,  when  driven  by  steam-power  a  12  feet  arrastra 
will  grind  1J  tons,  and  one  16  feet  in  diameter  3  tons  in  eight  hours. 
Two  men,  or  one  man  and  one  boy  will  look  after  and  charge  five 
ordinary  arrastras  in  the  day  time,  and  one  man  will  look  after  ten 
or  twelve  at  night.  The  water  used  is  generally  one  and  a  half 
times  the  weight  of  the  ore. 


EXTRACTION  OF   VALUES.  505 

"  When  sufficiently  ground,  the  liquid  ore  now  called  lama  is  either 
ladled  out  of  the  arrastras  into  barrels  and  carried,  or  run  out  through 
spouts,  into  the  lameros  or  settling-tanks,  where  it  partially  dries. 
When  a  sufficient  quantity  has  been  collected  to  form  a  torta,  it  is 
taken  out  on  to  -the  patio  and  placed  in  a  semi-liquid  state  between 
planks  made  tight  with  horse-dung,  where  under  the  clear  sky  and 
rarefied  air  it  soon  dries  sufficiently  to  be  ready  for  treating.  A 
torta  may  contain  any  quantity  from  15  to  80  tons,  according  to 
quality  of  ore,  time  of  year,  size  of  plant,  or  other  circumstances. 
A  common  size  is  about  50  tons  which  when  ready  for  treading  will 
occupy  a  circle  of  about  50  feet  in  diameter  and  10  to  12  inches 
thick. 

"  The  operations  are  now  taken  in  charge  of  by  the  azoguero  or 
amalgamator  (a  word  derived  from  azogue  or  mercury). 

"  The  first  proceeding  is  to  sprinkle  salt  over  the  torta,  in  quantity 
varying  from  2i  to  6  per  cent  of  the  weight  of  ore.  This  salt  is 
sometimes  obtained  from  the  coast,  but  generally  from  inland 
salt-lakes,  in  which  case  it  is  often  very  impure.  The  torta  is  then 
turned  over  with  shovels,  and  has  its  first  repaso,  or  treading  by 
eight  to  fifteen  animals,  for  4  to  5  hours;  one  or  two  men  with 
bare  feet  and  legs,  standing  near  the  middle,  hold  cords  attached  to 
the  halters  of  the  mules  or  horses,  and  drive  them  in  circles 
commencing  from  the  outside  of  the  torta  and  working  towards 
the  center,  and  taking  care  that  every  part  of  it  shall  be  well  trodden 
and  mixed. 

"  Twenty-four  hours  after  this,  magistral  is  added.  This  is  prepared 
by  slowly  roasting  in  a  reverberatory  furnace  a  mixture  of  copper 
and  iron-pyrites  to  which  a  little  salt  has  been  added.  The  sulphate 
of  copper  formed  by  this  process  generally  amounts  to  between 
20  to  40  per  cent  of  the  whole,  and  is  the  chief  agent  in  reducing 
the  ore,  although  the  salts  of  iron  assist.  The  quantity  of  magistral 
used  varies,  according  to  its  quality  and  the  variety  of  ore,  but  is 
generally  from  1  to  2  per  cent,  of  the  weight  of  the  ore.  Sometimes 
sulphate  of  copper  is  used  instead  of  magistral,  when  5  pounds 
to  the  ton  of  ore  is  generally  sufficient.  Less  magistral  is  used  in 
winter  than  in  summer.  After  adding  the  magistral,  the  torta  is 
trodden  for  an  hour,  and  then  the  first  quantity  of  mercury,  called 
the  encorporo,  is  added;  this  is  generalty  about  two-thirds  of  the 
quantity  intended  to  be  used  for  the  reduction,  which  is  usually 
about  six  times  the  weight  of  the  silver  expected.  The  mercury 
is  squeezed  through  a  canvas  bag  so  that  it  may  fall  on  the  torta  in 


506  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

finely-divided  globules,  and  a  further  repaso  takes  place  immediately 
afterwards.  Sometimes  the  salt,  magistral,  and  first  quantity  of 
mercury  are  added  to  the  torta  together. 

"  After  the  salt,  magistral  and  mercury  have  been  added  to  and 
mixed  with  the  torta,  chemical  action  commences,  and  is  watched 
carefully  by  the  amalgamator  by  means  of  trials  of  samples 
(tentaduras)  of  about  8  ounces  each,  taken  from  twenty  or  thirty 
different  parts  of  the  torta,  and  washed  in  a  jicara  or  vanning-horn. 
This  has  been  compared  to  a  mirror  in  which  the  azoguero  can 
see  what  is  going  on  in  the  torta.  On  the  first  trial,  soon  after  the 
repaso,  on  stirring  the  contents  of  the  spoon  with  the  fingers,  and 
agitating  it  at  the  surface  of  a  vessel  of  water,  the  light  dirt  is  washed 
off,  and  the  remaining  metallic  substances  and  mercury  are  closely 
examined.  At  this  stage  the  mercury  contains  but  little  silver, 
and  its  color  and  state  of  division  give  the  only  indications  of  the 
working  of  the  torta.  If  the  color  is  natural  or  slightly  bronzed 
the  reaction  is  too  slow,  the  torta  is  cold,  and  more  magistral  is 
wanted;  if  the  surface  is  moderately  grey,  all  is  going  on  well,  but 
if  it  is  dark  grey  and  the  upper  part  of  the  tentadura  shows  ashy- 
grey  powder,  descho,  which  will  not  unite  into  globules,  the 
reaction  is  too  rapid,  the  torta  is  hot,  the  repasos  must  be  stopped, 
and  lime  or  ashes  added  to  reduce  the  loss  of  mercury.  Generally, 
the  color  of  the  mercury  guides  the  proportion  of  magistral,  the 
condition  of  the  limadura  indicates  the  daily  progress,  and  the 
solidity  of  the  amalgam  determines  the  addition  of  mercury  and 
the  end  of  the  operation. 

"  Twenty-four  hours  after  the  encorporo,  if  the  proportion  of  magis- 
tral is  right,  and  the  process  doing  well,  amalgam  will  be  found  in 
the  mercury,  little  desecho  is  seen,  and  the  limadura  is  coarser  and 
more  consistent,  and  it  can  be  compressed  by  the  thumb  into  pastil- 
las  or  lozenges. 

"  When  the  limadura  becomes  dry,  and  will  not  give  a  drop  when 
pressed  by  the  thumb,  more  mercury  is  added  to  the  torta  in  small 
quantities;  this  is  called  cebar  (to  feed  it). 

"  The  whole  process  lasts  irom  fifteen  to  forty  days,  according  to 
the  quality  of  the  ore  and  the  season  of  the  year,  taking  longer  in 
winter.  The  repasos  required  vary  in  number  from  eight  to  twenty 
or  twenty-five,  and  generally  take  place  every  two  days,  or  every 
day  if  required,  a  torta  of  50  tons  requiring  six  or  eight  animals  for 
six  hours  at  a  time.  They  are  more  frequent  in  winter  than  in  sum- 
mer, and  they  hasten  the  process  when  frequently  used.  In  an 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  507 

experiment,  two  tortas  of  the  same  ore  were  put  on  the  patio  at  the 
same  time,  one  with  eight  repasos  of  five  or  six  hours  at  intervals  of 
three  or  four  days  took  twenty-seven  days,  the  other  trodden  day 
and  night  by  the  same  number  of  animals  tqok  eighty  hours.  The 
yield  of  silver  and  loss  of  mercury  were  about  the  same,  but  the 
increased  speed  did  not  pay  for  the  extra  cost  of  labor. 

"When  the  chemical  action  has  ceased,  and  the  silver  which  can  be 
extracted  has  been  taken  up  by  the  mercury,  the  torta  is  then  said  to 
be  rendido  and  the  operation  is  finished. 

"  The  chemical  reactions  which  take  place  during  the  process  are 
complicated  and  difficult  to  understand.  The  ore  contains  native 
silver,  chloride  of  silver,  and  the  sulphides  of  various  metals  con- 
taining silver;  the  general  result  is  that  the  sulphate  of  copper  and 
chloride  of  sodium  (salt)  react  on  each  other,  and  on  the  sulphide  of 
silver,  converting  the  latter  into  chloride,  in  which  form  it  can  be 
reduced  by  the  metallic  mercury. 

"  In  the  Zacatecas  district,  then  the  torta  is  finished  (rendido),  a 
further  quantity  of  mercury,  called  the  bano  or  bath,  often  amounting 
to  four-fifths  of  the  quantity  already  used,  is  generally  added,  and 
after  one  more  repaso  the  ore  is  carried  in  tubs  or  hand-barrows  to 
the  lavaderos  or  washers  (circular  tanks  of  wood  or  masonry  with 
the  bottom  formed  of  one  stone).  These  tanks  vary  in  size,  but 
are  often  about  9  feet  in  diameter  by  6  feet  deep;  they  are  fitted 
with  vertical  shafts  carrying  stirrers,  the  stirrers  of  two  tanks  being 
driven  by  a  mule-gin.  Each  tank  will  wash  2i  tons  per  hour,  the 
ore  is  put  in,  in  small  quantities,  water  being  run  in  at  the  same 
time  and  the  stirrers  kept  revolving.  The  mud  and  water  are  tapped 
off  through  holes  in  the  sides,  and  the  amalgam,  which,  owing  to  the 
quantity  of  mercury  added  in  the  bano  is  very  liquid,  is  left  in  the 
bottom  and  ladled  out  into  bowls  or  bateas.  A  good  deal  of  amal- 
gam goes  away  in  the  slimes  from  the  washers,  and  these  are 
re  washed  by  hand  on  planillas  or  sloping-tables,  but  much  is  still 
lost.  At  Guanajuato,  the  ore  passes  through  three  washers,  one 
after  the  other,  which  is  a  better  system  and  saves  some  of  this 
waste. 

"  The  amalgam  from  the  washer  is  taken  to  a  room  called  the 
azogueria,  where  it  is  filtered  through  a  strong  leather  bag  (manga) 
with  a  canvas  bottom,  attached  at  the  top  to  an  iron  ring  suspended 
from  a  beam.  Tke  mercury  gradually  passes  through  the  canvas 
into  a  bowl  beneath,  leaving  in  the  manga  a  pasty  mass  of  amalgam 
still  containing  four  to  five  parts  of  mercury  to  one  of  silver.  This 


508  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

is  emptied  out  of  the  manga  on  to  a  leather-covered  table,  and 
pressed  into  moulds  about  3  inches  thick,  of  such  a  shape  that  six 
of  them,  when  put  together  form  a  circular  cake,  with  a  hole  through 
the  middle.  Each  piece  (marquetd)  will  weigh  about  20  pounds. 
These  cakes  are  piled  up  into  a  column  on  a  grating  under  a  copper 
or  cast-iron  bell  (capellina)  about  3  feet  high,  18  inches  in  diameter, 
and  1J  inches  thick,  which  is  raised  or  lowered  by  a  capstan;  the 
base  of  this  fits  into  a  hollow  in  a  stone  or  iron  base-plate  through 
which  cold  water  is  constantly  kept  running.  An  annular  fire- 
place of  stone,  adobe,  or  iron,  is  built  round  the  bell  and  filled  with 
wood  or  charcoal,  which  is  fired  for  from  eight  to  twenty-four  hours. 
As  the  heat  volatilizes  the  mercury,  it  is  condensed  by  the  cold 
water  and  runs  through  an  iron  pipe  into  a  special  reservoir.  .  .  . 

"  From  2,000  pounds  of  amalgam  one  should  obtain  400  pounds 
of  silver,  almost  free  from  mercury.  The  silver  forms  a  porous 
spongy  mass;  it  is  generally  very  pure,  running  over  990  fine;  it  is 
fused  and  cast  into  bars,  and  the  greater  part  of  it  is  taken  to  the 
various  mints,  where  it  is  coined  into  Mexican  dollars. 

"  The  loss  of  mercury  in  retorting,  when  carefully  done,  is  very 
small,  sometimes  as  low  as  one  ounce  in  100  pounds.  Out  of  a  batch 
of  170  pounds  of  amalgam  which  the  writer  saw  retorted  in  flasks 
in  February,  1894,  the  loss  was  about  4  ounces." 

"  To-day,  in  the  adjoining  Loreto  mill  (to  the  Purisima)  of  the 
Real  del  Monte  Company/  the  process  has  reached  its  highest 
stage  of  development,  and  successfully  competes  with  other  pro- 
cesses for  the  extraction  of  silver  from  these  ores. 

"  As  employed  at  Loreto,  the  patio  process  enjoys  all  the  benefits 
of  modern  methods.  The  ore,  which  assays  1  to  1.25  kilograms  of 
silver  per  metric  ton  (29  to  36  ounces  per  ton  of  2,000  pounds)  and  5  to 
6  grams  of  gold  per  metric  ton  (0.14  to  0.17  ounces  per  ton),  is 
crushed  in  steel  Chilean  mills  and  passed  through  80-mesh  wire  cloth. 
Repeated  experiments  have  demonstrated  that  fine  grinding  is  one 
of  the  principal  factors  in  obtaining  a  high  extraction  of  silver. 
The  ore  from  the  Chilean  mills  is  concentrated  over  Johnston  tables; 
the  concentrate,  assaying  10  kilograms  (292  ounces)  of  silver  and 
60  grams  (1.74  ounces)  gold  per  ton,  and  containing,  therefore, 
35  per  cent  of  the  total  silver  and  gold  in  the  ore,  is  shipped  to 
Germany.  .  . 

"  The  residue,  assaying  800  grams  (23  ounce*)  of  silver  and  4 
grams  (0.12  ounces)  of  gold  per  ton,  is  treated  in  the  patio  in  the 
1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  79,  p.  564. 


EXTRACTION   OF  VALUES.  509 

usual  way  with  salt,  sulphate  of  copper  and  quicksilver.  The 
torta  is  laid  in  a  long  rectangle,  10  inches  thick,  and  resembles  in 
appearance  a  stretch  of  muddy  road.  Instead  of  horses,  plows 
operated  by  electric  motors  move  slowly  up  and  down  through  the 
torta,  turning  over  every  part  and  exposing  it  to  the  sun's  rays. 
The  extraction  is  90  per  cent  of  the  silver  and  30  per  cent  of  the 
gold  contained  after  the  first  concentration. 

"  After  amalgamation  in  the  patio,  the  residue  is  twice  concen- 
trated over  Wilfley  and  Johnston  tables,  the  final  concentrate, 
assaying  1.25  kilograms  (36  ounces)  of  silver  and  25  grams  (0.72 
ounces)  of  gold  per  ton,  being  shipped  to  Mexican  smelters.  The 
gold-silver  bullion  obtained  from  the  patio  is  parted  in  the  Loreto 
mill  with  sulphuric  acid,  the  silver  being  precipitated  by  copper. 
The  sulphuric  acid  is  manufactured  on  the  ground,  and  the  copper 
sulphate,  obtained  as  a  by-product,  is  used  in  the  patio.  .  .  . 

"  Electric  power  is  used  throughout  the  mill,  and  no  fuel  is  re- 
quired except  to  retort  the  silver  amalgam. 

"  It  is  not  unlikely  that  the  introduction  of  electric  power  will 
again  place  the  patio  process  in  the  front  rank  for  the  treatment  of 
clean  silver  ores  in  warm,  dry  climates  such  as  that  of  Mexico, 
where  there  is  a  scarcity  of  cheap  fuel;  and  the  rejuvenation  of  the 
process  in  Pachuca,  the  place  of  its  origin,  reflects  great  credit  on 
the  ability  of  the  metallurgists  of  that  district  to  adapt  themselves 
to,  and  make  the  fullest  use  of,  new  conditions." 

Plate  and  Barrel  Amalgamation.  —  These  processes  may  be 
included  in  stamp  mill  practice,  which  also  includes  inside-  and 
outside-plate  amalgamation,  or  both,  and  concentration  of  the 
sulphurets  by  blankets,  tables,  etc.  Descriptions  of  the  operations 
in  a  number  of  the  large  mines  of  the  United  States  are  given, 
which  will  serve  to  illustrate  a  variety  of  practice. 

Gold-milling  practice  as  exemplified  by  the  operations  in  the  gold 
belt  of  South  Dakota  is  described  by  T.  A.  Rickard  in  his  excellent 
paper  Gold-Milling  in  the  Black  Hills  and  at  Grass  Valley,  extracts  of 
which  are  given  herewith:  *  "  The  ore  is  dumped  at  the  shaft's  mouth 
into  the  rock-breakers.  At  the  time  of  Prof.  Hofman's  investiga- 
tions, all  the  Homestake  mills  were  using  the  Blake,  and  the  Cale- 
donia had  just  introduced  a  Gates  crusher.  Since  that  time  the 
Gates  has  replaced  the  Blake  rock-breaker  in  every  mill  on  the  Belt. 
Furthermore,  the  rock-breaker  is  now  placed  in  the  shaft  house  in- 
stead of  at  the  mill.  This  follows  the  tendencies  of  modern  practice 
1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  pp.  910,  918s  921  and  922,  1895. 


510 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


in  California,  where  the  crusher  at  the  mine  delivers  the  broken  ore 
to  the  tramway,  which  carries  it  to  the  mill,  or  sometimes  to  a  second 
rock-breaker.  The  latter  arrangement  relieves  the  stamps  of  the 
hard  work  of  stone  breaking,  facilitates  pulverization  in  the  mortar 
and  gives  uniform  conditions  more  favorable  to  successful  amalga- 
mation. .  .  . 

"  All  the  batteries  are  placed  upon  flat  sites  in  two  rows  back  to 
back,  save  at  the  Father  de  Smet,  where  two  rows  of  batteries  face 
each  other  and  discharge  toward  the  center  of  the  mill.  The  latter 
arrangement  gives  a  larger  storage  capacity  to  the  bins  overhead, 
but  this  advantage  is  obtained  at  the  greater  cost  of  darkening  the 
amalgamating-tables. 

"The  mortar  is  the  most  interesting  feature  of  the  Homestake 
mills.  The  changes  in  the  dimensions  made  since  1888,  the  date  of 
Prof.  Hof man's  paper,  are  as  follows: 


/ 

1888. 

1895. 

Weight  

5400  pounds 

7300  pounds 

Length  of  base  

54f  inches 

56f  inches 

Width  of  base  

27i      " 

28i      " 

Height  

54J      " 

58i      " 

Inside  width  at  the  level  of  the  lip 

13*      " 

12i      " 

"  The  Homestake  mortar  combines,  to  a  notable  degree,  the  two 
excellent  features  of  a  rapid  discharge  and  a  high  percentage  of 
amalgamation.  Its  width  at  the  issue  used  to  be  13J,  was  then 
diminished  to  13,  and  in  the  newest  design  is  12  inches.  The  depth, 
by  the  introduction  of  chuck-blocks,  is  raised  to  from  9  to  11  inches. 
The  mortar  becomes  thereby  both  narrower  and  deeper  than  the 
Californian  pattern,  its  narrowness  compelling  a  rapid  expulsion  of 
the  pulp,  and  giving  the  mill  a  capacity  nearly  twice  that  of  the 
average  Californian  battery  when  working  ore  of  similar  character. 
At  the  same  time  the  depth  of  the  mortar  prevents  the  scouring  of 
the  inside  plate,  and  permits  the  arrest  of  the  gold  by  this  plate, 
and  by  the  free  mercury  added  with  the  ore,  so  that  the  per- 
centage of  extraction  follows  closely  in  the  wake  of  the  roomy 
mortar  of  the  Colorado  mill,  the  crushing  capacity  of  which  is  only 
one-quarter  that  of  the  Homestake.  The  following  comparison  will 
be  of  interest: 


EXTRACTION  OF    VALUES. 


511 


COMPARISON  OF  TYPICAL  MILLS. 


Width  at 
Issue. 

Depth  of 
Discharge. 

Weight  of 
Stamp. 

Number 
of  Drops 
per 
Minute. 

Height  of 
Drop. 

Crushing 
Capacity 
per  Stamp 
per  24 
Hours. 

Golden  Star,  Dead- 
wood,  S.  Dakota 
Hidden    Treasure, 
Black        Hawk, 
Col. 

Inches. 
12* 
24 

Inches. 
9  to  11 

13  to  15 

Lbs. 
850 

550 

85 
30 

Inches. 
9i 
17 

Tons. 
4 

1 

North  Star,  Grass 
Valley,  Cal 

m 

4 

850 

84 

7 

11 

Pearl,      Bendigo, 
Australia  

15 

3i 

840 

74 

71 

2J 

"  It  will  be  seen  how  closely  the  crushing  capacity  is  related  to  the 
interior  width  of  the  mortar  at  the  level  of  the  issue.  Notwith- 
standing its  rapid  crushing,  the  Homestake  mortar  retains  a  per- 
centage of  the  total  gold  extracted  which  compares  well  with  any 
of  the  other  districts,  and  is  superior  to  some  of  them,  though  this 
factor  will  be  affected  by  the  variety  of  screen  in  use.  .  .  . 

"  The  process  of  gold-extraction  consists  of  amalgamation  within 
the  mortar  upon  outside  plates  and  in  traps,  supplemented  in  a 
rudimentary  way  by  an  inadequate  effort  to  concentrate  the  sulph- 
ides of  the  tailings. 

"  The  mortar  becomes  an  amalgamating  apparatus  by  the  use  of 
the  inside  copper  plate  and  the  addition  of  free  mercury.  About 
50  per  cent  of  the  total  amalgam  is  obtained  from  these  inside  plates. 
At  the  Deadwood-Terra  the  proportion  reaches  70  per  cent.  .  .  . 

"  On  issuing  from  the  battery  the  pulp  falls  from  6  to  10  inches 
before  striking  the  aprons  or  first  amalgamating-tables.  This  serves 
no  particular  purpose,  while  the  actual  damage  possible  to  the  plates 
by  the  scouring  of  their  surface  due  to  the  impact  of  the  pulp  is 
obviated  by  the  interposition  of  a  splash-board,  which  breaks  the 
fall  of  the  sand  and  water.  This  splash-board  might  be  placed  at 
such  an  angle  as  would  permit  of  its  use  as  an  amalgamating  device 
by  lining  it  with  a  copper  plate 

"In  the  Homestake  Company's  mills  the  aprons  are  10  feet  in  length 
and  4J  feet  wide.  Those  in  the  Highland  mill  are  only  8  feet  long. 
In  all  these  mills  two  apron-plates  deliver  the  pulp  to  one  tail-plate 
having  a  size  equal  to  one  apron.  At  the  Deadwood-Terra  the 
aprons  are  somewhat  larger,  namely,  11  feet  by  4  feet  8  inches, 


512  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

but  the  tail-plate  is  8  feet  long  and  only  16  inches  wide.  The  latter 
is  called,  very  appropriately,  a  sluice-plate,  and  is  a  truly  absurd 
devise  for  arresting  the  gold. 

"  In  the  Homestake  mills,  both  apron-  and  tail-plate  have  a  slope 
of  li  inches  per  foot,  the  minimum  gradient  at  which  the  tables  can 
clear  themselves  of  the  pulp.  Both  tail-plate  and  apron  are  dressed 
each  morning,  the  aprons  are  cleaned  up  partially  each  day,  and 
more  completely  deprived  of  their  amalgam  at  the  bi-monthly 
general  clean-up,  when  both  the  tail-plates  and  the  inside  mortar 
plates  are  gone  over. 

"  The  traps  are  intended  to  arrest  escaping  amalgam.  The  Golden 
Star  mill  has  two  at  the  head  of  the  tail-plate.  They  are  18  inches 
deep.  They  are  preceded  by  a  shallow  trap  or  riffle  2  inches  deep, 
which  is  stated  to  do  better  work  because  of  the  more  regular  passage 
of  the  pulp.  These  traps  catch  about  1  per  cent  of  the  total 
amalgam." 

Further  practice  in  gold-milling  is  given  in  the  excellent  paper  of 
R.  A.  Kinzie  on  the  Treadwell  Group  of  Mines,  Douglas  Island, 
Alaska.1  Extracts  of  this  paper  are  given  below :  "  The  character  of 
the  ores  on  Douglas  island  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  simple  methods 
of  extraction  in  use.  As  explained  above,  the  gold  is  contained  in 
an  altered  syenite  in  the  form  of  free  gold,  and  in  the  sulphides, 
the  principal  gold-bearing  minerals  being  iron  pyrites,  arsenopyrite, 
molybdenite  and  calcite.  The  ore  on  the  surface  has  been  subject 
to  little  oxidizing  action,  and,  perhaps,  that  on  the  lowest  level  is 
even  more  free-milling  than  that  in  the  surface-pits.  .  .  .  48.04  per 
cent  of  the  gold  is  caught  on  the  plates  by  amalgamation,  and  the 
balance,  or  51.96  per  cent,  is  contained  in  the  sulphurets  and 
tailings.  .  .  . 

"The  crushers  are  located  in  the  head-frames  of  the  various  mines, 
and  are  of  the  gyratory  type.  When  the  ore  is  hoisted  out  of  the  mine 
it  is  spilled  by  self-dumping  skips  on  to  a  grizzly  formed  by  1  inch 
by  10  foot  pieces  of  iron,  bolted  together  by  1  inch  iron  bars,  and 
placed  2  inches  apart  by  disc-shaped  pieces  of  cast-iron.  The 
over-size  from  the  grizzlies  goes  direct  to  the  crushers,  and  the  under- 
size  passes  through  and  falls  into  the  ore-bins  situated  directly 
beneath  the  crushers. 

"  Too  much  stress  cannot  be  laid  upon  the  great  effect  of  efficient 
crushing  as  related  to  the  duty  and  output  of  a  stamp  mill.  This 
is  particularly  true  on  the  island,  where  the  crushing  capacity  is  in 
1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  34,  pp.  362-382,  1904. 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  513 

excess  of  the  demand  and  where  there  is  abundant  water-power 
which  costs  practically  nothing.  During  the  past  year  the  duty 
of  the  mills  has  been  increased  over  1  ton  per  stamp  in  24  hours, 
and  without  a  doubt,  50  per  cent  of  this  increase  has  been  caused 
by  setting  the  crushers  to  break  the  rock  20  per  cent  smaller  than 
before.  An  efficient  crushing-plant  for  mines  similar  to  the  Tread- 
well  would  consist  of  four  Gates-crushers  arranged  in  pairs,  one 
above  the  other,  the  upper  to  be  of  such  a  size  that  they  would 
receive  rocks  18  by  36  inches,  and  the  lower  to  turn  out  a  product 
not  larger  than  1.5  inches  in  diameter.  The  rock  when  hoisted 
would  be  dumped  on  grizzlies  with  5-inch  spacing  between  bars: 
the  over-size  going  to  the  upper  crushers  and  the  under-size  falling 
on  a  second  grizzly  with  bars  set  1.5  inches  apart, — over-size 
going  to  the  lower  pair  of  crushers  and  under-size  passing  into  the 
storage-bins.  The  product  from  the  upper  pair  of  coarse  crushers 
to  be  spilled  on  a  grizzly  with  bars  1.5  inches  apart,  the  over-size 
going  to  the  lower  crusher  and  the  under-size  and  crushed  produce 
from  the  lower  crushers  falling  into  the  bin.  If  the  above  method 
were  used  it  would  do  away  with  a  great  deal  of  the  bull-dozing 
and  rock-breaking  in  the  mines,  making  a  very  appreciable  reduc- 
tion in  the  cost  of  mining.  .  .  . 

"  In  the  300-Treadwell  and  240-stamp  mills,  the  stamps  are 
arranged  back  to  back,  and  the  bottoms  of  the  bins  are  made  in 
the  shape  of  an  inverted  V,  so  that  the  ore  will  be  equally  divided 
and  fed  uniformly  to  the  stamps  on  either  side.  In  the  other 
mills,  where  the  stamps  are  arranged  in  a  single  row,  the  bottom  of 
the  ore  bins,  from  a  point  8  feet  below  the  track  is  given  a  slope  of 
45  degrees  to  the  open  ore-chutes  at  the  level  of  the  cam-floor. 
The  bins  are  double-boarded,  and  on  the  side  next  the  stamps 
are  lined  with  0.25-inch  steel-plate,  to  protect  them  from  the 
scouring  action  of  the  rock.  From  the  bins  the  ore  is  taken  out  by 
openings  at  the  level  of  the  cam-floor,  and  conveyed  by  chutes  to 
the  hoppers  of  the  Challenge-feeders.  There  is  one  chute  and 
feeder  for  each  five  stamps.  The  300-Treadwell,  Ready  Bullion, 
and  700-Foot  mills  are  provided  with  the  suspended  Challenge- 
feeders.  These  are  preferable  to  the  Standard  feeders,  being  more 
compact  and  very  accessible  for  repairs.  Both  types  are  central 
feeders,  the  bumper-rod  being  placed  next  to  the  central  stamp 
and  guided  in  the  usual  way. 

"  There  are  three  different  kinds  of  mortars  in  use  on  the  island. 
The  300-Treadwell,  Ready  Bullion,  and  700-Foot  mills  use  the 


514  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Eraser  and  Chalmers,  No.  67- A  type;  the  Mexican  uses  the  Fraser 
and  Chalmers  No.  67,  while  the  240-Treadwell  mills  uses  a  special 
mortar  made  by  Moran  Bros,  of  Seattle,  Wash.  End-  and  side-liners 
are  used  in  all  the  mills;  and  false  bottoms  are  used,  except  in  the 
240-Treadwell  mill,  where  the  die  rests  on  the  bottom  of  the  mortar. 
The  false  bottoms  and  liners  are  cast  at  the  company's  foundry, 
which  does  excellent  work.  The  false  bottoms  in  use  consist  of  a 
piece  of  cast-iron  3  inches  thick,  and  of  the  size  and  shape  of  the 
flange-portion  of  the  die.  Their  object  is  to  protect  the  bottom  of 
the  mortar  from  excessive  wear. 

"  The  stamps  in  the  300-Treadwell,  Ready  Bullion,  Mexican, 
and  700-Foot  mills,  weigh  1,020  pounds,  while  those  in  the  240- 
Treadwell  weigh  when  new  850  pounds.  The  stems,  tappets, 
boss-heads  and  shoes  are  joined  in  the  usual  manner.  The  Koppel 
shoe  is  used  in  all  the  mills.  A  shoe  lasts  3  months  and  crushes 
489  tons  of  ore,  which  means  that  0.27  pounds  of  iron  is  consumed 
per  ton  of  rock  crushed.  The  dies  are  cast  at  the  company's 
foundry  and  last  on  an  average  4.49  months,  crushing  732  tons  and 
consuming  0.16  pounds  of  iron  per  ton  crushed.  .  .  . 

"  The  free  gold  is  caught  both  inside  and  outside  of  the  mortars 
by  means  of  quicksilver.  There  is  a  diversity  of  opinion  among  the 
various  amalgamators  as  to  where,  when,  and  in  what  quantities 
the  quicksilver  should  be  fed.  The  result  of  a  series  of  tests  in  the 
various  mills  shows  that  the  quantity  of  quicksilver  fed  in  the  mortars 
and  on  the  plates  varies  directly  with  the  gauge  of  the  screen, 
and,  consequently,  with  the  coarseness  of  the  ore.  The  coarser 
the  crushing,  the  more  quicksilver  it  is  necessary  to  add  to  the 
mortars  to  make  any  saving  at  all. 

"  On  the  other  hand,  the  scouring  action  of  the  coarse  sands  on 
the  plates  necessitates  frequent  dressing  to  keep  them  well  coated 
with  quicksilver.  It  was  the  practice  up  to  1901  to  keep  the  plates 
very  wet,  and  even  though  the  crushing  was  much  finer  an  excessive 
amount  of  quicksilver  was  used;  .  .  .  although  the  tonnage  crushed 
per  stamp  has  shown  a  marked  increase,  the  quantity  of  quicksilver 
used  per  ton  is  only  about  one-half  the  quantity  formerly  used. 

"  The  only  amalgamated  copper-plates  used  inside  the  mortars 
are  the  chuck-blocks.  Two  sizes  are  used  at  present  (the  4-inch 
and  6-inch  in  height),  but  very  little  amalgam  is  collected  from 
them.  Formerly,  they  furnished  13.7  per  cent  of  the  amalgam 
collected,  but  since  the  fine  screens  were  replaced  they  collect 
practically  no  amalgam,  except  during  short  periods  in  the  winter 


EXTRACTION  OF   VALUES.  515 

when  salt  water  is  used.  At  these  times  the  chuck-blocks  become 
coated,  but  as  soon  as  fresh  water  is  again  used  the  amalgam  is 
scoured  off,  leaving  the  copper  bare. 

11  The  diagonal  slot-screens  which  are  used  in  all  the  mills  are  made 
of  No.  23-gauge  heavy  Russian  iron.  Both  the  No.  4  and  No.  5  are 
in  use,  these  being  equivalent  to  the  20  and  18-mesh  wire  screens, 
and  are  mounted  in  frames  in  the  usual  manner.  Two  widths  are 
used,  viz:  9-inch  and  12-inch,  —  the  former  giving  the  better  satis- 
faction. 

"  A  screen  lasts  about  seven  weeks  in  all  the  mills  except  the 
Ready  Bullion,  where  it  lasts  only  fifteen  days.  Salt  water  is  used 
in  this  mill,  and  the  corroding  action  seems  to  be  intensified  by  the 
scouring  of  the  sands  in  the  mortar,  which  keeps  the  inside  surface  of 
the  screen  bright,  thus  always  furnishing  a  fresh  surface  for  the 
action  of  the  water.  These  screens  do  not  wear  out  as  in  the 
other  mills,  but  become  brittle  and  break. 

"  Experiments  are  now  in  process  with  a  make  of  iron-wire  screen, 
but  they  have  not  advanced  far  enough  for  any  conclusion  to  be 
reached. 

"  The  motion  of  the  battery-water,  caused  by  the  falling  of  the 
stamps,  throws  the  pulp  against  the  screen,  and  all  particles  fine 
enough  pass  through  it  and  fall  on  the  lip  of  the  mortar.  At  the 
edge  of  the  lip  are  placed  two  dash-boards  arranged  in  steps  to  stop 
the  rush  of  the  water  and  sand,  and  cause  it  to  drop  in  a  steady 
flow  on  the  apron-plates,  which  are  placed  immediately  in  front  of 
the  lip  of  the  mortar,  with  the  upper  edge  under  the  lip.  This 
diminishes  the  scouring  action,  allowing  the  amalgam  to  collect 
near  the  upper  end  of  the  plate.  The  amalgam  here  is  kept  harder 
than  at  the  lower  end.  This  allows  the  lower  end  of  the  plate  to 
be  kept  quite  wet,  which  gives  a  better  chance  to  catch  the  finer 
particles  of  gold  that  otherwise  might  float  off. 

"  These  plates  are  made  of  the  Lake  copper,  -fa  in  thick,  4  feet 
wide,  10  feet  long,  and  are  given  a  fall  of  1.5  inches  to  the  foot.  The 
plates  are  prepared  in  the  usual  manner  by  cleaning  with  a  weak 
solution  of  potassium  cyanide  and  rubbing  in  quicksilver  until  the 
upper  surface  is  thoroughly  amalgamated.  While  in  use  they  are 
dressed  with  quicksilver  twice  a  day,  and  the  time  taken  for  dressing 
should  not  exceed  four  minutes  per  day. 

"  At  the  lower  end  of  each  plate  is  placed  a  wooden  trough  lined 
with  copper,  called  the  tail-box,  where  very  little  amalgam  is  caught. 
From  the  tail-boxes  the  pulp  is  conveyed  through  3-inch  pipes  to 


516  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

the  mercury-traps.  These  traps  are  made  of  cast-iron  in  the  shape 
of  a  four-slided  truncated  pyramid,  having  the  smaller  end  down. 
The  trap  is  14  inches  square  at  the  top,  15.5  inches  deep,  with  the 
lower  end  6  inches  square.  In  the  bottom  is  a  2 -inch  tap  closed  by 
a  plug  for  drawing  off  the  contents  when  cleaning  up.  Inside  the 
trap  is  a  block  14  by  8  inches  on  top,  11  inches  deep  and  8  by  8  inches 
on  the  bottom.  The  pulp  from  the  table  enters  the  trap  through 
a  3-inch  pipe  that  reaches  to  within  2  inches  of  the  bottom.  It  then 
flows  up  through  the  space  between  the  trap  and  the  wooden 
block,  and  thence  over  the  block  into  the  discharge-launders. 

"  These  boxes  are  usually  suspended  under  the  battery-floor 
and  from  them  the  pulp  flows  through  launders,  where  it  is  divided 
and  conveyed  by  3-inch  iron  pipes  to  the  distributing-boxes  of  two 
vanners. 

"  On  the  floor  of  the  distributing-box  of  each  vanner  is  placed  an 
amalgamated  copper-plate,  varying  with  the  size  of  the  vanner 
used,  those  on  the  4-foot  vanner  being  18  inches  by  3  feet  4.75  inches, 
and  on  the  6-foot  vanners  18  inches  by  5  feet  9  inches.  From  this 
plate  the  pulp  flows  over  the  vanner,  the  heavy  particles,  including 
sulphurets  and  some  free  gold,  being  saved,  while  the  lighter  pass 
over  the  tail  of  'the  vanner  into  the  tailings-launders,  which  discharge 
into  Gastineaux  channel  ....  48  per  cent  of  the  value  contained  in 
the  ore  is  recovered  by  concentration.  For  purposes  of  concentration 
two  sizes  of  Frue  vanners  are  used:  the  4-foot  and  6-foot.  These 
vanners  are  so  arranged  that  the  pulp  from  5  stamps  is  divided 
between  2  vanners.  This  style  of  concentrator  is  very  well  adapted 
to  the  ore.  .  .  ,  The  wear  and  tear  on  the  machines  is  very  light  in 
all  the  mills,  with  the  exception  of  the  Ready  Bullion,  where  the 
vanners  get  more  than  their  share  of  the  destructive  effects  of  salt 
water  in  use. 

"  When  a  stamp  is  crushing  5.6  tons  of  ore  in  24  hours,  each  stamp 
requires  4.25  gallons,  and  each  vanner  1.5  gallons,  of  water  per 
minute.  In  the  mills  where  the  4-foot  vanners  are  used  they  are 
overloaded.  This  accounts  for  both  sizes  of  vanners  using  the 
same  amount  of  water. 

"  There  is  a  little  less  than  2  per  cent  of  concentrates  in  the  ore. 
The  concentrated  product  has  a  value  of  about  $51  per  ton  in  all 
the  mills,  with  the  exception  of  the  Ready  Bullion,  where  the  concen- 
trates assay  about  $35  per  ton. 

"  In  connection  with  each  mill  is  a  storage-bin  for  concentrates, 
holding  about  400  tons.  These  bins  are  situated  near  the  mill, 


EXTRACTION   OF   VALUES.  517 

and  when  the  concentrates  have  been  collected  at  the  vanners  and 
shoveled  into  cars,  they  are  trammed  to  a  small  hydraulic  elevator 
which  raises  the  loaded  car  to  the  level  of  the  top  of  the  bin,  where 
it  is  dumped.  From  these  storage-bins  the  concentrates  are  drawn 
off  through  chutes  into  special  cars  holding  2.5  tons,  and  hauled  by 
locomotives  to  the  wharf,  where  they  are  dumped  through  chutes 
directly  into  the  hatches  of  the  barges  which  transport  the 
concentrates  to  the  Tacoma  Smelter,  where  it  is  treated.  .  .  . 

"  The  clean-up?  in  the  various  mills  are  all  conducted  in  the  same 
fashion,  and  are  so  regulated  that  they  will  be  finished  by  the  fifteenth 
of  each  month. 

"  The  first  day  of  the  clean-up  is  devoted  to  the  amalgam  traps, 
and  the  tank  in  the  amalgamating-room. 

"  To  clean  a  trap,  5  stamps  are  hung  up  and  the  feed-water  shut 
off.  When  the  pulp  has  ceased  to  flow  through  the  trap,  the  wedge 
that  holds  the  wooden  center-piece  is  loosened  and  the  center-piece 
removed,  first  being  carefully  washed  to  cleanse  it  of  any  adhering 
amalgam.  Then  the  tap  in  the  lower  end  is  opened  and  the  con- 
tents of  the  trap  allowed  to  flow  out  into  a  small  launder,  which 
conveys  the  material  to  a  central  tank.  The  trap  is  then  care- 
fully washed  out,  the  tap  and  wooden  center-piece  replaced,  and  it 
is  ready  for  use.  It  takes  an  average  of  5  minutes  to  clean  each 
trap.  When  all  the  traps  have  been  cleaned,  the  contents  of  the 
receiving-tanks  after  being  roughly  washed  is  collected  and  taken  to 
the  amalgamating-barrel  for  further  treatment.  In  the  meantime 
the  contents  of  the  tank  in  the  amalgamating-room  has  been  re- 
moved. This  is  added  to  the  product  from  the  mercury-traps,  and 
the  total  charged  into  the  amalgamating-barrel. 

"  This  barrel  is  made  of  cast-iron,  20  inches  in  diameter  and 
4  feet  long.  It  is  supported  in  a  horizontal  position  by  iron  trun- 
nions cast  in  the  head,  and  is  driven  at  the  rate  of  15  revolutions 
per  minute  by  a  belt  leading  to  one  of  the  vanner-counter  shafts. 

"  The  barrel  is  charged  through  a  hand-hole  in  the  top,  which  can 
be  hermetically  sealed;  from  300  to  500  pounds  of  ore  constituting 
a  charge.  From  75  to  125  ounces  of  mercury  is  then  added,  6  iron 
cannon-balls  put  in  to  act  as  grinders,  and  the  barrel  filled  with 
water.  The  hand-hole  cover  is  then  put  on,  and  the  barrel  started 
revolving.  The  charge  is  left  in  the  rotating-barrel  12  hours;  the 
barrel  is  then  opened  and  the  charge  allowed  to  run  out  into  the 
amalgamating-pan.  This  pan  is  made  of  cast-iron  4  feet  in  diameter. 
Around  the  edge,  with  the  exception  of  a  space  8  inches  wide,  to 


518  ^  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

serve  as  an  outlet,  is  a  rim  2.5  inches  high.  The  bottom  is  made 
slightly  concave  to  resemble  a  Mexican  batea.  The  concentrating 
motion  of  the  batea  is  imitated  as  closely  as  possible.  This  is  ob- 
tained by  means  of  an  eccentric  belt,  driven  from  one  of  the  counter- 
shafts of  the  mill.  When  the  barrel  is  stopped,  the  cannon-balls 
are  taken  out  and  put  in  the  pan,  which  is  immediately  started. 
By  the  motion  of  the  pan  the  heavy  contents  are  concentrated  in 
the  middle,  while  the  lighter  are  washed  off  by  means  of  a  stream  of 
water  flowing  through  it,  the  concentrated  product  being  kept  in 
motion,  and  at  the  same  time  ground,  by  means  of  the  cannon-balls. 

"  When  the  concentrate  is  cleaned  of  all  light  material  the  pan  is 
stopped  and  the  pieces  of  iron,  etc.,  removed.  The  amalgam  is 
then  put  in  a  pan,  the  finer  particles  of  iron  removed  by  means  of  a 
magnet,  and  the  other  foreign  material  by  a  sponge  or  other  means. 
When  the  amalgam  is  clean  it  is  put  in  small  cloth  bags  and  the 
quicksilver  pressed  out  by  means  of  a  hydraulic  ram,  designed  by 
one  of  the  mill-foremen.  The  pressed  cakes  of  amalgam  are  weighed 
and  sent  to  the  assay-office  to  be  retorted  and  melted  into  bullion. 

"  The  second  and  succeeding  days  are  devoted  to  the  cleaning  of 
the  batteries  and  amalgamating-plates.  These  are  cleansed  at  the 
rate  of  4  batteries  of  5  stamps  per  day.  (In  the  Treadwell  300- 
stampr  mill,  5  batteries  are  cleaned  per  day.) 

"  To  clean  up  a  battery  the  feed  is  shut  off,  and  the  stamps  allowed 
to  drop  until  they  begin  to  pound  on  iron,  then  they  are  hung  up. 
The  water  is  then  shut  off,  and  the  splash-boards,  curtains,  screens 
and  check-blocks  are  removed.  The  water  remaining  in  the  mor- 
tar is  dipped  out,  and  the  coarse  sand  around  the  top  of  the  dies 
shoveled  into  buckets  to  be  put  back  into  the  mortar  when  the 
clean-up  is  over.  The  lip  of  the  mortar  and  the  plates  are  then 
carefully  hosed  off  (a  trough  being  first  put  in  the  tail-box  to  catch 
any  loose  amalgam)  and  the  entire  surface  of  the  plate  covered  by 
a  wooden  cover  for  steaming.  A  space  of  0.75  inch  is  left  between 
the  cover  and  the  plate  by  means  of  three  slats  0.75  inches  thick 
nailed  to  the  bottom  of  the  cover.  Sacks  or  other  coverings  are 
placed  over  the  ends  and  edges  to  prevent  the  escape  of  steam;  the 
end  of  a  steam-hose  is  then  introduced  through  a  hole  in  the  cover, 
the  steam  turned  on  and  allowed  to  remain  so  from  20  to  30  min- 
utes. In  the  meantime  a  second  battery  is  prepared,  and  any 
renewals  made  ready,  so  that  no  time  will  be  lost  when  the  mortar 
is  cleaned  out.  While  the  plate  is  being  steamed  the  chuck-biock 
is  cleaned  of  any  adhering  amalgam,  recoated  with  quicksilver 


EXTRACTION   OF  VALUES.  519 

and  is  ready  to  be  replaced;  while  the  sand-distributing  box  on 
the  vanners,  corresponding  to  the  batteries  shut  down,  are  taken 
off  and  the  amalgam  removed  from  the  copper-plate  by  means  of 
chisels.  This  amalgam  is  collected,  the  plates  dressed  in  the  usual 
manner,  the  distributing-box  replaced,  and  the  vanner  is  ready  for 
starting.  When  the  plate  has  been  sufficiently  steamed,  the  steam 
is  shut  off,  and  the  cover  removed  and  taken  to  the  next  plate  that 
has  already  been  prepared  for  its  reception.  The  steamed  plate 
is  then  allowed  to  cool  for  a  few  seconds,  when  the  operation  of 
removing  the  amalgam  commences.  This  is  done  by  scraping  the 
plates  with  sharp  chisels,  and  as  much  amalgam  as  possible  is 
removed  without  exposing  the  copper.  The  amalgam  is  then  col- 
lected, taken  to  the'  amalgamating  room  and  locked  up  for  further 
treatment. 

"  Two  men  now  begin  work  on  the  mortar,  and  to  protect  the 
plates  a  wooden  platform  is  placed  at  the  head  for  the  men  to  stand 
on.  If  there  are  no  renewals  necessary  (but  this  is  unusual)  only 
a  portion  of  the  sand  is  taken  out.  If  necessary  the  shoes  are 
removed  by  driving  a  wedge  through  the  eye  left  in  the  boss-head 
just  above  the  end  of  the  shank  of  the  shoe  and  forcing  it  out.  The 
sand  is  then  dug  out  of  the  mortar  by  means  of  sharp-pointed  hand- 
picks  and  scoops,  the  die  and  liners  removed,  and  the  mortar 
thoroughly  cleaned.  All  pieces  of  iron,  together  with  the  worn-out 
shoes  and  dies  and  liners,  are  taken  to  the  amalgamating-room  to  be 
thoroughly  cleaned,  and  the  heavy  sand  taken  to  the  clean-up 
barrel. 

"  The  liners  and  false  bottoms  are  then  put  in  and  the  die  set  on 
the  false  bottom,  while  the  fine  sand  first  removed  from  the  mortar 
is  tamped  around  the  die  to  hold  it  in  place.  The  shoe  is  then  set 
on  the  top  of  the  die  with  a  collar  of  wooden  shims  around  its  neck. 
A  3.25-inch  block  is  then  placed  on  the  top  of  the  neck  of  the  shoe, 
and  the  stamp  lowered  until  the  boss-head  rests  on  the  block.  The 
keys  of  the  tappets  are  loosened,  and  the  tappet  is  allowed  to  fall 
down  to  the  finger,  where  the  keys  are  tightened.  If  the  shoe  has 
been  removed  a  9.25-inch  block  is  placed  on  top  of  the  die  and  the 
tappets  set  as  above.  Each  stamp  is  then  successively  dropped  and 
hung  up,  when  the  shoe  is  firmly  fixed  in  the  boss-head.  The 
recesses  for  the  chuck-block,  screens,  etc.,  are  washed  out,  and  the 
chuck-block,  screens  and  dash-boards  put  in  place.  The  plate  is 
then  washed  with  a  weak  solution  of  cyanide,  when  quicksilver  is 
sprinkled  over  its  surface  and  thoroughly  rubbed  in  with  whisk 


520  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

brooms.  The  quicksilver  is  evenly  distributed  by  rubbing  with 
cloths  moistened  with  a  weak  solution  of  cyanide.  Some  ore  is 
now  fed  into  the  mortar,  working  the  feeder  by  hand,  the  water 
turned  on,  the  small  clean-up  trough  removed  from  the  tail-box 
and  the  stamps  allowed  to  drop.  Particular  care  is  paid  to  the 
feeding  of  ore  when  the  stamps  are  started,  as  the  mortar  is  empty 
of  all  ground  material. 

"  The  heavy  sands  from  the  mortar  are  treated  in  the  clean-up 
barrel  in  the  manner  described  above,  while  the  amalgam  removed 
from  the  plates  and  chuck-blocks  is  simply  ground  in  the  clean-up 
pan  and  the  amalgam  cleaned  in  the  usual  manner." 
.  In  order  that  the  reader  may  familiarize  himself  with  the  practice 
in  other  localities,  the  following  references  are  given:  l 

The  following  brief  summary  of  pan  amalgamation  is  given  in 
Gold  Amalgamation  and  Concentration : 2 

"  After  copper-plate  amalgamation,  the  next  simplest  and  most 
economical  process  is  that  of  pan  amalgamation,  which  is  adopted 
either  on  the  raw  or  roasted  ore.  Usually  roasting  of  gold  ores  is 
unsatisfactory  as  a  preparation  for  amalgamation,  and  puts  part  of 
the  gold  in  a  condition  most  unfavorable  for  allowing  contact  with 
the  quicksilver;  besides  involving  often  a  loss  of  gold  in  the  actual 
roasting,  sometimes  even  to  a  very  marked  extent.  In  roasting 
some  gold  ores  it  is  found  advantageous  to  add  a  small  percentage 
of  salt  to  the  charge,  but  on  other  ores  this  increases  largely  the 
loss  of  gold  by  volatilization. 

"  In  some  exceptional  ores,  where  there  are  practically  no  base 
metals  present,  roasting  can  be  adopted  without  these  ill  effects; 
but  even  then  its  commercial  advantages  must  be  carefully  con- 
sidered. The  roasting  operation  is  frequently  effective  in  softening 
and  cracking  the  hardest  rock  particles,  so  as  to  facilitate  grinding 
in  the  pan,  and  consequently  improving  the  amalgamation.  This 
is  also  found  to  be  the  case  in  preparing  a  free  ore  for  chlorination, 
as  the  gas  will  better  penetrate  the  particles  and  attack  the  im- 
bedded gold. 

"  The  old  fashioned  stone  arrastra,  though  slow,  is  an  excellent 

1  ARIZONA— T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  130, 1895;  CALIFORNIA— T.  A.  I.  M.  E., 
Vol.  24,  p.  208;    COLORADO  —  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  78,  p.  911.  Bull;  Colo. 
School  Mines,  Jan.  1905,  and  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  27,  p.  341 ;   MONTANA  — 
Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  26,  p.  492;    NEVADA  —  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  81, 
p.  1236;     SOUTH  DAKOTA  — T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  17,  p.  498. 

2  Gold  Amalgamation  and   Concentration,  JIcDennott   and   Duffield,  1890, 
pp.  25,  26,  27,  83-86. 


EXTRACTION   OF   VALUES.  521 

amalgamator  of  fine  gold;  and  there  are  circumstances  in  which 
this  simple  and  readily-built  machine  is  well  worth  the  considera- 
tion of  the  millman  on  either  raw  or  roasted  ores,  as  giving  a  greater 
efficiency  than  an  iron  pan. 

"  The  raw  pan  amalgamation  is  conducted  either  by  the  old  tank 
system,  or  by  the  modern  continuous  process.  In  the  former,  the 
crushed  ore  is  run  into  large  shallow  settling  tanks,  which  are  dug 
out  by  hand  and  charged  into  the  separate  pans;  while  in  the  con- 
tinuous process,  the  pulp  runs  through  a  line  of  pans  and  settlers 
connected  by  pipes,  so  that  no  handling  or  settling  of  the  pulp  is 
required.  .  .  . 

"  Pan  amalgamation  is  effective  chiefly  on  native  gold,  native 
silver,  chloride  of  silver,  and  simple  sulphide  of  silver.  When  the 
silver  is  in  combination  with  sulphides,  antimonides,  arsenides,  and 
tellurides  of  the  baser  metals,  the  pan  process  becomes  ineffective 
and  expensive.  By  contact  with  iron  surfaces,  heat,  and  the  addi- 
tion of  some  chemicals  —  chiefly  salt  and  sulphate  of  copper  — 
partial  decomposition  of  the  complex  minerals  is  effected,  ancl  some 
of  the  silver  amalgamated;  but  the  wear  of  iron,  loss  of  quick- 
silver, cost  of  power  and  chemicals,  and  the  production  of  base 
bullion,  together  go  far  to  neutralize  the  gain  made  in  recovery  of 
the  silver.  In  such  cases  a  great  benefit  is  derived  from  combining 
concentration  with  amalgamation  for  the  two  processes  are  appli- 
cable to  different  minerals.  The  light  flocculent  chlorides  and  sul- 
phides of  silver  can  be  amalgamated  to  a  high  percentage,  while 
concentration  is  almost  useless  on  them  in  the  form  they  exist  in  a 
free  or  decomposed  ore.  On  the  other  hand,  concentration  can  be 
made  very  effective  on  the  undecomposed  complex  minerals,  for 
which  amalgamation  is  ill  adapted. 

"  There  are  two  methods  of  combining  the  processes  according  to 
their  order,  i.e.,  whether  the  pans  are  used  first  or  the  concentrators. 
In  either  case,  the  Boss  continuous  process  of  pan  amalgamation 
is  much  more  convenient  and  economical  than  the  old  settling 
tank  and  intermittent  charge  system.  The  former  process,  as  is 
well  known,  consists  in  placing  pans  and  settlers  in  a  row  on  one 
level,  connecting  them  all  by  short  pipes,  feeding  the  pulp  continu- 
ously into  the  first  pan  of  the  series,  and  allowing  it  to  discharge 
continuously  from  the  last  settler.  Its  advantages  consist  in  economy 
of  space  and  labor  and  the  dispensing  with  the  trouble  of  settling 
tanks;  and,  in  connection  with  concentration  after  amalgamation, 
its  great  superiority  lies  in  its  continuous  operation,  as  insuring  a 


522  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

regular  feed  to  the  concentrators,  which  is  all  important,  and  almost 
impossible  to  obtain  from  the  intermittent  settler  discharge  of  the 
old  tank  process.  When  concentrators  are  used  before  the  pans, 
the  tank  system  can  be  used,  as  well  as  if  the  stamps  discharge 
direct  to  the  tanks;  but  the  continuous  amalgamation  of  the  tailings 
of  the  concentrators,  if  the  Boss  system  be  used,  would  simplify  the 
adoption  of  the  pointed  box  system  of  automatic  settling. 

"  In  regard  to  the  relative  advantages  of  the  two  orders  of  succes- 
sion, it  may  be  briefly  stated  that  concentration  before  amalgama- 
tion is  the  natural  method,  because  it  relieves  the  pans  of  the  base 
minerals,  which  are  a  disadvantage  in  the  amalgamation,  and  the 
subsequent  concentration  of  which  is  made  more  difficult  by  the 
grinding  or  attrition  of  the  minerals  in  the  pans.  The  only  argument 
against  the  universal  adoption  of  this  order  rests  on  the  disadvan- 
tage of  sometimes  having  native  metals  (and  some  chlorides  and 
sulphides)  enter  the  concentrations,  instead  of  appearing  as  bullion, 
which  they  otherwise  would  do;  and  also  that  very  perfect  settling 
of  the  slimes  from  the  concentration  tailings  is  necessary  to  prevent 
loss  of  flakey  silver  chlorides  and  sulphides.  Where  the  free  metal 
is  gold,  the  first-named  disadvantage  can  be  overcome  by  using 
copper  plates  before  the  concentrators,  and  this  process  was  adopted 
by  the  Montana  Company  with  great  success,  after  first  trying  pans 
before  the  concentrators.  The  change  in  the  order  of  working  by 
the  Montana  Company  has  been  productive  of  a  considerable  gross 
increase  in  percentage  extracted  from  the  ore,  a  reduction  of  one- 
half  in  the  loss  of  quicksilver,  and  a  saving  in  the  wear  of  pan-castings, 
fuel,  and  chemicals;  as  well  as  the  production  of  a  higher  grade  of 
bullion.  In  this  company's  50-stamp  mill,  the  tailings  of  the 
concentrators  run  into  the  usual  settling  tanks  because  the  Boss 
process  is  not  employed." 

The  Freiberg  or  German  barrel  process  was  employed  at  an 
early  date  in  amalgamating  gold  and  silver  ores,  especially  the 
former,  in  the  United  States.  The  ores  treated  were  raw  or  roasted, 
but  when  operating  upon  sulphurets  it  was  the  usual  practice  to 
roast  them.  A  charge  of  about  300  pounds  of  finely  ground  ore 
was  mixed  with  water  until  a  consistency  of  cream  was  obtained. 
Salt,  iron  pyrites,  scrap  iron  and  mercury  were  added  and  the  whole 
put  into  a  strong  barrel,  which  was  revolved  at  a  fairly  rapid  rate 
for  a  period  of  some  fourteen  hours.  At  the  end  of  the  period  the 
silver  and  mercury  united  forming  an  amalgam,  which  could  •  be 
readily  separated  from  the  mud  by  washing.  It  is  evident  then  that 


EXTRACTION  OF   VALUES.  523 

the  barrel  process  necessitated  fine  crushing  apparatus  and  consider- 
able machinery.  Further,  the  labor  required  was  relatively  great 
while  the  work  done  was  small.  The  barrel  wore  out  rapidly  and 
had  to  be  replaced  frequently.1 

"The  clean-up  barrel  of  to-day  is  practically  the  only  surviving 
remnant  of  the  Freiberg  process,  being  used  to  complete  the  amal- 
gamation of  stamp  battery  residues  and  other  similar  materials. 

Concentration  —  Cripple  Creek  and  Coeur  d'Alene  Practice.  —  The 
concentration  of  ores  is  essential  to  their  economical  treatment 
being  more  necessary  with  the  low-  than  the  high-grade  ores.  The 
work  of  concentration  should  begin  underground  when  practicable, 
which>  with  surface  sorting,  may  be  sufficient  to  prepare  an  ore  for 
shipment  to  smelting  works  or  may  serve  as  the  preliminary  work 
to  more  extended  subsequent  wet  or  dry  treatment. 

The  treatment  of  the  sulphurets,  resulting  from  stamp-milling, 
by  jigs,  buddies,  tables,  both  shaking  or  bumping  and  canvas,  was 
largely  employed  in  the  early  days  of  mining  in  California  and 
other  Western  states  and  is  still  common  practice.  However,  with 
the  adoption  of  the  improved  forms  of  mills,  such  as  the  ball  and 
tube  mills  and  the  introduction  of  the  chlorination  and  cyaniding 
processes,  the  methods  of  milling  the  ores  of  the  precious  metals 
have  been  considerably  changed. 

The  following  described  methods  employed  in  the  Cripple  Creek 
district  are  taken  from  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  Report, 
Professional  Paper,  No.  54  :* 

"  In  treatment  and  sorting  of  the  ore  at  the  mines  various  plans 
have  been  adopted.  The  general  occurrence  of  friable  tellurides  in 
cracks  and  fissures  forms  the  principle  upon  which  the  sorting  and 
separation  is  based.  'The  fines  are  invariably  much  richer  than  the 
coarse  stuff,  and  the  separation  of  the  two  classes  becomes  of 
importance.  The  ore  is  usually  broken  on  plank  floors  with  canvas 
underneath  to  avoid  loss  of  the  fine  material.  A  rough  preliminary 
sorting  is  effected  in  the  mine  —  at  least  in  places  where  wide  stopes 
are  being  operated.  The  further  treatment  varies  in  the  different 
mines.  Very  rich  ore  containing  from  4  ounces  upward  is  usually 
sacked  and  sent  to  the  smelters.  At  the  Portland  mine  the 
following  process  is  adopted,  the  scheme  being  outlined  in  the 

1  Mineral  Resources  of  the  West,  1867,  p.  29,  and  the  Mining  and  Metallurgy 
of  Gold  and  Silver,  J.  A.  Phillips,  pp.  386-387,  1867. 

2  Geology  and  Gold  Deposits  of  the  Cripple  Creek  Districts,  Colorado  U.  S.  G.  S., 
Professional  Paper,  No.  54,  pp.  136-137,  1906. 


524  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

eighth   annual   report  of  the   company  by   Mr.  Charles  J.   Moore 
formerly  its  consulting  engineer,  as  follows: 

"  The  ore  from  the  various  stopes  is  not  separated  but  dumped 
in  two  bins  after  passing  over  1-inch  grizzlies.  The  hand  sorting 
is  done  at  six  tables  with  four  men  at  each.  The  waste  from  the 
sorting  slides  down  over  an  incline  15-  by  4-foot  sheet-iron  plate 
perforated  with  half-inch  holes  and  is  continually  sprayed  in  order 
to  wash  off  the  fines.  Before  going  to  the  dump  the  waste  from  the 
washer  is  finally  picked  over  on  a  belt  conveyer. 

"  At  the  Mary  McKinney  mine  the  ore  from  the  stopes  is  shoveled 
into  a  Crane  washer,  a  local  invention  composed  of  a  46-inch  by 
15-foot  trommel  with  three-fourths  inch  holes,  separating  out  the  dry 
fines.  The  coarse  is  discharged  into  a  smaller  strongly  inclined  and 
perforated  trommel  about  15  feet  long,  the  near  end  partly  sub- 
merged in  a  tank  of  water.  By  this  device  the  ore  is  washed,  the 
fines  falling  into  the  tank  and  the  coarse  being  carried  up  by  means 
of  an  endless  screw  and  discharged  at  the  'higher  end  of  the  trommel 
on  a  conveyor  belt  50  feet  long  and  20  inches  wide,  on  which  the  ore 
is  sorted  by  five  men.  The  capacity  is  said  to  be  100  tons  per  eight 
hours. 

"  At  the  El  Paso  mine  ten  bins  are  used  and  the  ores  from  various 
stopes  are  kept  apart.  The  classification  is  effected  by  two  or  three 
parallel  screens  under  a  protecting  3-  by  15-foot  grizzly,  with  bars  4 
inches  apart.  The  first  screen  has  one-inch  perforation,  the  second 
three-fourths  inch.  The  dry  fines  below  three-fourths  inch  average 
$75  per  ton,  those  between  one  inch  and  three-fourths  inch  $25. 
From  each  bin  the  ore  slides  down  on  a  sorting  table,  while  sprays 
wash  off  the  remaining  fines,  which  are  collected  in  tanks.  These 
fines  are  of  very  high  value.  Ten  sorters  are  employed.  The  pres- 
ent output  (March,  1904)  is  50  tons  per  day. 

"  In  former  years  the  sorting  of  the  ore  was  much  neglected,  as 
evidenced  by  the  numerous  rich  dumps  in  the  camp.  Even  now  the 
arrangement  at  many  mines  is  imperfect. 

"  The  cost  of  mining  is,  as  a  rule,  very  high,  though  few  accurate 
data  are  available  on  this  subject.  Mr.  J.  R.  Finlay,  the  former 
manager  of  the  Portland  mine,  makes  the  following  statement, 
which  is  well  worth  quoting: 

"  '  A  study  of  the  situation  shows  that  these  high  costs  result  from 
the  amount  and  character  of  the  waste  that  must  be  handled  with 
the  ore.  As  is  well  known,  the  largest  ore-bodies  of  Cripple  Creek 
are  not  solid  masses  of  uniformly  valuable  mineral,  but  contain 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  525 

volumes  of  rock  into  which  the  gold-bearing  solutions  have  pene- 
trated along  multitudes  of  crevices.  The  problem  of  getting  the  best 
results  in  such  veins  is  essentially  one  of  concentrating  the  values. 
The  peculiar  character  of  the  ore  renders  concentration  difficult,  if 
not  impossible,  by  any  method  other  than  hand  sorting.'  Ordi- 
narily the  concentration  of  ores  may  be  effected  cheaply  by  mechan- 
ical means,  depending  on  the  difference  in  specific  gravity  between 
the  valuable  and  the  worthless  minerals.  In  the  case  of  Cripple 
Creek  ores  this  difference  can  not  be  depended  upon.  When  the 
rock  is  blasted,  a  large  part  of  the  valuable  material  in  the  seams  is 
reduced  to  an  extremely  fine  powder,  practically  the  lightest  part  of 
the  mass;  another  part  of  the  values  will  adhere  to  the  rocks,  while 
another  small  part  is  probably  heavier  than  the  average.' ' 

Further  details  of  gold  and  silver  milling  methods  are  given  in  the 
description  of  stamp-milling  practice  under  the  head  of  Plate  Amal- 
gamation. 

The  concentration  previously  described  was  that  applied  especially 
to  the  sulphurets  resulting  from  stamp-milling  gold  and  silver  ores. 
Under  the  present  heading  the  treatment  of  lead-silver  ores  is  dealt 
with  in  particular. 

Probably  the  best  illustration  of  the  practice  in  concentrating 
lead-silver  ores  is  that  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene  region,  Idaho.  Extracts 
from  J.  R.  Finlay's  paper  on  the  Mining  Industry  of  the  Coeur 
d'Alene,  Idaho,  are  given  below: l 

"  The  process  employed  is  substantially  the  same  at  all  the  mines 
and  consists  of  coarse  crushing  and  separation  by  jigs.  Most  of  the 
ores  contain  the  galena  in  segregated  streaks  of  practically  clean 
material,  which  separates  under  crushing,  and  is  easily  caught. 
The  difficulty  increases  greatly  when  the  galena  is  intimately  mixed 
with  iron  carbonate,  zinc-blende  and  quartz.  Such  ores  require 
much  finer  crushing,  and  the  use  of  a  much  greater  number  of 
vanners,  buddies,  shaking  tables,  etc.,  to  separate  the  slimes.  The 
following  description  of  the  process  at  the  Standard  mill  will  serve 
as  a  concrete  example  of  the  best  current  practice: 

"  The  crude  ore  from  the  mine  is  dumped  from  railroad  cars  into 
a  bin  of  about  600  tons'  capacity,  whence  it  is  fed  by  gravity  to  a 
No.  5  Gates  crusher,  which  reduces  it  to  something  over  one  inch 
diameter.  From  the  crusher  a  15-inch  belt  conveyor  carries  it  to 
another  bin,  whence  it  passes  by  gravity  to  the  roughing-rolls, 
which  reduce  it  to  pieces  of  J  to  §  inch  in  diameter.  From  the 
1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  256-270,  1903. 


526  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

roughing-rolls  it  is  elevated  to  a  double  set  of  trommel-screens, 
which  size  it  into  an  '  oversize  7  of  more  than  15  millimeters  diameter, 
and  into  sizes  which  pass  through  15,  10,  7  and  3  millimeter  screens. 
The  fines  which  pass  the  3  millimeter  screens  are  not  jigged,  but  go 
at  once  to  V-boxes  or  hydraulic  classifiers.  The  slimes  passing  over 
the  V-boxes  go  to  settling-tanks,  where  the  heavier  material  is 
caught  and  sent  to  Wilfley  tables  and  Frue  vanners.  All  the  tail- 
ings from  Wilfleys  and  vanners,  together  with  the  overflow  from  the 
settling-tanks,  go  to  a  '  canvas  '  plant  of  52  tables  of  6  square  yards 
each.  Material  caught  on  the  canvas-tables  is  reconcentrated  on 
two  Wilfley  tables. 

"  Returning  to  the  coarse  material  classified  by  the  trommels,  the 
oversize,  or  what  passes  over  the  15  millimeter  screens,  goes  to  the 
coarse  or  '  bull '  jigs,  and  what  passes  through  the  15,  10  and  7  milli- 
meter screens  goes  to  finer  jigs. 

"  Part  of  the  tailings  from  the  coarse  jigs  is  retained  as  '  mid- 
dlings,' to  be  further  treated,  and  part  is  allowed  to  go  directly  to  the 
creek  as  worthless.  The  middlings  thus  saved  are  passed  through 
fine  rolls,  and  then  to  Huntington  mills,  which  reduce  the  pulp 
until  it  passes  a  40-mesh  screen. 

"  The  finer  jigs,  i.e.,  the  15,  10,  7  and  5  millimeter  jigs,  also  select 
a  percentage  of  '  middlings,'  which  are  likewise  passed  through  fine 
rolls,  in  three  sets,  according  to  the  coarseness  of  the  material. 
Thence  this  material  passes  to  the  '  middling '  jigs,  which  take  out 
some  clean  ore.  All  of  the  tailings  from  these  '  middling '  jigs  are 
reground  in  another  set  of  Huntingtons  to  40-mesh.  All  the  ma- 
terial ground  by  the  Huntington  mills  goes  to  the  Wilfley  tables 
and  Frue  vanners  with  the  slimes  from  the  settling  tanks  and 
V-boxes  above  described. 

"  This  mill  concentrates  about  500  tons  of  crude  ore  per  day. 
Its  machinery  consists  of  the  following:  A  No.  5  Gates  crusher; 
twTo  15-inch  belt-conveyors;  six  sets  of  15-inch  by  26-inch  belt- 
rolls;  four  5-foot  Huntington  mills;  twenty-eight  Hartz  jigs, 
arranged  in  14  pairs;  2  lines  of  trommels;  an  '  oversize '  trommel, 
for  middlings;  4  elevators;  18  Wilfley  tables;  three  4-foot  Frue 
vanners,  and  52  canvas  tables. 

"  Power  for  the  main  mill  is  derived  from  two  Pelton  wheels,  one 
of  4-foot  diameter  under  a  32-foot  head,  and  one  of  6-foot  diameter 
under  235-foot  head.  A  third  (24-inch)  Pelton,  under  235-foot 
head,  runs  a  dynamo  for  electric  lighting,  and  a  fourth  runs  the 
.Gates  crusher." 


UNiVtKbl  i 


Y 
EXTRACTION   OF   VALUES.  527 


METALLURGY. 

Pyritic  Smelting  —  Process  and  Practice.  —  Ores  can  be  decreased 
in  bulk  by  water  and  fire  concentration.  The  former  method  is  often 
rendered  impossible  or  impracticable,  as  where  a  partial  concentra- 
tion has  been  effected  by  natural  means.  Rich  sulphide  ores  may  be 
both  decreased  in  bulk  and  increased  in  value  by  fire  concentration  as 
results  in  matte  smelting.  Ores  suitable  for  smelting  may  be  grouped 
into  two  general  classes,  namely,  smelting  ores,  i.e.,  ores  contain  base 
metals  in  considerable  quantities,  and  dry  ores,  or  those  containing 
little  or  no  base  metals  —  the  precious  metals  predominating. 

"  When  lead,  copper  or  zinc  were  present  in  the  ores  in  any 
considerable  quantity  they  became  so  rebellious  that  amalgamation 
was  out  of  the  question,  and  smelting,  with  its  necessary  adjunct  of 
concentration,  became  necessary.  As  the  dressed  ores  were  rich, 
and  contained  a  large  product  condensed  into  a  small  one,  and  as 
this  product  was  usually  sold,  sampling  works  sprung  up,  in  which  the 
value  of  a  large  quantity  of  ore  was  carefully  ascertained  by  processes 
more  or  less  mechanical,  in  which,  as  rapidity  of  execution  as  well  as 
correctness  of  results  were  necessary,  a  number  of  tools  for  reducing 
the  ore  to  powder  now  generally  used  were  invented. 

"  The  first  attempts  at  smelting,  as  they  were  usually  conducted 
by  persons  of  no  great  experience,  were  not  very  successful.  In 
fact,  the  early  history  of  the  now  very  successful  American  methods 
is  a  record  of  failures.  When  the  smelting  of  silver  ores  became  a 
necessity,  English  methods  were  first  introduced  by  the  Cornish 
miners,  only  a  few  of  the  German  and  Swedish  furnaces  being  used. 
But  as  the  English  type  of  furnaces  requires  a  considerable  amount 
of  good  fuel,  of  a  kind  not  generally  found  in  the  West,  and  the  use 
of  wood  in  them  requires  great  skill,  shaft  furnaces  gradually  took 
their  place,  for  the  most  part  for  treating  ores  containing  gold, 
copper,  silver,  and  lead  by  smelting.  Some  of  the  processes  adopted 
from  the  old  works  in  Europe  found  themselves  in  circumstances 
where  the  conditions  of  transportation,  labor,  or  fuel  were  such  that 
they  could  not  compete  with  other  districts,  so  that  they  gradually 
disappeared,  and  were  succeeded  by  the  same  processes  in  a  new 
dress  or  in  a  new  phase  to  such  an  extent  that  the  plant  and  the 
process,  as  it  is  now  used  in  the  West,  would  hardly  be  recognized 
by  their  inventors.  Little  by  little  it  was  ascertained  that  when  the 
ore  contained  any  volatile  material,  although  it  might  be  in  small 
quantities,  it  would  carry  off  with  it  very  considerable  portions  of  the 


528  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

precious  metal;  and  then  arose  the  idea  of  condensing  chambers, 
until  gradually,  without  any  one  person  having  invented  them, 
the  methods  have  grown  into  the  simple  and  very  beautiful  pro- 
cesses which  are  now  in  use  in  the  West.1  .  .  . 

"  Every  kind  of  furnace  for  roasting  was  invented  and  tried. 
These  were  usually  some  kind  of  reverberatory  furnace,  and  were 
the  subject  of  a  large  number  of  patients,  and  were  altered  and 
modified  with  more  or  less  permanent  success.  Attempts  were 
made  to  make  the  work  wholly  mechanical  by  the  use  of  revolving 
cylinders  into  which  the  ore  and  salt  were  charged  by  machinery, 
in  order  to  get  rid  of  the  difficult  hand  labor  required  and  the 
necessary  exposure  to  fumes  in  roasting  in  ordinary  reverberatory 
furnaces.  A  few  of  these  survive  in  the  Bruckner  and  Teates  fur- 
naces, but  as  a  general  thing  the  cost  of  repairs  to  these  contrivances, 
and  the  necessity  of  more  engine  power  or  of  separate  engines  in 
the  absence  of  machine  shops  near  at  hand,  increased  the  expense  of 
working  beyond  the  gain  in  diminished  labor."  2 

"  One  of  the  smelters  (of  Colorado)  may  be  taken  as  illustrating 
the  methods  followed  in  treating  ore.  A  large  portion  arrives  in  a 
crushed  condition,  being  purchased  through  middle  men  owning 
sampling  works,  who  crush  it  for  sampling  purposes.  The  ores, 
which  come  to  the  smelter  direct  from  the  mines,  are  crushed  on 
arrival  to  prepare  them  for  sampling  and  smelting.  The  ore  is  first 
carefully  sampled,  tested  by  assaying,  etc.,  and  the  exact  value 
determined,  remaining  untreated  until  the  owner  is  satisfied  as  to  the 
value.  On  his  assenting  to  the  value  stated,  it  is  at  once  paid  for 
and  becomes  the  property  of  the  smelter.  The  ore  containing  sul- 
phur is  subjected  to  a  preliminary  roasting  to  get  rid  of  the  sulphur. 
The  ore,  roasted  and  unroasted,  is  smelted  together  at  a  very  high 
temperature,  the  waste  or  slag  being  skimmed  off  or  otherwise  sepa- 
rated and  thrown  away,  and  the  valuable  product,  being  either  lead 
bullion  or  copper  matte,  is  then  separated  by  special  processes  into 
gold,  silver,  copper,  and  lead.3 

The  object  and  operation  of  pyritic  smelting  are  summed  up  in  a 
very  comprehensive  way  in  a  paper  by  Dr.  E.  D.  Peters,  Jr.,  which 
is  in  part  quoted  here: 4 

1  School  of  Mines  Quarterly,  Vol.  3,  pp.  159,  160,  1881-82. 

2  Ibid.,  Vol.  3,  p.  158. 

3  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  19,  pp.  99-100. 

4  Mineral  Industry,  1893  and  1894,  p.  265,  etc.,  and  The  Metallurgy  of  Gold, 
Eissler,  1900,  pp.  339,  342. 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  529 

"  1.  By  pyritic  smelting  is  understood  the  treatment  of.  sulphide 
ores  in  a  blast  furnace,  or  a  similar  apparatus,  in  such  a  manner 
that  a  considerable  proportion  of  the  heat  produced  by  the  oxidation 
of  the  sulphides  is  utilised  in  their  fusion,  by  which  means  a  consider- 
able proportion  of  the  ordinary  carbonised  fuel  —  or,  in  favourable 
cases,  the  whole  of  it  —  may  be  omitted,  the  sulphide  ores  thus 
practically  smelting  themselves,  and  often  furnishing  enough  super- 
fluous heat  to  admit  of  a  considerable  addition  of  non-sulphide  ore. 

"  2.  This  process  occupies  a  kind  of  intermediate  position  between 
the  two  widely  diverse  operations  of  calcination  and  bessemerising. 
It  differs  from  calcination  in  that  it  goes  further,  its  object  being  not 
merely  to  oxidise  (burn  off)  the  sulphur  contents  of  the  ore  under 
treatment,  but  also  to  effect  this  combustion  of  the  sulphur  so 
rapidly  as  to  produce  a  smelting  heat  at  a  certain  point  in  the  furnace, 
the  work  being  conducted  with  such  skill  as  to  leave  the  lumps  of 
ore  above  this  point  in  a  solid  condition,  their  interstices  offering 
a  free  passage  to  the  blast,  while  below  this  line  the  fusion  is  as 
complete  as  though  coke  had  been  used  to  effect  the  result. 

"  3.  It  differs  from  bessemerising  in  several  particulars,  the  most 
Important  one  practically  being  that  in  bessemerising  the  air-blast 
is  forced  through  a  bath  of  liquid  sulphides  (matte),  the  blast 
being  of  sufficient  strength  to  support  the  molten  column  above  it, 
and  thus  prevent  it  entering  the  small  tuyere  holes  through  which 
the  stream  of  air  is  supplied;  while  in  pyritic  smelting  it  is  essential 
that  the  charge  above  the  tuyeres,  which  are  placed  above  that  por- 
tion of  the  furnace  in  which  the  molten  products  collect,  shall  not 
begin  to  soften  sufficiently  to  impede  the  circulation  of  the  blast, 
which  has  only  the  very  moderate  pressure  commonly  used  in  copper 
smelting. 

"  4.  Mr.  Robert  Sticht  claims  that  no  particular  form  of  furnace  is 
essential  to  the  success  of  pyritic  smelting,  and  that  the  same  can 
be  satisfactorily  carried  out  in  any  kind  of  blast  furnace  that  would 
be  suitable  for  smelting  with  ordinary  fuel. 

"  Pyritic  smelting  resumes  itself  to-day  in  a  method  where  the 
smelters  are  simply  running  on  rather  a  low  percentage  of  coke  and  a 
sufficient  volume  of  blast  to  obtain  some  good  from  the  heat  generated 
by  the  combustion  of  the  sulphides  in  the  charge.  This  method 
in  its  most  pronounced  form  is  characterised  by  layer-charging, 
low  pressure,  and  great  volume  of  wind,  a  heated  blast,  and  the 
use  of  1J  to  3  per  cent  or  more  of  coke,  according  to  the  amount  of 
pyrites  in  the  ore. 


530  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

"  5.  The  difficulties  which  present  themselves  in  the  working  of 
the  process  are :  — 

"  (a)  Mounting  of  the  heat  toward  the  top  of  furnace,  causing 
softening  of  the  charge,  soon  followed  by  the  scaffolding,  or  sticking 
up  of  the  furnace.  This  is  perhaps  the  most  constant  and  gravest 
of  all  difficulties  that  the  pyritic  smelter  has  to  contend  with.  It 
may  result  from  a  variety  of  causes,  among  which  the  most  common 
is  too  dense  a  charge  —  i.e.,  too  much  fine  ore  in  the  charge.  The 
only  remedy  is  to  increase  the  proportion  of  coarse  ore  in  the  charge 
by  using  the  pyritous  ore  in  lumps  of  20  to  40  pounds  weight ;  to  use 
a  large  proportion  of  slag  in  lump  form;  and  if  conditions  permit,  to 
employ  a  considerable  proportion  of  limestone  in  lumps  of  rather 
large  size.  Too  low  pressure  of  blast  is  sure  to  make  the  top  of  the 
furnace  hot.  The  remedy  is  obvious.  Heating  the  blast  by  means 
of  extraneous  fuel  to  a  temperature  of  at  least  1,000  degrees  F.  has  an 
excellent  effect  on  this  condition  of  things,  and  usually  far  more  than 
repays  the  cost  of  running  and  maintaining  the  necessary  stoves. 

"(b)  A  much  less  common  cause  of  a  hot  furnace  top  is  the  presence 
of  too  much  iron  pyrites  in  the  charge.  As  is  well  known  to  all 
persons  familiar  with  the  calcination  of  iron  pyrites  (bisulphide  of 
iron,  FeS2),  one  of  two  atoms  of  sulphur  of  which  it  is  composed 
separates  very  easily  from  the  pyrites,  volatilising  at  a  low  red  heat, 
and  burning  with  a  blue  flickering  flame,  if  sufficient  oxygen  be 
present  to  support  combustion.  This  is  exactly  what  happens  in 
the  upper  zone  of  the  blast  furnace.  One  atom  of  sulphur,  if 
volatilised  in  a  metallic  form,  and  melting  with  the  heat,  runs  into  all 
the  interstices  of  the  charge,  sticking  it  all  together  like  glue,  and 
soon  forming  an  impermeable  crust,  which,  of  course,  quickly  blocks 
up  the  furnace.  For  this  reason,  matte,  which  contains  only  one 
atom  of  sulphur,  or  even  less,  makes  the  best  material  for  pyritic 
smelting.1  The  matte  may  be  charged  in  20  to  50  pound  lumps, 
and,  unless  containing  too  large  a  proportion  of  the  very  basic 
sulphides  of  iron,  or  a  considerable  amount  of  magnetic  oxide,  will 
yield  heat  enough  to  smelt  itself  and  the  requisite  silicious  flux  ores. 
The  iron  of  the  sulphides  yields  by  its  oxidation  about  as  much  useful 
heat  as  the  sulphur. 

"  (c)  The  presence  of  volatile  sulphides,  such  as  zinc  blende  and 
galena,  is  said  to  exercise  a  very  bad  influence  on  this  process. 

1  No  doubt  this  difficulty  must  have  been  overcome,  as  I  believe  the  heavy 
pyritic  ores  at  the  Mount  Lyell  Mine  are  treated  direct  without  any  preliminary 
operation. 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  531 

"  (d)  Too  high  a  furnace.  For  both  mechanical  and  chemical 
reasons  it  is  important  that  the  height  should  be  no  greater  than 
is  necessary  to  keep  the  top  reasonably  cool  when  the  furnace  is 
running  properly. 

"  6.  The  pattern  of  furnace.  As  pyritic  smelting  is  slower  than 
ordinary  smelting,  a  large  area  and  a  large  volume  of  air  is  the 
main  requisite. 

"  7.  Pyritic  smelting  is  adapted  to  a  great  variety  of  ores,  provided 
always  that  a  certain  proportion  of  them  contain  a  sufficient  supply 
of  oxidisable  substances  to  produce  and  maintain  the  required 
temperature.  Arsenic,  antimony,  tellurium,  and  similar  metalloids 
may  furnish  an  important  supply  of  heat,  and  are  more  thoroughly 
volatilised  than  by  the  ordinary  smelting  process.  Heavy  spar  is 
not  obnoxious,  being  thoroughly  decomposed  into  barium  silicate 
and  sulphurous  acid. 

"  8.  The  cleanest  and  most  satisfactory  work  has,  thus  far,  been 
done  on  a  slag  containing  35  to  45  per  cent  silica. 

"  9.  The  losses  in  silver  and  gold  are  no  greater  —  in  gold  pos- 
sibly less  —  than  in  ordinary  smelting. 

"  10.  A  small  amount  of  copper,  say  a  minimum  of  f  per  cent,  is 
essential  to  clean  slags,  unless  either  lead,  bismuth,  arsenic,  antimony, 
or  tellurium  are  present  in  such  proportions,  and  under  such  condi- 
tions, as  will  enable  one  or  other  of  them  to  take  the  place  of  the 
copper  to  a  certain  extent  as  a  collector  of  values.  But  in  any  case, 
the  extraction  of  silver  is  likely  to  suffer,  though  the  saving  of  the 
gold  may  be  as  perfect  as  with  copper.  If  running  with  a  matte 
very  low  in  copper,  and  otherwise  so  constituted  that  it  has  little 
affinity  for  the  precious  metals,  it  is  of  the  first  importance  to  keep 
the  slags  as  silicious  as  possible. 

"11.  It  has  been  established  by  a  tolerably  varied  experience, 
that,  under  favourable  conditions,  pyritic  smelting  is  more  eco- 
nomical than  the  ordinary  methods  employed.  In  other  words,  it 
is  more  economical  to  utilise  the  sulphur  and  iron  of  suitable  ores 
to  smelt  them  with  (even  considering  the  cost  of  the  required  hot 
blast),  together  with  a  reasonable  proportion  of  non-pyritous  ores, 
where  such  are  available,  than  to  employ  carbonaceous  fuel  to  burn 
up  this  same  sulphur  and  iron  in  a  calcining  furnace,  and  then  to 
use  still  more  carbonaceous  fuel  to  smelt  these  calcines. 

"12.  Pyritic  smelting  demands  oxidation,  which  means  the  aboli- 
tion of  all  boshes,  or  other  decided  contraction  of  the  furnace  shaft 
toward  the  hearth,  and  the  limitation  of  the  coke  used  to  the 


532  GOLD   AND  SILVER. 

smallest  possible  quantity.  It  means  slow  smelting,  that  the  cupola 
in  its  upper  zones  may  act  as  a  calciner,  while  opposite  the  tuyeres 
it  is  operating,  though  feebly,  as  a  Bessemer  converter,  which  means 
a  light  pressure  but  great  volume  of  blast,  and  a  very  long,  narrow 
furnace.  With  the  slow  rate  of  smelting  we  need  great  area  of 
shaft,  and  with  the  light  blast  we  cannot  use  a  wide  furnace,  hence 
its  length  must  be  augmented." 

Details  of  pyritic  smelting  may  be  obtained  from  Dr.  Peters 's 
"  Modern  American  Methods  of  Copper  Smelting." 

Chlorination  —  Processes  and  Practice.  —  In  a  paper  by  C.  A. 
Stetfeldt  on  the  Russel  lixiviation  process  the  following  excellent 
review  of  the  various  processes  which  have  been  successfully  em- 
ployed in  the  treatment  of  gold  and  silver,  especially  gold-bearing 
silver  ores,  is  given.  In  all  of  the  cases  cited,  the  ores  are  first 
roasted  with  salt  and  subsequently  washed  with  water.  Extracts 
of  Mr.  Stetfeldt's  paper  are  given  below:1 

"The  Kiss  Process. — The  ore  is  lixiviated  with  calcium  hypo- 
sulphite. The  percentage  of  gold  extracted  depends  upon  the 
temperature  at  which  roasting  is  conducted.  A  dark-red  heat 
must  only  be  used,  so  that  the  formation  of  monochloride  is  favored, 
and  that  of  metallic  gold,  as  much  as  possible,  avoided. 

"  We  here  run  the  risk  of  effecting  an  incomplete  chlorination  of  the 
silver,  and  if  the  ore  contains  copper,  so  much  cuprous  chloride 
may  be  formed  and  left  undecomposed,  that  bullion  of  very  low 
fineness  will  result. 

"  The  Patera  and  Roeszner  Process.  —  The  ore  is  lixiviated  with 
a  cold  solution  of  brine  which  has  been  saturated  with  chlorine  gas. 
G.  Kuestel  states,  that  ores,  treated  by  this  process  in  Hungary, 
yielded  98.9  per  cent  of  the  silver,  and  nearly  all  the  gold.  Even 
with  such  a  good  record  the  method  seems  to  me  inapplica- 
ble on  a  large  scale,  and  for  ores  rich  in  silver.  The  solubility 
of  silver  chloride,  in  cold  brine,  is  slight,  and  the  handling  of 
large  quantities  of  solutions,  saturated  with  chlorine,  must  be  an 
insufferable  annoyance.  Roeszner  modifies  the  process  by  first 
lixiviating  with  hot  brine,  to  dissolve  the  silver  chloride,  and 
then  extracts  the  gold  with  a  cold  solution  of  salt,  saturated  with 
chlorine. 

"  Hofmann's  Process.  —  O.  Hofmann  first  extracts  the  silver 
chloride  and  a  part  of  the  gold  with  a  hyposulphite  solution,  and 
then  the  rest  of  the  gold  by  the  Plattner  process.  Results  with 
1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  13,  pp.  84-89,  1884-85. 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  533 

concentrations  from  the  Tarshish  Mine,  California,  showed  a  saving 
of  96  per  cent  of  the  silver,  and  95  per  cent  of  the  gold.   .   .   . 

"The  Swansea  Process.  —  The  process  is  based  upon  the  fact 
that  gold  has  a  much  greater  affinity  for  copper  than  silver,  which 
was  already  known  at  Oker  at  the  time  when  the  precious  metals 
were  extracted  from  copper  by  the  old-fashioned  *  Saiger  '  process. 
The  mode  of  operation  is  as  follows :  —  The  residues  from  the  Zier- 
vogel  process  are  melted  in  a  reverberatory  furnace,  with  pyritic 
ores.  The  concentrated  copper  matte,  so  produced,  is  roasted  for 
1  black  copper/  which,  in  falling  to  the  bottom  of  the  hearth,  col- 
lects the  gold,  and  also  precipitates  impurities  of  the  matte,  such 
as  Sb,  As,  and  Pb.  At  a  certain  stage  of  the  process  and  after 
the  charge  has  been  brought  to  a  high  temperature,  the  furnace  is 
tapped,  and  the  metallic  bottoms  are  separated  from  the  matte. 
By  repeating  the  operation,  more  gold  can  be  extracted  from  the 
matte.  It  lies  in  the  nature  of  this  process  that  the  separation  of 
the  gold  cannot  be  complete,  and  the  concentrated  copper  matte, 
after  a  second  treatment,  contains  about  J  ounce  gold  per  ton.  .  .  . 
"The  Electrolytic  Process.  —  In  Europe  the  tendency  is,  at  present, 
very  much  in  favor  of  the  electrolytic  process.  The  complete 
separation  of  the  precious  metals,  and  the  great  purity  of  the 
electrolytic  copper,  provided  the  process  is  conducted  with  the 
necessary  precautions,  are  strong  arguments  in  its  favor.  First 
successfully  introduced  in  England,  it  has  been  in  operation  for 
several  years,  on  the  continent,  especially  in  Germany.  The  principal 
works  there  are  those  at  Hamburg,  Oker,  and  near  Eisleben.  The 
details  of  the  process  are  everywhere  guarded  with  the  utmost 
secrecy,  and  admission  to  the  works  is  generally  refused.  No 
literature  of  any  value,  from  a  technical  standpoint,  exists.  .  .  . 

"  The  electrolytic  process  permits  the  use  of  currents  of  low 
intensity  only.  With  increased  differences  in  the  composition  of  the 
electrodes,  the  difference  in  their  electric  potential  also  increases, 
and  a  marked  polarization  of  the  current  must  be  the  result.  But 
perhaps  of  still  greater  importance  is  the  durability  of  the  copper 
solution  into  which  the  electrodes  are  immersed.  Certain  impuri- 
ties concentrate  in  this  solution  more  and  more,  and  are  finally 
precipitated  on  the  cathode.  The  peculiarity  of  arsenic  to  precipi- 
tate the  sooner  on  the  cathode,  the  lower  the  electric  current  is  in 
intensity,  was  also  known  to  physicists  before  it  made  itself  felt  in 
electrolytic  works.  That  the  process  does  not  offer  great  tech- 
nical difficulties,  or  require  an  experience  of  several  years,  has  been 


534  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

demonstrated  by  its  successful  introduction  at  the  metallurgical 
works  of  Mr.  Balbach,  Newark,  N.J.  The  plant,  of  800  pounds 
daily  capacity,  is  by  no  means  a  model  of  construction,  but  it  works 
well  and  with  profit.  .  .  . 

"  The  Hunt  and  Douglas  Process.  —  The  matte  is  roasted,  and 
the  oxide  of  copper  dissolved  by  dilute  sulphuric  acid  in  the  presence 
of  a  soluble  chloride.  Gold,  silver  chloride,  lead  sulphate,  and 
oxide  of  iron  and  antimony,  remain  as  insoluble  residues.  The 
copper  is  precipitated  from  the  warm  solution  as  cuprous  chloride 
by  sulphurous  acid,  and  the  sulphuric  acid  regenerated.  In  decom- 
posing the  cuprous  chloride,  after  separating  it  from  the  acid 
solution,  by  iron,  ferrous  chloride  is  formed,  to  be  used  again  for 
chloridizing  the  copper  of  subsequent  charges. 

"  In  conducting  the  sulphurous  acid  through  the  copper  solution, 
care  must  be  taken  to  have  the  gas  practically  free  from  an  excess 
of  air.  Otherwise  more  sulphuric  acid  will  be  formed  than  cuprous 
chloride,  the  latter  absorbing  oxygen  rapidly,  and  becoming  recon- 
verted to  cupric  chloride. 

"  This  process  has,  so  far,  not  been  introduced  to  work  copper- 
matte  on  a  large  scale,  and  nothing  has  been  published  about  its 
technical  difficulties,  or  its  economy.  From  a  theoretical  standpoint 
it  is  very  promising,  especially  for  mattes  containing  antimony  and 
arsenic.  The  cuprous  chloride  produced  by  this  process  is  perfectly 
pure. 

"  Hartmanris  Process.  —  Another  process  for  treating  copper- 
matte,  based  upon  the  regeneration  of  sulphuric  acid,  is  in  operation 
at  Vivian's  works,  Swansea.  The  roasted  matte  is  dissolved  in  sul- 
phuric acid,  as  is  done  in  Freiberg,  the  gold  and  silver  remaining  in 
the  insoluble  residue.  From  the  solution  copper  is  precipitated  by 
sulphuretted  hydrogen,  and  the  sulphuric  acid  regenerated.  Sul- 
phuretted hydrogen  is  gained  by  passing  sulphurous  acid  from  a 
roasting- kiln,  together  with  steam,  through  a  column  of  hot  coal.  The 
gas  ascends  a  tower  through  which  the  copper-solution  is  showered. 
Any  loss  in  sulphuric  acid  is  made  good  by  copper  sulphate  contained 
in  the  roasted  matte.  The  precipitate  of  copper  sulphide  is  oxidized 
by  a  patented  process  —  details  not  known  to  me  —  said  to  dispense 
with  the  use  of  fuel,  and  then  reduced  to  copper  in  a  reverberatory 
furnace.  It  is  claimed  that  from  very  impure  matte  a  copper  of 
superior  quality  is  obtained.  This  seems  to  me  somewhat  doubt- 
ful. To  remove  all  arsenic  from  a  copper-matte  by  roasting  is  not 
possible.  Arsenates,  formed  in  roasting,  are  soluble  in  sulphuric 


EXTRACTION   OF  VALUES.  535 

acid.  It  is  true,  arsenic  is  precipitated  from  a  solution  by  sulphur- 
etted hydrogen  before  copper.  But  a  separation  in  this  way  seems 
to  me,  practically,  difficult  to  accomplish." 

The  lixiviation  of  gold  from  ores  by  means  of  the  Plattner  chlori- 
nation  process  is  described  by  Kustel : l 

"  (1)  The  auriferous  concentrates  from  the  stamping  mill  having 
been  perfectly  oxidised,  are  moistened  with  water  and  put  lightly, 
by  means  of  a  sieve,  into  a  wooden  vat,  coated  with  tar  and  rosin, 
and  having  a  perforated  false  bottom  upon  which  a  filter  is  made, 
for  which  there  are  numerous  ways.  When  filled  a  close-fitting  cover 
is  placed  on  top. 

"  (2)  Chlorine  gas,  produced  by  decomposing  salt  and  peroxide 
of  manganese  with  sulphuric  acid,  is  introduced  between  the  false 
and  true  bottoms,  and  made  to  permeate  upwards  through  the  ore 
mass.  After  the  expiration  of  from  fifteen  to  forty-eight  hours,  the 
gas  is  found  to  appear  abundantly  on  the  ore  mass,  and  is  then  shut 
off,  and  the  vat  allowed  to  remain  a  few  hours  under  the  influence 
of  the  gas.  The  cover  being  removed,  pure  water  is  added  to  fill 
the  vat  even  with  the  top  surface  of  the  ore ;  the  fine  particles  of 
gold,  under  the  action  of  chlorine,  have  changed  from  metal  to  a 
soluble  terchloride,  and  in  this  condition  it  is  drawn  off  or  leached 
out  with  water,  fresh  water  being  added  until  a  test  shows  no  trace 
of  gold. 

"  (3)  A  prepared  solution  of  sulphate  of  iron  —  the  usual  precipi- 
tant —  is  carefully  added  to  this  drawn-off  solution,  and  the  gold 
thrown  down  as  a  black  or  brownish  precipitate;  this  is  gathered, 
washed,  and  melted  into  ingots  of  nearly  pure  gold. 

"  The  process  is  thus  based  upon  the  property  of  chlorine  gas  to 
transform  metallic  gold  into  soluble  chloride  of  gold,  and  with  some 
kinds  of  pyrites  it  is  very  perfect  if  well  executed,  but  the  following 
requirements  have  to  be  carefully  observed: 

"  (1)  The  gold  must  always  be  in  a  metallic  state.  Quartz,  free 
from  other  earths  and  sulphurets,  containing  very  fine  gold,  can  be 
subjected  to  chlorination  without  other  preparation  than  moistening 
with  water.  .  .  .  Sulphuretted  ore  requires  a  perfect  roasting.  The 
presence  of  lead  makes  a  careful  roasting  necessary,  commencing 
with  a  very  low  temperature.  All  metals,  except  gold,  must  be 
transformed  into  oxides.  Sulphates  are  injurious. 

1  Treatise  on  Concentration  of  all  Kinds  of  Ores,  including  the  Chlorination 
Process,  Kustel,  1868,  and  the  Metallurgy  of  Gold,  Eissler,  1900,  pp.  345  and 
346. 


536  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

"  (2)  The  chlorine  gas  must  be  free  from  muriatic  acid.  From  the 
generator  the  gas  is  forced  through  clear  water,  by  which  the  muri- 
atic acid  is  absorbed.  The  muriatic  acid  dissolves  the  oxides,  and 
causes,  when  sulphides  are  present  in  consequence  of  defective  roast- 
ing, the  formation  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  by  which  soluble 
chloride  of  gold  is  precipitated.  The  muriatic  acid  dissolves  also 
oxides  of  metals  precipitated  by  the  addition  of  sulphate  of  iron 
with  the  gold. 

"  (3)  There  must  be  no  other  substances  in  the  charge  which  will 
unite  with  the  free  chlorine,  since  this  would  occasion  a  great  waste 
of  gas,  and  a  failure  in  the  desired  separation  of  gold  from  other 
metals. 

"  (4)  There  must  be  no  reaction  in  the  mass  treated  with  chlorine 
which  will  prematurely  precipitate  the  gold  before  the  final  solution 
is  obtained  and  drawn  off. 

"  (5)  In  a  word,  it  is  required  that  all  the  gold,  and,  if  possible, 
nothing  else,  shall  be  obtained  in  the  final  solution.  Precipitation 
and  melting  then  present  no  special  difficulties. 

"  Generally  the  concentrated  sulphurets  from  the  gold  mills  are 
subjected  to  the  chlorination  process;  but  also  ores  consisting  of 
quartz  and  free  gold,  without  admixture  of  other  earths  or  sulphur- 
ets, can  be  treated  by  this  process  without  any  further  preliminary 
treatment  than  reduction  to  powder." 

The  following  description  of  the  operation  and  results  of  the 
Russell  chlorination  process  on  silver  ores  at  Aspen,  Colorado,  is 
taken  from  W.  S.  Morse's  paper  on  that  subject: l 

"  The  weight  of  the  roasted  ore  treated  was  31,775.338  tons, 
which  was  leached  in  546  charges,  averaging  58.19  tons.  Each 
charge  required  about  22.5  cubic  feet  of  water,  or  about  60  inches  in 
depth  in  the  tank,  to  completely  saturate  it.  After  washing  and 
removing  soluble  salts,  about  50  inches  of  solution  will  saturate  the 
charge. 

"  The  following  method  of  leaching  was  followed,  as  a  rule: 

1.  The  ore  was  charged  into  one  volume  of  water,  followed  by  a 
second  volume  of  wash-water,  and  by: 

2.  Three  volumes  of  warm  ordinary  solution  (about  1.8  per  cent 
of  hyposulphite); 

3.  One  volume  of  extra-solution  (average  about  0.5  per  cent  of 
CuS04); 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  pp.  142-145,  1895. 


EXTRACTION   OF   VALUES. 


537 


4.  One  volume  of  warm  ordinary  solution; 

5.  One  volume  of  extra-solution; 

6.  Two  volumes  of  warm  ordinary  solution;  and 

7.  The  last  wash-water,  the  dividing  line  between  solution  and 
wash-water  being  drawn  when  about  one  and  one-fourth  volumes  of 
wash-water  had  been  applied. 

".This  treatment  was  varied  as  to  quantity  of  solution  applied 
and  strength  of  extra  solution,  but  the  above  is  about  an  average. 
The  average  time  of  leaching  each  charge  was  about  100  hours. 
This  includes  stops  of  every  kind. 

"  The  average  leaching-rate  was  13  inches  per  hour.  This  was 
the  natural  leaching-rate;  but,  as  a  rule,  in  leaching  after  the  ore 
had  been  washed,  the  leaching-rate  was  cut  down  to  10  inches  per 
hour.  .  .  . 

"  Silver  was  precipitated  from  solutions  with  sodium  sulphide; 
part  of  the  time  with  a  polysulphide,  Na2S2,  made  from  caustic  soda 
and  sulphur;  and  part  of  the  time  with  a  monosulphide,  Na2S, 
imported  from  Germany  in  the  form  of  crystals. 

"  The  total  of  sulphides  produced  was  442,576  pounds,  divided  as 
follows : 


Pounds. 

Assaying, 
Ounces  per  Ton. 

Containing 
Oz.  of  Silver. 

Solution-sulphides     

313,417 

3790 

593,069  12 

Wash-water  sulphides  
Lead  carbonates  

95,442 
33,717 

2875 
432 

136,535.66 
7,698  84 

Total  contents  of  product 

737  303  62 

APPARENT   EXTRACTION.  Ounces  of  Silver. 

Contents  of  roasted  ore 782,586 . 09 

Contents  of  tailings 103,702 . 36 

Calculated  contents  of  sulpnides 678,883 . 73 

"  On  this  calculation  the  apparent  extraction  of  86.74  per  cent  of 
the  silver  in  roasted  ore  is  based. 

Ounces  of  Silver. 
Actual  contents  of  sulphides  by  corrected  assay 737,303.62 

"  On  this  calculation  the  actual  extraction  of  94.21  per  cent  of  the 
silver  in  roasted  ore  is  based. 


Differences  between  calculated  and  actual  contents  of 

sulphides  =  6.78  per  cent  or 58,419.89 


538  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

ACTUAL    EXTRACTION. 

Contents  of  raw  ore 861 ,488 . 05 

Contents  of  roasted  ore 782,586 . 09 

Loss  in  roasting  and  dust-loss  (9 . 157  per  cent) 78,901 . 96 

Contents  of  product 737,303 . 62 

Or  94.21  +  per  cent  of  the  silver  in  roasted  ore  and  85.58  +  per 
cent  of  the  silver  in  raw  ore." 

A  brief  description  of  the  methods  of  treatment  in  the  chlorina- 
tion  plants  of  the  Cripple  Creek  district  is  given  under  heading 
Technical  Details  of  the  paper  on  the  district  by  W.  Lindgren  and 

F.  L.  Ransome,  which  is  given  herewith  in  part : l 

"  The  different  chlorination  plants  use  practically  identical  pro- 
cesses. 

"  A  type  is  the  Standard  plant  of  the  United  States  Reduction 
and  Refining  Company  at  Colorado  City,  which  treats  Cripple 
Creek  ores  exclusively,  has  a  capacity  of  450  tons  per  day.  All  the 
ore  received  goes  to  the  sampler.  The  ore  is  there  crushed  to  three- 
fourths  inch  mesh,  and  one-twenty-fifth  of  it  is  taken  out  for  finer 
crushing  and  quartering  for  the  assay  and  analysis  sample.  Belt 
conveyors  take  the  ore  from  the  sampler  to  the  bedding  room,  where 
it  is  loaded  from  hoppers  into  cars,  and  thence  dumped  in  heaps  on 
the  bedding  floor  below.  With  ore  of  ordinary  grade  sufficient 
homogeneity  of  the  mixture  is  secured  by  dumping  alternately  on 
different  heaps  small  carloads  from  different  shipments.  But  high- 
grade  ores  are  mixed  more  carefully  with  those  of  lower  value. 

"  From  the  bedding  floor  the  ore  is  taken  by  belt  conveyors  to  the 
driers  —  long  tables  where  the  ore  is  moved  by  mechanical  rakes, 
and  heated  sufficiently  to  drive  off  moisture.  It  is  next  trammed  to 
hoppers,  whence  it  goes  to  the  rolls  to  be  crushed  to  about  20-mesh 
size,  and  then  fed  into  the  roasters.  These  are  of  the  Holthoff- 
Wethey  type,  have  a  capacity  of  100  tons  per  day  each,  and  employ 
an  average  temperature  of  about  1,600°  F.  The  roasted  ore  is 
cooled  in  its  journey  back  underneath  the  furnaces,  and  is  then  con- 
veyed on  an  inclined  belt  to  the  barrel  house,  where  it  is  loaded  into 
hopper  cars  and  finally  charged  into  the  chlorination  barrels. 

"  The  10  barrels,  of  a  capacity  of  10  tons,  are  about  20  feet  long 
and  5  feet  in  diameter.  The  exact  composition  of  the  lixiviating 
solution  is  not  made  public,  but  it  consists  essentially  of  a  solution 
of  electrolytically  generated  chlorine  in  water.  The  strength  of  the 

1  Geology  and  Gold  Deposits  of  the  Cripple  Creek  District,  Colorado,  U.  S. 

G.  S.,  Professional  Paper  No.  54,  pp.  140-142,  1906. 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  539 

solution  used  is  determined  not  so  much  by  the  value  of  the  ore 
as  by  the  composition  of  the  gangue.  About  100  gallons  of  the 
solution  are  used  for  each  ton  of  ore,  and  this  amount  contains  1  to 
2£  pounds  of  chlorine. 

"  When  the  barrels  have  been  charged  with  ore  and  solution, 
they  are  sealed  and  rotated  for  two  or  three  hours,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  a  valve  at  the  bottom  of  the  barrel  is  opened,  and  one  at 
the  top  is  connected  with  water  pressure.  The  solution  is  thus 
made  to  pass  through  an  interior  filter  of  the  Sloan  type,  and  the 
pulp  is  washed  for  two  to  four  hours.  About  100  gallons  of  water 
per  ton  of  ore  are  added  during  the  washing,  making  the  total  bulk 
of  gold-bearing  solution  about  200  gallons  for  each  ton  of  ore.  After 
the  pulp  is  sufficiently  washed,  and  the  manhead  is  removed  from 
the  barrel,  the  barrel  is  rotated,  and  the  pulp  emptied  into  a  launder 
by  which  it  is  conveyed  to  Wilfley  tables  on  a  floor  beneath.  There 
are  20  of  these  concentrators,  arranged  in  batteries  of  5.  The  head- 
ings from  four  of  the  five  pass  to  the  fifth,  and  the  concentrates  from 
this  table,  which  represent  about  one  two  hundred  and  fiftieths  of 
the  total  pulp,  are  saved  and  sent  to  the  smelters.  They  have  a 
value  of  $20.00  to  $30.00  per  ton.  For  the  presence  of  the  greater 
part  of  the  gold  in  them  the  following  explanation  is  offered:  when 
the  ore  is  roasted,  pyrite  is  oxidized  and  converted  partly  into  mag- 
netite (Fe304),  which  is  only  slightly  attacked  by  the  chlorine  solu- 
tion. Any  gold  which  may  have  been  inclosed  in  the  pyrite  is  thus 
protected  from  the  action  of  the  solvent,  and  without  concentration 
would  be  lost.  Besides  magnetite  other  iron  oxides  and  barite  are 
noticeable  constituents  of  the  final  concentrates,  and  a  molybdenum 
mineral  is  said  to  be  present  at  times.  Finely  divided  free  gold  is 
occasionally  seen  on  the  last  table. 

"  After  passing  through  the  filters  the  lixiviating  solutions  to- 
gether with  the  wash  water  pass  to  the  sand  boxes  where  the  coarser 
sediment  which  has  escaped  the  filter  quickly  falls  and  is  returned 
to  the  barrels;  then  to  the  settling  tanks,  where  they  remain  for  eight 
hours  and  allow  practically  all  the  material  in  suspension  to  sepa- 
rate out.  During  this  time  a  gelatinous  precipitate,  said  to  be  a 
basic  aluminum  silicate,  forms  and  falls  to  the  bottom.  On  account 
of  the  difficulty  of  washing  this  precipitate  thoroughly,  a  small  loss 
of  gold  may  take  place. 

"  From  the  settling  tanks  the  solution  is  drawn  into  lead-lined 
monte-jus,  and  thence  forced  by  air  pressure  into  precipitating 
tanks.  Into  these  the  precipitating  agent,  hydrogen  sulphide,  is 


540  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

introduced  direct  from  the  generator.  Precipitation  is  continued 
until  tests  show  no  more  gold  in  solution,  the  time  required  being 
thirty  to  forty  minutes.  After  the  precipitate  settles  the  superna- 
tant liquor  is  drawn  off  and  run  through  filter  presses,  and  before 
leaving  the  building  is  passed  through  sand  filter  to  counteract 
possible  leakage  or  breakage  of  these  presses. 

"  When  sufficient  precipitate  has  collected  at  the  bottom  of  the 
precipitation  tanks,  it  is  drawn  into  a  small  monte-jus,  and  forced 
through  the  filter  presses,  of  which  there  are  six.  Finally  the  presses 
are  cleaned  and  the  precipitate  is  dried,  roasted,  melted  with  flux, 
and  cast  into  bricks.  On  ores  of  average  grade  an  extraction  of 
about  95  per  cent  is  obtained,  but  since  the  actual  loss  approaches  a 
constant  amount,  the  percentage  of  recovery  is  higher  for  rich  ores. 

"  Chlorine  for  the  solution  of  the  gold  is  generated  electrolyti- 
cally  at  the  plant.  A  hot  saturated  solution  of  salt  is  treated  in 
McDonald  cells,  the  chlorine  being  piped  away,  and  the  concentrated 
caustic-soda  solution  collected  as  a  by-product. 

"  Among  the  principal  mines  from  which  this  mill  treats  ores  are 
the  Abe  Lincoln,  American  Eagle,  Elkton,  El  Paso,  Findley,  Golden 
Cycle,  Shurtloff,  Strong,  Theresa,  and  Vindicator.  In  April,  1904, 
the  plant  was  handling  about  250  tons  daily." 

Cyanidation.  —  A  general  synopsis  of  the  treatment  of  ores  by  the 
cyanide  process  as  given  by  Eissler  is  as  follows: 1 

"  First  Stage:  Passing  an  alkaline  Solution  or  caustic  wash  through 
the  ore  to  the  point  of  saturation,  as  the  tailings  always  contain  a 
certain  amount  of  organic  matter,  acid  salts,  etc.  By  running  on 
this  alkaline  solution,  a  considerable  saving  is  effected  in  the  con- 
sumption of  cyanide  of  potassium,  and  the  tailings  get  the  advan- 
tage afterwards  of  the  full  strength  of  the  strong  solution.  Strength 
of  this  first  alkaline  solution  may  be  0.15  per  cent  KCy,  and  may 
contain  4  ounces  of  caustic  soda  per  ton  of  solution.  Caustic  soda 
dissolves  out  organic  matter.  Excess  of  lime  destroys  cyanide. 
Second  Stage :  The  Strong  Cyanide  Solution.  —  This  solution  varies 
in  strength  from  0.3  to  0.5  per  cent  in  KCy  to  suit  the  richness  and 
nature  of  the  tailings  under  treatment,  and  the  proportion  of  solu- 
tion to  be  run  on  should  not  be  less  than  one-third  the  weight  of 
tailings  in  the  vats.  When  this  solution  is  run  on,  though  the 
first  solution  has  drained  out,  the  tailings  still  contain  a  consider- 
able quantity  of  the  former  solution.  This  should  be  displaced  by 
allowing  the  second  solution,  or  strong  solution,  to  drain  down 

1  The  Metallurgy  of  Gold,  Eissler,  pp.  484-486,  1900. 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  541 

immediately  the  vats  are  filled  with  the  strong  solution,  for,  say, 
about  two  hours  (according  to  the  capacity  of  vats  and  nature  of 
tailings),  and  when  this  has  been  displaced,  sufficient  strong  solution 
should  be  run  on  to  make  up  the  required  proportional  amount. 

"  The  vat  is  now  full  of  strong  solution,  which,  in  some  cases,  may 
be  leached  out  immediately,  though  generally  it  is  advisable  to  leave 
it  in  contact  with  the  mass  for  a  short  period  —  say  three  hours  — 
to  give  the  solution  time  to  penetrate  any  lumps. 

"  When  this  solution  is  leached  out,  or  only  a  very  small  stream 
is  coming  away,  it  should  be  allowed  to  continue  draining  for  about 
four  hours  longer.  During  these  last  four  hours  air  is  taking  the 
place  of  the  solution,  and  the  gold  is  in  contact  with  a  strong  solu- 
tion of  KCy,  in  presence  of  oxygen,  which  produces  a  more  rapid 
and  effectual  dissolving  of  the  gold. 

"  For  proof:  Take  two  watch  glasses,  fill  both  with  cyanide  solu- 
tion of  the  same  strength.  In  one,  place  a  piece  of  gold  leaf  on  the 
surface  of  the  solution,  while  in  the  other  immerse  the  gold  under 
the  solution.  The  gold  leaf  on  the  surface  in  presence  with  air 
disappears  rapidly,  and  is  completely  destroyed,  whilst  the  other 
dissolves  very  slowly. 

"  Third  Stage:  The  Weak  Solution.  —  After  the  strong  solution 
has  been  run  on,  we  may  safely  assume  that  most  of  the  gold  is  now 
in  solution,  and  the  object  of  the  third  operation  is  to  wash  out  the 
dissolved  gold.  Therefore,  after  the  strong  solution  has  been 
drained  out,  sufficient  weak  solution  containing  0.15  per  cent  KCy  is 
run  on  till  the  total  quantity  of  solution  and  washes  represent  75  to 
80  per  cent  of  the  weight  of  the  ore. 

"Fourth  Stage:  The  Water  Wash.  —  After  the  weak  solution 
water  wash  is  applied,  and  the  quantity  so  applied  is  not  less  than 
7  per  cent  of  the  weight  of  the  ore,  and  indeed  more  is  necessary." 

A  certain  amount  of  interest  attaches  itself  to  the  successful  oper- 
ation of  the  cyanide  process,  Mercur  Mines,  Utah,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  commercial  results  were  first  obtained  in  the  United  States  in 
its  adaptation  by  the  mills  of  this  district.  The  following  extracts 
are  taken  from  an  article  descriptive  of  the  cyanide  plant  of  the 
Golden  Gate  mill,  at  Mercur,  Utah.1 

"  The  ore  is  coarsely  crushed,  and  delivered  to  the  leaching  tanks 

without  intermediate  treatment.     Being  oxidized  and  very  porous, 

this   ore  is   an  ideal  one  for  simple  cyaniding.      The  values   are 

extracted  cheaply,  but  the  percentage  of  extraction  is  not  as  high 

1  Mining  Machinery,  June,  1898. 


542  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

as  it  would  be  if  a  roasting  plant  were  added  to  the  equipment. 
In  the  Golden  Gate  Mine  the  ledge  is  tapped  at  a  depth  of  1,500 
greater  than  in  the  Mercur  Mine.  Much  of  the  ore  contains  either 
arsenic  or  sulphur,  and  is  therefore  not  amenable  to  the  simple 
cyanide  process.  For  two  years  the  De  La  Mar  Company  carried 
on  an  extensive  series  of  experiments  with  the  view  of  finding  a 
modification  of  the  process  that  could  be  successfully  applied  to 
their  ores.  In  the  meantime  the  Company  has  been  gradually 
adding  to  its  holdings.  The  most  recent  addition  is  less  than  7 
acres  in  extent  and  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  million  dollars  was 
paid  for  it.  The  development  work  has  gone  on  continuously,  and 
enormous  bodies  of  ore  have  been  blocked  out. 

"  Like  other  ores  found  in  such  large  bodies,  the  De  Lamar  ore 
is  low  grade,  running  from  $7  to  $12  per.  ton.  .  .  . 

"  The  sulphide  and  arsenical  ore  from  the  second  set  of  bins  in 
the  crusher  building  is  discharged  into  two  Brown  straight  drying 
furnaces.  These  dryers  occupy  the  second  portion  of  the  mill, 
and  are  located  near  the  side  walls,  leaving  room  in  the  center  for 
an  additional  dryer  when  the  capacity  of  the  mill  is  increased  to 
800  tons  per  day.  The  dryers  are  of  the  reverberatory  type,  with 
hearths  60  feet  long  and  12  feet  wide,  and  they  are  fired  by  gas. 
They  have  a  nominal  capacity  of  175  tons  each  per  day,  but  if 
necessary  can  handle  more  than  250  tons  each.  Only  the  arsenical 
and  sulphide  ores  are  run  through  the  dryers,  one  furnace  being 
reserved  for  each  kind.  .  .  . 

"  The  third  compartment  of  the  mill  contains  the  fine-crushing 
machinery,  which  is  divided  into  three  units,  one  for  each  kind  of 
ore,  but  all  of  it  receiving  the  same  treatment.  The  ore  is  first 
sized  in  a  Berthellet  separator,  which  is  an  inclined  covered  screen, 
the  cover  being  lined  on  the  inside  with  rubber  belting  so  arranged 
that  the  ore  impinging  on  the  screen  strikes  the  rubber  belt,  and 
being  thrown  back  on  to  the  screen  again,  the  continuation  of  this 
operation  keeps  the  screen  in  a  vibratory  state.  This  permits  a 
fine  separation  to  be  made,  and  as  the  ore  particles  strike  the 
screen  at  an  angle  of  45  degrees  a  much  coarser  screen  can  be  used 
for  a  given  sized  product  than  that  indicated  by  the  size  of  the 
screened  ore.  The  oversize  from  the  Berthellet  separators  passes 
through  one  of  the  three  sets  of  36  by  15  Gates  rolls,  and  then  into 
one  or  two  of  four  sets  of  26  by  15  Gates  rolls.  The  fines  from  the 
Berthellet  separator  are  also  passed  through  this  latter  set  of  rolls.  -. . . 

"  From  the  rolls  the  ore  is  elevated  to  revolving  screens,  from 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  543 

which  the  oversize  is  sent  back  to  the  rolls,  and  the  ore  that  has 
been  crushed  to  10-mesh  into  one  of  three  bins  of  1,000  tons  capacity. 
The  ore  from  these  last  bins  is  carried  on  Robins  belt  conveyers  to 
the  roasting  furnaces.  The  roasting  department  of  the  mill  is 
divided  into  three  levels,  each  of  which  is  33  feet  wide  and  295  feet 
long.  Two  of  these  levels  are  occupied  by  the  four  furnaces  now 
in  use,  the  third  one  being  reserved  for  future  enlargement.  The 
roasting  furnaces  are  of  the  reverberatory  type,  designed  by  Horace 
F.  Brown,  in  which  the  operating  mechanism  of  the  stirring 
carriages  is  carried  in  side  compartments  cut  off  from  the  main  furnace 
hearth  by  a  slotted  wall  which  preserves  the  moving  parts  from  heat 
and  dirt.  These  furnaces  are  each  12  feet  wide  by  100  feet  long, 
and,  like  the  dryers,  are  fired  by  a  mixture  of  producer  and  water 
gas  furnished  by  the  Loomis  gas  plant.  The  products  of  combustion 
from  the  four  roasting  furnaces,  together  with  the  sulphur  and  arsenic 
fumes,  pass  into  a  dust  chamber  and  then  into  a  large  flue  running 
underground  up  the  hill.  The  products  of  combustion  from  the 
two  dryers  also  discharge  into  this  flue  which  terminates  farther  up 
the  hill  in  a  steel  smoke-stack.  The  ore,  after  roasting  on  the  main 
hearth  of  the  furnace,  is  elevated  to  a  cooling  hearth  built  over  the 
arch  of  the  furnace  and  running  its  entire  length,  is  discharged  into 
a  trough  and  conveyed  by  a  spiral  conveyor  laterally  to  the  side  of 
the  furnace,  to  a  spout,  down  which  it  travels  to  a  storage  bin  cut 
out  under  the  furnace  floor  in  the  centre  of  the  mill. 

"  The  siliceous  ore  is  discharged  into  this  bin  directly  from  the 
steel  storage  bins  without  roasting.  .  .  . 

"  The  next  level  in  the  mill  contains  ten  25  by  50  feet  leaching 
tanks  5  feet  deep.  From  the  level  of  the  top  of  these  tanks  a  tunnel 
runs  under  the  ore  bin,  in  which  the  residue  of  the  siliceous  ore  is 
stored.  The  proper  amount  of  each  kind  of  ore  is  drawn  from  the 
storage  bin  and  carried  in  cars  through  the  tunnel  to  the  tank  being 
filled.  Men  with  shovels  spread  the  ore  evenly  after  it  is  dumped 
from  the  cars.  The  cyanide  solution  is  then  turned  on  to  the  ore, 
and  after  leaching  out  the  gold,  passes  through  the  filter  which 
covers  the  bottom  of  the  tank,  and  is  drawn  off  to  the  precipitating 
tanks  which  occupy  the  last  level  of  the  mill. 

"  After  the  cyanide  solution  has  been  drawn  off,  and  the  ore  washed 
with  several  applications  of  water  to  remove  the  remainder  of  the 
solution,  the  tailings  are  shoveled  through  two  trap-doors  in  the  bot- 
tom of  the  tanks  into  cars,  which  convey  these  tailings  to  the  dump." 

The  Dorcas  is  the  only  mill  treating  ordinary  telluride  ores  by  the 


544  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

cyanide  process  in  the  Cripple  Creek  district.  This  mill  is  located  at 
Florence  and  treats  high-grade  ores.  The  ore  is  passed  through 
crushers,  rolls  and  a  dryer  and  is  roasted  in  a  Holthoff  oil-burning 
furnace.  There  are  twelve  140  ton  steel  leaching  tanks  some  30 
feet  in  diameter.  The  strength  of  the  solution  ranges  from  0.6  to 
0.8  per  cent.  The  gold  is  precipitated  with  zinc  shavings,  while  any 
remaining  coarse  gold  is  caught  on  Wilfley  tables  over  which  the 
tailings  are  run.1 

Owing  to  the  difficulties  experienced  in  cyaniding  the  gold  ores 
of  Republic,  Washington,  a  description  of  the  process  successfully 
employed  is  especially  interesting  and  instructive.  The  following 
extracts  are  taken  from  the  paper  by  F.  Cirkel  on  the  milling  of  the 
Republic  ores:2 

"  A  casual  inspection  of  the  ore  of  the  Republic  Mining  Camp 
would  give  the  impression  that  it  is  of  a  poor  quality  as  far  as  the 
contents  in  precious  metals  is  concerned;  the  quartz  is  of  a  peculiar 
milk-white  appearance,  devoid  of  all  sulphides  or  any  other  metals 
generally  associated  with  gold;  in  most  of  the  gold,  even  in  panning, 
we  hardly  detect  any  visible  gold,  except  by  microscopical  examina- 
tion, and  yet,  this  '  hungry-looking  quartz,  '  —  as  it  is  generally 
termed  in  western  miners'  language  —  contains  gold  and  silver 
values  sometimes  up  to  several  thousand  dollars  per  ton.  When 
the  Republic  Mining  Company,  owners  of  the  Republic  mine,  were 
confronted  with  the  problem  of  gold  extraction  from  their  ore,  it 
was  readily  acknowledged  that  the  difficulties  of  finding  a  suitable 
process  were  great,  so  much  so,  that  it  took  two  years  before  a 
definite  plan  as  to  the  character  of  the  mill  was  decided  upon. 
Experiments  showed  at  once  that  the  cyanide  method  generally 
in  vogue  would  not  answer  the  purpose  —  it  being  found  that  many 
alterations  in  the  old  method  had  to  be  made,  if  to  be  of  any  use  at 
all.  It  was  found  that  the  cyanide  solution  did  not  thoroughly 
percolate  through  the  pulp  ground  to  40-mesh  fineness,  thus  leaving 
a  large  percentage  of  the  gold  undissolved;  in  order  to  liberate  all 
the  gold  it  was  necessary  to  pulverize  the  ore  to  very  fine  mesh, 
and  this  difficulty  discarded  at  once  the  use  of  stamps  alone.  The 
experiments,  however,  showed  conclusively  that  if  the  ore  were 
pulverized,  the  so-called  agitating  cyaniding  process  was  apparently 
the  only  solution  of  the  difficulty.  It  was  the  Pelatin-Clerici  process 

1  Geology  and  Gold  Deposits  of  the  Cripple  Creek  District,  Colorado,  U.  S.  G.  S.t 
Professional  Paper  No.  54,  p.  140,  1906. 

*  Journal  of  the  Canadian  Mining  Institute,  Vol.  5,  pp.  274-280,  1902. 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  545 

which  was  adopted  by  the  Republic  people,  and  which  treated  under 
special  patents  the  ore  as  outlined  above,  and  it  was  decided  to  build 
a  mill  for  a  daily  capacity  of  30  tons.  The  main  feature  of  this  method 
of  treatment  is  to  dissolve  precious  metals  from  ores  and  precipitate 
same  from  their  solution  in  one  single  operation.  The  apparatus 
most  extensively  used  so  far  is  a  tank  provided  with  an  amalgamated 
copper  bottom,  a  metallic  stirrer  and  electrical  connections.  The 
ores  to  be  treated  by  this  process  may  be  pulverized  by  any  dry  or 
wet  system;  pulp  from  stamp  batteries  may  be  run  into  Pelatin- 
Clerici  tanks;  dry  pulverized  ores,  concentrates,  tailings,  slimes, 
may  be  added  to  the  solution  in  the  tanks.  The  process  is  an 
electrical  one;  to  the  pulp  are  added  common  salt  and  the  chemicals 
which  from  actual  tests  have  proved  the  best  solvents  of  the  precious 
metals;  an  electrical  current  is  passed  through  the  pulp,  while  it  is 
continuously  stirred,  dissolution  and  precipitation  proceed  at  the 
same  time.  Coarse  gold  will  go  down  by  gravity  and  amalgamate 
at  the  bottom;  all  metals  are  saved  in  the  shape  of  amalgam.  Clean- 
ups are  made  from  time  to  time,  and  a  product  is  obtained  which 
requires  retorting  and  melting  into  bars.  .  .  .  The  '  Gold  and  Silver 
Extraction  Co.,  of  America/  undertook  the  responsibility  for  the 
treatment  of  the  Mountain  Lion  ore  at  a  royalty  of  10  cents  per  ton 
at  the  same  time  guaranteeing  an  extraction  of  at  least  85  per 
cent  of  gold  and  of  at  least  60  per  cent  of  silver.  The  mill  was 
constructed  in  1899,  and  although  the  process  employed  did  not 
give  the  satisfaction  anticipated,  I  believe  it  is  of  interest  to  give 
here  a  brief  description  of  the  same,  for  the  reason  that  it  is  the 
only  mill  of  its  kind  ever  erected  in  the  gold  mining' camps  of  the 
western  Pacific  States. 

"  The  ore  is  raised  out  of  the  mine  through  a  vertical  shaft  in  a 
self-dumping  skip  and  dropped  into  a  grizzly,  the  coarser  passing 
through  a  9  by  15-inch  Blake  rock  crusher,  and  thence  with  the 
finer  material  into  a  200-ton  ore  bin.  From  that  it  is  delivered  into 
self  side  dumping  cars,  and  passing  down  an  automatic  tramway, 
is  dumped  into  ore  bins  at  the  top  and  east  end  of  the  mill.  It  is 
automatically  handled  from  the  moment  it  leaves  the  mine  until 
the  tailings  are  sluiced  out  of  the  mill.  From  the  bins  the  ore 
goes  to  4  stamp  batteries,  each  having  five  200-pound  stamps,  which 
drop  seven  inches,  crushing  the  ore  30-mesh  fine.  From  the  stamps 
the  pulp  passes  over  amalgamated  copper  plates,  thence  to  four 
Huntingdon  mills,  in  which  it  is  reground  from  80  to  100-mesh  fine. 
It  is  then  raised  by  bucket  elevators  to  the  settling  tanks,  in  which 


546 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


it  is  freed  from  the  major  part  of  the  water.  The  pulp  from  the 
settlers  is  transferred  to  agitating  tanks,  in  which  it  receives  an 
eight-hour  treatment  with  all  excess  of  cyanide  solution,  and  then 
allowed  to  settle.  All  the  clear  solution  is  decanted  off,  and  a 
second  solution  of  cyanide,  weaker  than  the  first,  added  to  the 
pulp  in  the  agitators  for  a  second  contact.  After  this  the  charge 
is  sluiced  off  to  big  percolating  or  filter  tanks,  and  here  allowed  to 
settle.  The  clear  liquor  is  then  drawn  off,  and  the  remaining  solution 
is  drawn  through  the  pulp  by  means  of  a  vacuum  pump.  This 
completes  the  percolation.  The  charge  is  then  washed  to  free 
it  from  the  cyanide,  and  the  tailings  sluiced  out.  The  solution 
which  contains  the  dissolved  gold,  coming  from  the  agitators  and  the 
filtering  tanks,  passes  through  boxes  with  zinc  shavings,  and  in 
these  the  gold  is  precipitated  in  the  form  of  black  slimes. 

"  The  solution,  freed  from  its  gold  contents,  is  pumped  into  the 
large  storage  tanks,  where,  after  being  strengthened  by  the  addition 
of  fresh  cyanide,  it  is  ready  for  treatment  of  a  fresh  charge  of  ore. 
It  requires  from  36  to  48  hours  from  the  time  the  ore  goes  into  the 
stamps  to  complete  the  operation  of  saving  gold.  .  ... 

"  The  mill  was  started  on  the  15th  of  March,  1900,  and  for  the 
first  two  cleanups  gave  by  amalgamation  and  cyanide  a  total  sav- 
ing of  nearly  70  per  cent  gold  and  37  per  cent  of  the  silver,  and  by 
actual  bullion  recovery  only  64  per  cent  gold  and  35  per  cent  silver. 
The  causes  for  the  low  percentage  recovered  in  bullion  were  appar- 
ently due  to  bad  agitation  and  coarseness  of  the  pulp  treated,  and 
after  repeated  experiments  it  was  found  that  owing  to  the  coarse- 
ness of  the  pulp,  agitation  of  the  whole  was  not  practicable;  the 
fines  and  coarse,  after  leaving  the  plates,  were  separated,  the  fines 
agitated  and  the  coarse  treated  by  percolation.  For  several  months 
the  mill  was  run  on  this  improved  plan,  with  a  number  of  other 
changes,  and  below  is  a  compendium  of  the  results  obtained: 


Assay  Value. 

Assay  Value. 

Per 

Treated 

Gross 

Glocr 

Total 

Tons. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Value. 

Amalga- 
mation. 

Cyanide. 

Saving. 

May  

2135 

12.39 

1.87 

30445.10 

7042.40 

5231.75 

269.66 

12543.81 

41.2 

June    .... 

2225 

10.20 

.73 

26544.25 

4195.71 

5901.55 

269.66 

10366.92 

39.0 

July  

2202 

8.50 

.38 

21755.76 

4449.64 

8101.84 

359.40 

12910.88 

59.3 

August  .  .  . 

1806 

7.49 

.47 

16181.76 

3773.94 

5988.25 

256.20 

10018.39 

61.9 

Sept  

1711 

8.11 

.44 

16340.15 

3314.57 

4275.67 

145.42 

145.42 

47.3 

Oct  

1880 

7.95 

.55 

17860.05 

3918.74 

6265.30 

239.57 

239.57 

58.3 

Milling  Cost,  per  ton $3 . 73      Average  Saving  of  54 . 9  per  cent. 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  547 

"  We  see  from  the  above  table  of  mill  statistics  that  the  average 
saving  during  a  six  months'  run  was  only  54.9  per  cent  of  gold  and 
26.9  per  cent  of  silver,  instead  of  85  per  cent  gold  extraction  and  60 
per  cent  silver  extraction  as  guaranteed  by  the  Gold  and  Silver 
Extracting  Co.,  of  America,  and  which  percentage  of  extraction  the 
metallurgical  experts  confidently  predicted  would  be  verified,  and 
continued  by  actual  mill  operations.  In  consequence  of  this  dis- 
appointing result,  the  mill  was  closed  on  November  1,  1900." 

For  a  description  of  the  plant  of  the  above  described  operations 
the  reader  is  referred  to  the  following  reference.1 

The  regenerative  action  of  alternating  currents  on  foul  cyanide 
solutions  was  discovered  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Davis,  which  is  due  to  the 
precipitation  of  the  foul  matter.  Further,  the  resulting  solution  is 
considerably  more  active,  having  a  higher  solvent  power  than  a 
normal  solution.  The  increased  efficiency  is  probably  due  to  cyan- 
ogen freed  by  electrolysis,  being  held  dissolved  in  the  solution. 
This  process  was  installed  at  the  Smuggler-Union  mines,  Colorado, 
in  1902.2 

There  are  two  general  methods  of  precipitation  employed  in  the 
cyanide  process,  namely  the  MacArthur-Forrest  and  the  Siemens- 
Halske.  These  are  described  by  John  Hays  Hammond  as  follows: 3 

"  The  Mac  Arthur- Forrest  Process.  —  In  this  process  the  gold  is 
precipitated  by  zinc,  the  solution  passing  upward  through  a  suc- 
cession of  compartments,  in  which  are  placed  zinc  shavings  or  fil- 
ings, resting  on  a  movable  tray  of  coarse  screening.  About  twenty 
precipitation  boxes,  20  feet  by  3  feet  by  3  feet  9  inches  in  size,  are 
used.  The  gold-bearing  solution  is  brought  into  close  contact  with 
the  zinc,  causing  the  deposition  of  the  gold,  partly  as  a  metallic 
coating  on  the  zinc  and  partly  as  gold  slimes,  which  sink  to  the 
bottom  of  the  box.  As  the  zinc  is  gradually  dissolved  by  cyanide 
more  is  added. 

"Once  or  twice  a  month  the  boxes  are  emptied,  and  the  gold 
slimes  are  treated  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  then  dried  and  melted 
in  crucibles.  The  dried  slimes  contain  about  15  to  20  per  cent  of 
gold,  and  after  fluxing  with  borax  and  soda  an  ingot  of  0.750  to 
0.800  fineness  in  gold  and  0.100  in  silver  is  obtained.  The  slag, 
carrying  from  5  to  50  ounces  of  gold  per  ton,  is  usually  sold  to 
smelters. 

1  Journal  of  the  Canadian  Mining  Institute,  Vol.  5,  pp.  274-280,  1902. 

2  Special  Kept.  Census  Office,  Mines  and  Quarries,  1902,  p.  599. 

3  Ibid.,  p.  601. 


548  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

"This  precipitation  process  yields  satisfactory  results  only  with 
solutions  containing  more  than  0.1  per  cent  of  cyanide,  the  weaker 
solutions  not  being  acted  upon  by  zinc.  An  improvement  of  the 
method  is  the  addition  of  lead  to  the  zinc,  whereby  the  combina- 
tion of  the  two  metals  forms  a  galvanic  couple,  which  also  reacts 
with  weaker  solutions,  such  as  are  employed,  for  example,  in  the 
treatment  of  slimes. 

"  The  Siemens- Halske  Process.  —  In  this  process  the  solution  flows 
through  compartments  very  similar  to  the  zinc  boxes  above  de- 
scribed, but  the  zinc  shavings  are  here  replaced  with  lead  strips 
(0.1  pound  per  square  foot)  or  shavings  hung  between  iron  plates 
placed  vertically  and  longitudinally  in  the  box,  about  4  inches  apart. 
The  lead  strips  are  connected  with  the  negative,  and  the  iron  plates 
with  the  positive,  pole  of  a  dynamo,  and  the  solution  is  thus  elec- 
trolytically  decomposed,  the  gold  being  plated  on  the  lead  cathode. 
The  iron  plates  are  wrapped  in  canvas  to  prevent  short  circuiting. 
The  current  employed  is  from  2  to  3  volts  giving  a  .current  density 
of  about  0.06  amperes  per  square  foot  of  cathode.  Once  a  month 
the  lead  sheets  are  removed  and  replaced,  and  the  gold  coated  lead 
is  melted  and  cupelled,  yielding  a  bullion  of  0.880  fine  in  gold  and 
0.100  in  silver.  The  litharge  is  sold  to  smelters.  The  solutions 
passing  through  the  treatment  boxes  ara  collected  in  tanks,  and 
are  made  up  to  a  proper  strength  by  adding  the  necessary  KCy. 

"  The  cost  of  the  Siemens-Halske  process  is  slightly  greater  than 
that  of  zinc  precipitation,  and  the  percentage  of  extraction  is  about 
the  same.  But  the  Siemens-Halske  process  may  be  applied  to  any 
solution,  weak  or  strong." 

The  introduction  of  the  filter  press  emphasized  the  importance  of 
fine  grinding  and  thus  permanently  established  fine  grinding  methods 
—  the  finer  the  product  treated  by  the  cyanide  process  the  higher 
the  extraction  —  a  rule  with  few  exceptions. 

Filter  press  work  had  its  origin  in  Australia  and  although  intro- 
duced into  the  United  States  was  never  very  popular,  probably 
owing  to  the  high  cost  of  installation  and  operation.  One  of  the 
most  successful  installations  in  this  country  is  that  at  the  Gold  Road 
mine,  near  Kingman,  Arizona,  where  two  five-ton  Dehne  presses 
have  been  operating  for  a  number  of  years, 

Some  few  years  ago  filter  pressing  was  tried  at  the  Consolidated 
Mercur  Company's  mill,  in  Utah,  but  without  success.  However, 
the  work  lead  to  the  adoption  of  a  vacuum  filter  at  the  same  mill, 
which  with  various  modifications  has  been  installed  at  a  number  of 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  549 

mills  in  this  country.  It  is  possible,  considering  the  results  obtained, 
that  the  days  of  the  filter  press  as  a  mere  filtering  device  have  begun 
to  wane.1 

A  description  of  the  Moore  vacuum  filter,  as  given  by  Mr.  F.  L. 
Bosqui,  is  in  part  as  follows: 2 

"  The  unit  of  the  Moore  filter  is  a  rectangular  wood  frame  covered 
with  canvas  and  provided  with  a  vacuum  drain  pipe  extending  to 
the  lowest  point  of  the  interior.  These  frames  are  grouped  together 
in  clusters  or  '  baskets/  which  are  raised  and  lowered  by  means  of 
a  hydraulic  crane.  When  lowered  into  a  suitable  compartment 
containing  the  slime  pulp,  the  vacuum  is  applied  to  a  common  pipe 
connected  with  each  frame,  the  solution  is  drawn  through  the  can- 
vas, and  a  slime  cake  varying  from  five-eighths  to  seven-eighths 
inch  in  thickness  is-  deposited  on  each  side  of  the  filter  frame.  The 
cluster  of  filter  frames  carrying  the  charge  of  slime,  weighing  several 
tons,  is  then  lifted  from  the  pulp,  shifted  .automatically  to  an  adjoin- 
ing compartment  containing  the  wash,  where  it  is  again  lowered,  the 
vacuum  applied,  and  the  displacing  operation  carried  on.  The  load 
is  again  raised  and  shifted  to  a  bin,  where  the  cakes  are  discharged 
by  introducing  air  or  water  into  the  interior  of  the  frames. 

"  The  objections  to  the  Moore  filter  are  the  high  first  cost  of  the 
mechanism  required  to  shift  the  slime  load,  and  the  high  cost  of 
maintenance.  The  unmechanical  and  cumbersome  features  of  this 
system  led  to  the  introduction  by  Cassel  of  a  stationary  filter,  and 
the  elimination  of  the  awkward  mechanism  of  the  Moore  scheme. 
It  remained  for  Butters  to  simplify  the  Cassel  principle  and  so 
modify  it  as  to  make  it  a  pronounced  success  at  his  Virginia  City 
plant.  In  the  Butters  filter,  the  leaves  are  set  in  a  rectangular  box 
or  tank,  the  bottom  of  the  box  consisting  of  a  series  of  pointed 
pockets  to  facilitate  the  discharge  of  the  spent  cakes.  The  frames 
are  approximately  5  by  10  feet,  and  consist  of  a  piece  of  cocoa  mat- 
ting with  a  sheet  of  canvas  quilted  on  each  side,  the  whole  being 
stretched  on  a  frame  of  half-inch  pipe  and  securely  sewed  to  this 
pipe  frame,  which,  in  turn,  is  supported  on  a  timber  header.  The 
bottom  arm  of  the  frame  is  perforated  with  small  holes,  through 
which  the  solution  enters  the  pipe  when  the  vacuum  is  applied.  On 
one  side  the  pipe  frame  is  projected  through  the  wooden  header, 
and  is  connected  with  a  common  pipe  leading  to  the  vacuum  pump. 
The  frames  stand  parallel  in  the  filter  box  at  about  four  and  one- 

1  American  Min.  Congress  Papers,  Vol.  9,  pp.  53,  56,  1906. 
8  Ibid.,  Vol.  9,  pp.  56-60,  1906. 


550  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

quarter-inch  centers.  The  slime  pulp  is  drawn  from  the  slime 
reservoir  and  pumped  into  the  bottom  of  the  filter  box  until  all  the 
frames  are  immersed.  The  vacuum  is  then  applied  until  a  cake  of 
suitable  thickness  is  deposited,  and  the  excess  of  pulp  is  then 
returned  to  the  slime  reservoir.  This  operation  is  repeated  for  the 
wash,  and  the  cake  finally  discharged  into  the  bottom  of  the  box 
by  introducing  water  under  a  low  head  into  the  interior  of  the  leaves. 
The  accumulated  cakes  from  each  charge  are  removed  by  sluicing. 

"  This  system  possesses  the  great  advantage  of  simplicity  and  low 
cost  of  maintenance.  A  plant  of  any  size  can  be  operated  by  one 
man,  who  stands  on  a  platform  on  a  level  with  the  top  of  the  filter 
box,  and  manipulates  the  pumps  with  levers,  and  the  valves  with  a 
simple  drum  and  sheave  mechanism.  .  .  . 

"  This  type  of  filter  has  been  installed,  or  is  in  process  of  installa- 
tion, at  the  following  plants: 

Works  of  Charles  Butters  &  Co.,  Virginia  City,  Nevada. 
Combination  mine,  Goldfield,  Nevada. 
At  the  two  large  Butters  plants  in  Central  America. 
Guadalupe  mine,  Inde,  Durango,  Mexico. 
Tonopah  Mining  Company,  Tonopah,  Nevada. 
Montana-Tonopah    Mining    Company,    Tonopah,    Nevada,    and 
several  other  plants  of  which  I  have  no  record. 

"  Considering  the  rapid  adoption  of  the  vacuum  filter,  the  predic- 
tion may  safely  be  made  that  it  will,  before  long,  supersede  the  old 
method  of  filter  pressing,  and  be  accepted  as  the  final  solution  of 
the  slime  problem.  There  are  certain  conditions,  however,  where 
the  product  to  be  handled  is  too  low-grade  to  admit  even  of  vacuum 
filtering,  and  which  require  special  study  and  a  special  process. 
The  need  of  a  special  process  to  suit  a  unique  condition  was  never 
better  exemplified  than  in  the  case  of  the  Homestake  ore. 

"  I  will  not  take  up  here  a  consideration  of  the  difficult  problems 
encountered,  and  successfully  solved  by  Mr.  Merrill  at  the  Homestake 
in  the  cyaniding  of  mill  tailings,  averaging  less  than  $1.50  per  ton 
in  value.  The  next  and  most  serious  problem  to  engage  his  atten- 
tion was  the  treatment  of  the  slime,  of  which  1,600  tons  per  day  had 
been  run  to  waste  from  the  Homestake  mills,  of  an  average  value  of 
about  80  cents  per  ton.  Mr.  Merrill  has  devised  a  filter  press,  the 
unique  feature  of  which  is  that  it  can  be  automatically  discharged 
by  sluicing  without  being  opened,  thus  doing  away  with  the  chief 


EXTRACTION  OF  VALUES.  551 

objection  to  the  old  type  of  press,  namely,  the  cost  of  operating. 
This  press  is  of  the  common  flush  plate  and  distance  frame  pattern, 
but  consists  of  much  larger  units.  The  dimensions  of  the  press  are 
as  follows: 

Number  of  frames,  92. 
Size  of  frame,  4  feet  by  6  feet. 
Length  of  press,  45  feet. 
Capacity  of  press,  26  tons. 
Weight  of  press,  65  tons. 
Thickness  of  cake,  4  inches. 

"  The  slime  pulp  is  admitted  to  this  press,  through  a  continuous 
channel  at  the  center  of  the  top  of  the  frames.  When  the  cake  is 
formed,  cyanide  solution  is  forced  into  the  cake  through  channels  at 
the  upper  corners. 

"  At  the  bottom  of  the  frames  there  extends  a  continuous  channel, 
within  which  lies  a  sluicing  pipe,  provided  with  nozzles  which  pro- 
ject into  each  compartment.  This  pipe  can  be  revolved  through  an 
arc  of  any  magnitude,  so  as  to  play  a  stream  into  any  part  of  the 
cake,  washing  it  down  into  the  annular  space  between  the  center 
channel  and  the  sluicing  pipe.  When  the  press  is  being  rilled  and 
leached  the  discharge  ends  of  this  pipe  are  sealed. 

"  The  method  of  operating  is  as  follows: 

"  The  slime,  after  partial  dewatering,  consists  of  about  three  parts 
of  water  to  one  of  solids.  In  this  form  it  is  charged  by  gravity  to 
the  presses  at  about  thirty  pounds  pressure.  The  leaching  with 
cyanide  solution  is  done  in  the  press,  the  effluent  solutions  being 
conducted  to  four  precipitating  tanks,  where  the  values  are  re- 
covered by  zinc  dust.  There  is  no  power  cost  for  agitating  or  ele- 
vating, except  for  elevating  the  solution  to  the  press.  There  will  be 
only  six-tenths  ton  of  solution  handled  per  ton  of  slime,  of  which 
only  three-tenths  ton  will  be  precipitated.  All  filtering  will  be 
done  by  gravity  at  a  cost  of  two  cents  per  ton. 

"  This  plant  is  being  erected  on  the  basis  of  tests  made  in  a  ten- 
ton  press  of  the  type  described.  In  all  1,291  tons  were  treated, 
with  the  following  results: 

Per  Ton. 

Average  assay  value  of  slime  before  treatment $0.91 

Average  assay  value  of  slime  after  treatment 10 

Extraction  by  assay  per  ton,  90  per  cent  or 81 

Recovered  in  precipitate  per  ton,  91  per  cent  or 83 


552  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  tendency  of  modern  practice  in  cyaniding  is  toward  fine 
grinding,  the  elimination  of  the  leaching  tanks,  and  efficient  methods 
of  filtering. 

According  to  Mr.  T.  A.  Rickard,1  "The  claim  often  made  in  behalf 
of  cyanidation  as  against  chlorination,  that  the  former  does  not 
and  the  latter  does  require  a  previous  preparatory  roasting  of 
the  ore,  is  being  minimized  by  the  fact  that  a  rough  calcination  is 
in  many  cases  advisable,  even  in  cyanidation,  because  of  the  physi- 
cal, rather  than  chemical  changes  produced  in  the  ore;  changes 
rendering  the  material  more  friable,  and  so  more  easily  pulverized, 
and  more  porous,  and  therefore  better  leached  and  more  quickly 
filtered." 

1  Mineral  Industry,  1894,  p.  648. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER 
INTRODUCTORY   REMARKS. 

A  DETAILED  account  of  the  distribution  and  occurrence  of  the 
precious  metals,  gold  and  silver,  has  been  given  in  previous  chapters 
and  to  make  complete  that  record  it  is  necessary  to  consider  in  the 
same  relation  their  production.  As  gold  and  silver  are  the  basis  of 
the  monetary  systems  of  the  world  it  is  somewhat  difficult  to  sepa- 
rate their  production  and  use  in  one  particular  country  from  the 
other  countries  of  the  world's  community,  which  condition  of  affairs 
is  becoming  more  pronounced  from  year  to  year  owing  to  the 
improved  facilities  of  travel  and  transportation. 

Owing  to  the  relation  which  exists  between  money  and  industry 
there  is  a  natural  and  wide-spread  interest  in  the  production  of  the 
precious  metals. 

The  history  of  the  production  of  gold  and  silver,  and  more 
especially  the  former,  has  been  one  of  extremes,  i.e.,  from  periods  of 
low  production  and  even  scarcity  to  times  when  the  yield  has  been 
abnormally  large.  At  such  times  the  advisability  of  their  'use  as 
standards  of  value  has  been  questioned.  The  single-  or  gold-stand- 
ard has  now  been  adopted  by  many  of  the  leading  nations,  and  will, 
in  time,  probably,  be  accepted  by  all,  thus  raising  the  question  of 
available  supply. 

The  principal  sources  of  supply  in  the  past  were:  the  gold  treas- 
ures of  the  New  World,  and  the  gold-placers  of  Brazil;  the  placers 
of  Russia;  and  later,  the  auriferous  deposits  of  Cailfornia  and 
Australia.  Yet,  notwithstanding  the  large  outputs  which  at  times 
seem  practically  inexhaustible  the  supply  could  not  be  maintained, 
and  a  steady  downward  movement  began.  . 

Eminent  authorities  as  geologists,  mining  engineers  and  finan- 
ciers after  a  careful  consideration  of  the  question  were  a  unit  in  the 
opinion  that  the  supply  of  gold  was  uncertain,  that  there  was  small 
hope  of  any  considerable  new  discoveries,  and  that  the  output 

553 


554  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

would  decline  to  such  an  extent  that  economically  the  metal  would 
lose  its  status.1 

In  1880  according  to  Mr.  Alexander  Del  Mar  it  was  "  but  too 
evident  that  the  future  supply  of  these  metals  will  not  only  fail  to 
keep  pace  with  the  growth  of  population  and  commerce,  but  they 
will  absolutely  diminish."  2  A  seemingly  obvious  conclusion  from  a 
study  of  the  world's  supply  and  demand,  but  it  may  confidently  be 
said  that  as  long  as  workable  deposits  of  the  precious  metals  can  be 
found,  be  they  high-  or  low-grade,  there  is  little  reason  to  fear  any 
material  reduction  in  output.  The  search  for  gold  is  universal  and  per- 
sistent, and  is  growing  in  intensity  and  determination  from  decade 
to  decade.  With  a  record  of  no  over-production  or  surplus  on  the 
market  there  has  been  an  increased  demand  for  it  and  its  purchasing 
power  has  been  enhanced. 

There  was  a  turning  point,  however,  in  the  production  of  gold  and 
silver,  and  an  increase  was  observed,  which,  although  slow  at  first, 
grew  in  volume  until  a  marked  yearly  increase  was  attained.  In  a 
review  of  the  gold  and  silver  production,  in  1892,  Mr.  S.  F.  Emmons 
concluded  that  the  annual  production  of  the  United  States  would 
soon  "  increase  to  $40,000,000,  and  perhaps  more;"  and  that  of  the 
world  would  "  increase  to  $150,000,000  within  a  few  years,  and  per- 
haps to  $200,000,000  before  the  close  of  the  decade."  3  Comment- 
ing upon  these  statements  Mr.  Waldemar  Lindgren  says:  "  These 
predictions  have  been  greatly  exceeded  by  the  results  of  the  work 
of  the  last  few  years.  The  treasures  of  South  Africa  and  West 
Australia  were  found;  in  Alaska  and  British  Columbia  new  deposits 
of  wonderful  extent  were  opened;  and  even  in  such  presumably 
well  prospected  regions  as  Colorado,  California,  Arizona,  Montana 
and  Mexico,  new  finds  were  constantly  reported,  and  the  produc- 
tion rose  steadily  and  rapidly."  4 

In  the  twenty  years  following  1880  the  world's  annual  produc- 
tion of  gold  increased  from  approximately  $100,000,000  to  nearly 
$300,000,000,  while  that  of  the  United  States  had  advanced  from 
$33,000,000  to  $79,000,000  —  the  direct  result  of  new  discoveries 
and  improved  methods  of  treating  refractory  and  low-grade  ores. 

Mr.  W.  Burrell,  having  in  mind  conditions  obtaining  in  Australia 

1  Die  Zukunft  des  Goldes,  Wien,  1877,  and  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  791. 
a  History  of  the  Precious  Metals,  Alexander  Del  Mar,  1880. 

3  "  Mineral  Resources  of  the  United  States/'  Calendar  year,  1892,  U.  S,  G.  S, 
pp.  90-93,  1893. 

4  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  792,  1903. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  555 

rather  than  elsewhere,  gives  the  following  reasons  for  his  conclu- 
sions regarding  the  probable  decrease  in  production  of  gold:"  first, 
the  recent  rate  of  increase  must  soon  be  checked  by  the  natural 
exploitation  of  the  more  easily  worked  gold-bearing  formations; 
second,  the  apparent  impossibility  of  very  much  further  reduction 
in  costs  of  treatment,  and  mining  costs  generally;  and  third,  "the 
enormous  capacity  there  exists  in  most  of  the  great  commercial 
countries  to  absorb  any  comparatively  larger  output."  1  It  is  possible 
that  the  time  will  come  when  the  supply  will  depend  more  upon 
improvements  in  processes  of  extraction  of  the  metals  than  in  the 
development  of  new  districts,  but  predictions  based  upon  such 
assumptions  are  extremely  unreliable.  Evidently  then  the  most 
reliable  source  of  information  upon  which  to  base  conclusions  as  to 
the  available  supply  of  precious  metals  is  the  character  and  occur- 
rence of  the  various  known  and  workable  deposits. 

The  quantity  of  gold  and  silver  found  in  nature  is  extremely 
limited,  and  although  deposits  of  considerable  extent  and  unusual 
richness,  known  as  bonanzas,  are  occasionally  found,  they  are 
quickly  exhausted,  and  are  relatively  of  small  importance  com- 
pared with  the  large,  low-grade  deposits  that  maintain  a  uniform 
production  for  years. 

The  terms  "  low-grade  "  and  "  high-grade  "  as  applied  to  ores 
are  variable  both  with  respect  to  time  and  locality.  A  change 
or  improvement  in  method  of  treatment,  mining,  handling  or 
extracting  the  values  from  the  ore  are  the  most  potent  causes  of 
change  of  standard.  At  present  ore  ranging  in  value  from  $3.50 
to  $8.00  is  considered  low-grade,  although  the  term  is  applied  more 
usually  to  the  former  figures.  All  ore  of  a  value  of  $8  to  $30 
may  be  considered  as  medium-grade,  while  that  above  $30  or  $40 
is  high-grade.  Formerly,  in  many  localities;  all  ore  below  $50  was 
considered  low-grade  and  too  poor  to  work.  Ores  running  from 
$15  to  $30  are  occasionally  yet  called  high-grade.2  Probably  the 
most  important  source  of  gold  is  placer  deposits,  for  the  reason  that 
the  gold  is  easily  extracted  and  being  in  the  free  state  requires  little 
or  no  subsequent  treatment.  These  deposits  like  the  bonanzas  are 
too  quickly  exhausted  to  be  of  any  permanent  value  as  a  source  of 
supply.  It  would  then  seem  that  from  the  standpoint  of  permanency 
of  output  our  main  reliance  must  be  placed  upon  auriferous  ores 
of  which  there  is  a  wide  range  and  it  is  constantly  being  extended. 

1  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  27,  p.  69. 

3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines  and  Minerals,  p.  4,  1899. 


556  GOLD   AND  SILVER. 

On  the  other  hand  silver  has  always  been  obtained  chiefly  from  ores 
by  metallurgical  treatment  and  it  was  largely  through  the  treatment 
of  argentiferous  ores  that  the  metallurgical  treatment  of  other 
metals  was  made  possible.  The  discovery  of  bonanzas  such  as  those 
of  the  Comstock  lode  was  mainly  responsible  for  the  rapid  progress 
made  in  the  metallurgical  treatment  of  both  silver  and  gold. 

There  is,  however,  another  feature  in  connection  with  the  produc- 
tion of  gold  and  silver,  namely,  the  element  of  risk  which  is  less 
prominent  in  placer-  than  vein-mining.  Profit  is  probably  the 
chief  incentive  to  the  search  for  deposits  and  methods  of  extracting 
the  precious  metals.  The  great  profits  which  accrue  to  the  lucky 
finders  or  possessors  of  rich  deposits,  when  made  public,  lead  others 
to  seek  such  investments.  The  result  is,  an  extensive  search  is  made 
which  leads  to  the  discovery,  perhaps,  of  a  few  other  rich  deposits 
and  a  large  number  of  poor  or  worthless  ones.  However,  money  is 
expended  on  all  alike,  which  is  often  lost  in  misdirected  efforts.  A 
disgust  and  distrust  of  such  investments  come  as  a  reaction  and 
capital  and  labor  withdraw.  Nevertheless  the  production  does 
not  immediately  feel  the  effect  of  this  change  of  sentiment,  because 
the  rich  mines  are  yielding  large  returns  prior  to  their  exhaustion. 
Later  when  the  production  is  at  a  low  point,  the  discovery  of  a  new 
bonanza  or  deposit  may  cause  the  history  of  the  district  to  repeat 
itself,  yet  it  is  rarely  the  case  that  the  turning  point  in  production 
and  the  change  in  public  interest  are  coincident. 

The  local  and  largely  temporary  over-production  of  the  precious 
metals  has  in  many  cases  caused  a  decided  decline  in  their  purchasing 
power,  especially  noticeable  in  California,  Australia  and  Russia, 
which,  according  to  Jevons,  was  responsible  for  Holland's  adoption 
of  the  silver  standard  and  bi-metallism  by  other  countries  —  a 
decline  of  from  8  to  15  per  cent  occurred.  A  further  effect  of 
increased  production  is  the  reduced  cost  of  production.  This  is 
especially  true  of  gold,  while  as  silver  decreases  in  annual  production 
the  cost  of  its  production  has  increased. 

As  to  the  effect  of  a  possible  increase  in  cost  of  production  of  gold, 
assuming  $3  to  be  the  average  cost  per  ton  of  ore  mined,  Mr.  R.  W. 
Barrell  considers  that  an  increase  of  10  per  cent,  would  not 
materially  affect  the  properties  now  operating  but  might  have  some 
effect  upon  the  exploitation  of  new  properties.  With  an  increase 
of  25  per  cent,  a  number  of  the  large  mines  might  have  to  close  and 
the  general  effect  would  be  a  decrease  in  production.  While  with 
an  increase  of  40  per  cent,  practically  none  but  the  mines  producing 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  557 

high-grade  ore  could  operate  and  the  production  would  be  curtailed 
by  at  least  75  per  cent.  Further,  he  holds  that  an  increase  in 
production  of  5  per  cent  could  be  readily  absorbed  without  any 
indication  of  a  surplus  on  the  market.1 

With  the  comparatively  large  amount  of  gold  and  silver  stocks 
accumulated  in  the  world  at  the  present  time  the  discovery  of 
especially  rich  mines  has  a  less  disturbing  influence,  which  together 
with  a  better  understanding  of  the  economic  relation  between  money 
and  metals,  have  materially  reduced  the  number  and  extent  of  the 
fluctuations  in  investment  and  production. 

It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  the  actual  and  relative  amounts  of 
the  precious  metals  produced  depend  largely  upon  their  abundance 
in  nature  and  the  relative  profits  resulting  from  their  production. 
The  relatively  small  amounts  of  these  metals  found  in  ores  and  the 
difficulty  often  experienced  in  extracting  the  values  are  most 
effective  regulators  of  production.2 

"The  demand  for  gold  and  silver  has  always  been  due  to  their 
use  in  money;  the  uses  in  the  industries,  chiefly  as  ornaments  and 
articles  of  luxury,  are  due  rather  to  the  fact  that  the  metals  are  used 
in,  and  are  easily  convertible  into,  money  than  to  their  intrinsic 
physical  properties,  so  that  it  may  be  said  almost  the  entire  demand 
for  both  gold  and  silver  has  always  been  on  account  of  their  use  in 
money.  It  is  because  their  possession  is  an  evidence  of  wealth  and 
brings  to  their  possessor  the  consideration  and  homage  of  his  fellows, 
that  there  is  a  demand  for  them,  and  not  because  their  physical 
properties  are  so  superior  to  those  of  many  other  metals  as  to  justify 
the  difference  in  their  prices.  There  is  not  now  and  never  will  be 
any  large  use  in  the  industries  dependent  upon  the  intrinsic  proper- 
ties of  either  gold  or  silver  that  would  give  it  a  value  at  all  comparable 
with  its  present  price,  or  that  would  induce  its  production  in  large 
amounts."  3 

PRODUCTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

In  1894  the  United  States  lost  the  -first  place  in  the  world  as  a 
producer  of  gold,  its  production  having  been  exceeded  by  that  of 
Australasia  by  $290,670.  In  1889  California  held  first  rank  among 
the  States  in  gold  production,  its  product,  as  estimated  by  the 
Director  of  the  Mint,  being  nearly  four  times  that  of  Colorado  and 

1  Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  26,  pp.  455  and  456. 

2  The  Mineral  Industry,  1894,  pp.  298-304. 

3  Mineral  Industry,  1894,  p.  298. 


558  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

there  was  besides  this  a  small  annual  increase.  However,  notwith- 
standing this  formidable  handicap  in  the  race  for  supremacy  in 
output  of  gold,  Colorado,  in  1897,  attained  and  exceeded  and  has 
still  retained  the  ranking  position  in  production. 

In  1902  the  ores  of  Colorado  yielded  more  than  one-third  of  the 
gold  and  more  than  one-fourth  of  the  silver  obtained  from  ores  in 
the  United  States,  while  California  contributed  one-fifth  of  the  gold 
produced  in  the  States.  Following  California  came  Alaska  with  one- 
ninth  of  the  total  gold  product  and  more  than  one-half  of  the  placer 
gold  in  the  States.  The.  other  principal  producing  states  had  a 
relative  production  as  shown  by  the  following  order:  South 
Dakota,  Montana,  Utah,  Arizona,  Oregon,  Nevada  and  Idaho. 
The  yield  from  the  other  states  and  territories  was  less  than 
$1,000,000  each. 

With  Colorado  leading  in  the  production  of  silver,  Montana  held 
the  second  place  and  was  a  close  second  to  Colorado,  contributing 
nearly  one-fourth  of  the  silver  produced  from  ores  in  the  United 
States,  the  larger  part  (nearly  three-fourths)  being  derived  from 
the  smelting  of  copper  ores.  Utah  stood  third  in  rank  as  a  producer 
of  silver,  yielding  over  one-fifth  of  the  total  product.  Idaho  and 
Nevada  came  next  in  order. 

Silver  was  obtained  chiefly  in  the  treatment  of  argentiferous 
lead  ores,  the  order  of  production  in  the  principal  producing  states, 
was  Idaho,  Utah  and  Colorado,  the  product  being  $10,291,494, 
$8,261,095  and  $7,296,925  respectively.  The  relative  proportion 
of  silver  to  lead  in  value  in  the  ores  being:  J  to  J,  in  Colorado;  §  to 
J,  in  Utah;  and  J  to  f  in  Idaho. 

Compared  with  the  value  of  the  gold  product  in  California  and 
South  Dakota,  the  silver  output  is  insignificant,  while  in  Montana 
and  Utah  the  silver-content  of  the  ores  exceeds  that  of  the  gold. 

Up  to  1895  there  was  a  substantial  increase  in  the  production  of 
silver  in  Colorado  and  Montana,  following  which  there  was  a  decided 
decline,  while,  since  1889,  the  silver  output  of  Utah  has  materially 
increased.  Nevada  and  Idaho  occupying  the  fourth  and  fifth  pos- 
itions respectively  in  the  production  of  silver,  had  a  reversal  take 
place,  Idaho  steadily  forging  to  the  front.  From  1889  to  1899  the 
silver  output  of  Nevada  gradually  fell  off  until  it  became  of 
little  relative  importance,  but  since  1900  there  has  been  a  decided 
increase. 

There  was  a  relative  shifting  of  positions  of  the  two  precious  metals 
in  the  various  states  in  1902;  in  Colorado  in  1889  the  gold  product 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  559 

amounted  to  $3,883,859  and  that  of  silver  estimated  at  the  com- 
mercial rate  of  93.5  cents  per  fine  ounce,  to  $17,500,000;  while  in 
1902  the  value  of  gold  was  $26,414,800  and  the  commercial  value 
of  silver  $7,740,227.  The  decrease  of  nearly  $10,000,000  in  com- 
mercial value  of  the  silver  product  was  made  up  by  an  increase  in 
the  gold  output  and  there  was  a  surplus  of  $13,000,000  in  the  aggre- 
gate commercial  value  of  the  two  metals.1 

In  1905  nine  states  and  territories  produced  99.5  per  cent  of  the 
gold  output  of  the  United  States.  Colorado  still  ranked  first,  while 
next  in  order  came  California,  Alaska  and  South  Dakota.  In  the 
production  of  silver  Montana  led  but  was  closely  followed  by  Colorado 
and  Utah. 

As  silver  is  now  produced  largely  as  a  by-product  from  ores  worked 
principally  for  other  metals,  its  production  will  continue  irrespective 
of  the  demand  or  the  commercial  value.  The  principal  silver  pro- 
ducing states  in  1905  were:  Montana  and  Arizona  (from  the  copper 
mines)  and  Colorado,  Utah  and  Idaho  (from  the  lead  mines.) 2 

"  The  estimated  production  of  refined  silver  is  equal  to  the  total 
silver  production  of  domestic  refineries  less  the  silver  contents  of 
foreign  ores  reduced  in  the  United  States.  .  .  .  The  excess  appear- 
ing from  year  to  year  in  the  production  reported  by  the  mine  oper- 
ators, as  compared  with  the  product  of  refineries,  is  easily  accounted 
for  by  the  fact  that  the  former  is  largely  an  estimate  of  the  assay 
contents  of  all  ore  mined,  regardless  of  the  quantity  of  ore  which 
will  eventually  be  left  on  the  dump  after  sorting,  as  being  of  too  low- 
grade  to  pay  freight  and  reduction;  nor  are  the  losses  in  smelting 
always  considered  by  the  mine  operator  in  estimating  the  assay 
contents  of  his  ore."  3 

The  relatively  large  increase  in  gold  production  of  the  North 
American  continent  during  the  past  decade  has  been  due  to  the 
following  causes:  first,  the  discovery  and  development  of  new  dis- 
tricts throughout  the  productive  portions  of  the  country;  second, 
the  operation  under  more  favorable  conditions  of  many  of  the 
old  districts;  third,  the  development  of  metallurgical  processes, 
especially  copper  smelting;  fourth,  the  working  of  low-grade  ores  and 
wastes  by  lixiviation  processes;  and  fifth,  improvements  in  placer- 
working  appliances. 

1  Mines  and  Quarries,  1902,  Special  Report  of  the  Dept.  of  Commerce  and 
Labor,  Bureau  of  the  Census,  p.  555. 

2  Mineral  Industry,  1905,  p.  218. 

3  Mines  and  Quarries,  1902,  Rept.  Bureau  of  Census,  p.  553. 


560 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


In  the  following  table  are  given  the  number  of  producing  mines, 
ore  production,  and  average  value  of  gold  and  silver  per  ton  in  1905, 
by  states: 1 

TABLE  I. 


State  and  Territory. 

Number  of  Mines. 

Ore  Produc- 
tion from 
Deep  Mines. 
(Short  Tons.) 

Average  Value 
of  Gold  and 
Silver  Per 
Ton  of  Ore 
from  Deep 
Mines. 

Placer. 

Deep. 

Total. 

Alabama          

1 
*  1,100 
12 
658 
23 
*  12 
152 

2 
18 
122 
481 
490 
*  10 
105 
2 
254 
122 
52 
16 
66 
2 
20 
2 
6 
114 
*  4 

35 
6 

3 
*  1,118 
134 
1,139 
513 
*  22 
257 
2 
332 
132 
73 
23 
233 
2 
32 
3 
6 
121 
*7 

51 
13 

16,525 
1,422,515 
2,678,059 
2,696,603 
2,504,087 
*  16,000 
1,669,038 
2,698 
5,020,137 
432,202 
145,629 
18,831 
150,268 
49,493 
1,837,411 
399,330 
22,345 
2,181,061 
*800 
46,650 
31,007 

$2.46 
2.46 
1.62 
5.06 
12.73 
*  4.18 
3.58 
5.51 
2.47 
21.25 
3.03 
6.76 
8.03 
1.92 
3.86 
.15 
10.49 
5.41 
*5.35 
10.17 
.87 

Alaska       

Arizona  

California, 

Colorado  

Georgia 

Idaho 

Maryland     

Montana         

78 
10 
21 
7 
167 

Nevada  

New  Mexico  

Oregon  

South  Carolina 

South  Dakota  

12 
1 

Tennessee       

Texas  

Utah            

7 
*  3 
16 

7 

Virginia  

Washington  

Wyoming  . 

Total  

2,287 

1,929 

4,216 

21,340,689 

4.82 

*  Estimated. 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  121. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD   AND  SILVER. 


561 


The  sources  of  gold  and  silver  as  reported  from  the  mines  in  the 
states  and  territories  during  1905  are  arranged  according  to  charac- 
ter of  ore  and  by  states  in  Table  II :  * 

TABLE  II. 


State. 

Placers. 

Dry  or  Siliceous  Ores. 

Copper  Ores. 

Lead  Ores. 

Gold. 

Silver 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Alabama  
Alaska  
Arizona  
California  
Colorado     
Georgia  

50 

586,499.53 
2,064 
285,029.17 
4,855.71 
1,451 
16,470 

5 
75,092 
306 
27,367 
908 
100 
3,482 

1,959 
166,168.13 
67,572 
617,856.11 
1,165,232.96 
3,159 
34,282 
717 

331 
31,107 
441,952 
607,161 
6,107,559 
271 
861,637 
93 

3,433.62 
55,668 
10,867.46 
3,884.13 
78 
833 

26,525 
1,480,732 
388,169 
55,388 
669 
486,450 

9,270 
464.40 
31,667.99 

594,330 
53,477 
3,883,827 

Idaho  
Maryland 

362 

7,277,408 

Michigan  

251,011 
10,624,594 
1,689 
19,962 
17,130 
1,825 

Montana  
Nevada  
New  Mexico.  .  . 
North  Carolina 
Oregon  
South  Carolina 
South  Dakota  . 
Tennessee  
Texas  .  . 

19,200.07 
400.25 
4,805.34 
484 
12,172.06 

2,573 
98 
662 
100 
1,945 

154,792.94 
253,015.54 
10,371.92 
5,224.50 
54,970.23 
4,601.00 
337,673.43 

1,797,722 
6,183,588 
295,484 
3,000 
85,177 
111 
182,697 

52,881.44 
51.33 
44.43 
372 
835.94 

4,899.10 
1,460.39 
137.87 

798,855 
291,953 
53,084 

1,689 

443.27 
10 

52 

201 

95,521 

12 
64,383 
202 
18,993.99 
961.11 

387,506 
94,497 
173 
107,737 

86 

Utah  
Virginia  
Washington  .  . 
Wyoming.  .  .  . 

Total     

322 
39 
311.48 
102.38 

61 
41 
60 
11 

125,897 

2,301,349 

17,805 

3,104,375 

290.16 
230.32 

6,374 
3,559 



11,205 

934,709.26 

12,826 

2,962,147.36 

17,187,889 

255,567.83 

15,762,947 

66,066.75 

16,070,203 

State. 

Zinc  Ores. 

Copper-Lead  or 
Copper-Lead- 
Zinc  Ores. 

Lead-Zinc  Ores. 

Total. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Alabama  

2,009 
756,101.28 
135,412 
914,217.14 
1,210,534.73 
4,688 
52,033 
717 

336 
132,724 
2,605,712 
1,076,174 
11,499,307 
1,040 
8,679,093 
93 
253,011 
13,231,300 
6,482,081 
369,192 
20,230 
90,636 
111 
182,749 
95,522 
387,506 
11,036,471 
177 
125,376 
3,655 

Alaska  

Arizona 

121 

88,392 

717 

California  

Colorado     .... 

1,846.39 

916,391 

3,047.55 

535,234 

Idaho 

10 

30,653 

76 

19,463 

Michigan  

140.20 

7,556 

231,913.75 
254,927.51 
15,359.56 
6,080 
67,978.23 
4,601 
338,116.70 
211 
12 
248,692 
241 
19,595.63 
1,293.81 

Nevada 

4,753 

North  Carolina 

South  Carolina 
South  Dakota  . 
Tennessee 

Texas 

Utah..  

95 

18,108 

38,500 

5,290,122 

1,690 

227,959 

Washington 

Wyoming 

Total     

1,941.39 

939,252 

38,771.20 

5,416,723 

5,530.55 

782,656 

4,264,734.34 

56,272,496 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  pp.  122  and  125. 


562 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


APPROXIMATE  DISTRIBUTION,  BY  PRODUCING  STATES  AND 
TERRITORIES,  OF  THE  PRODUCT  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER  IN 
THE  UNITED  STATES  FOR  THE  CALENDAR  YEAR,  1905. 

(As  estimated  by  the  Director  of  the  Mint.) 

TABLE  III. 


State  or  Terri- 
tory. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Total  Value. 
(Silver  at 
Commercial 
Value). 

Fine  Ounces. 

Value. 

Fine  Ounces. 

Commercial 
Value. 

Alabama 
Alaska       .    . 

2,008 
722,026 
130,192 
928,660 
1,243,291 
4,586 
52,032 
817 

$41,500 
14,925,600 
2,691,300 
19,197,100 
25,701,100 
94,800 
1,075,600 
16,900 

300 
169,200 
2,605,700 
1,082,000 
12,942,800 
900 
8,125,600 
100 
253,000 
12,900 
13,454,700 
5,863,500 
354,900 
13,200 
88,900 
200 
179,000 
95,400 
417,200 
10,319,800 
200 
119,400 
2,700 

$183 
103,212 
1,589,477 
660,020 
7,895,108 
549 
4,956,616 
61 
154,330 
7,869 
8,207,367 
3,576,735 
216,489 
8,052 
54,229 
122 
109,190 
58,194 
254,492 
6,295,078 
122 
72,834 
1,647 

$41,683 
15,028,812 
4,280,777 
19,857,120 
33,596,208 
95,349 
6,032,216 
16,961 
154,330 
7,869 
13,096,667 
8,935,835 
482,289 
131,952 
1,299,129 
95,222 
7,023,090 
61,494 
256,392 
11,435,978 
5,122 
442,834 
25,347 

Arizona 

California  .  .  . 
Colorado.  .  .  . 
Georgia  

Idaho  

Maryland  
Michigan 

Missouri 

Montana 

236,520 
259,246 
12,858 
5,994 
60,222 
4,600 
334,460 
160 
92 
248,691 
242 
17,899 
1,146 

4,889,300 
5,359,100 
265,800 
123,900 
1,244,900 
95,100 
6,913,900 
3,300 
1,900 
5,140,900 
5,000 
370,000 
23,700 

Nevada 

New  Mexico. 
N.  Carolina.. 
Oregon  

S.  Carolina  .. 
S.  Dakota.  .. 
Tennessee  .  .  . 
Texas 

Utah 

Virginia  
Washington  . 
Wyoming  

Total 

4,265,742 

88,180,700 

56,101,600 

34,221,976 

122,402,676 

PRODUCTION  OF   GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


563 


TABLE   IV. 

PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES 
FROM   1792  TO   1844,  AND   ANNUALLY  SINCE.1 

(The  estimate  for  1792-1873  is  by  R.  W.  Raymond,  Commissioner,  and  since  by  Director  of 
the  Mint.) 


Ypar 

Gol 

d. 

Silver 

Fine  Ounces. 

Value. 

Fine  Ounces. 

Commercial 
Value. 

1792  to  July 
31,  1834 

677,250 

$14,000,000 

July  31,  1834 
to  Dec.  31, 
1844. 
1845  

362,812 
48,762 

.  7,500,000 
1,008,000 

193,400 
38,700 

$253,400 
50,200 

1846 

55  341 

1,140,000 

38,700 

50,300 

1847 

43  005 

889,000 

38,700 

50,600 

Total  

1,187,170 

24,537,000 

309,500 

404/500 

1848 

483,750 

10,000,000 

38,700 

50,500 

1849 

1,935,000 

40,000,000 

38,700 

50,700 

1850 

2,418,750 

50,000,000 

38,700 

50,900 

1851 

2,660,625 

55,000,000 

38,700 

51,700 

1852     

2,902,500 

60,000,000 

38,700 

51,300 

1853  

3,144,375 

65,000,000 

38,700 

52,200 

1854  

2,902,500 

60,000,000 

38,700 

52,200 

1855  

2,660,625 

55,000,000 

38,700 

52,000 

1856  

2,660,625 

55,000,000 

38,700 

52,000 

1857  

2,660,625 

55,000,000 

38,700 

52,400 

1858 

2,418,750 

50,000,000 

38,700 

52,000 

1859 

2,418,750 

50,000,000 

77,300 

105,100 

1860 

2,225,250 

46,000,000 

116,000 

156,800 

1861 

2,080,125 

43,000,000 

1,546,900 

2,062,000 

1862    

1,896,300 

39,200,000 

3,480,500 

4,684,800 

1863    

1,935,000 

40,000,000 

6,574,200 

8,842,300 

1864    

2,230,087 

46,100,000 

8,507,800 

11,443,000 

1865  

2,574,759 

53,225,000 

8,701,200 

11,642,200 

1866  

2,588,062 

53,500,000 

7,734,400 

10,356,400 

1867  

2,502,196 

51,725,000 

10,441,400 

13,866,200 

1868 

2,322,000 

48,000,000 

9,281,200 

12,306,900 

1869 

2,394,562 

49,500,000 

9,281,200 

12,297,600 

1870 

2,418,750 

50,000,000 

12,375,000 

16,434,000 

1871     

2,104,312 

43,500,000 

17,789,100 

23,588,300 

1872    

1,741,500 

36,000,000 

22,236,300 

29,396,400 

Total  

58,279,778 

1,204,750,000 

118,568,200 

157,749,900 

1  Rept.  Director  of  Mint,  1906,  p.  123. 


564 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


TABLE  IV.  —  Continued. 


Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Fine  Ounces. 

Value. 

Fine  Ounces. 

Commercial 
Value. 

1873  

1,741,500 
,620,122 
,619,009 
,931,575 
,268,662 
,477,109 
,881,787 
,741,500 
,678,612 
,572,187 
,451,250 
,489,950 
,538,373 
,686,788 
1,603,049 
1,604,478 
1,594,775 
1,588,877 
1,604,840 
1,597,098 
1,739,323 
1,910,813 
2,254,760 
2,568,132 
2,774,935 
3,118,398 
3,437,210 
3,829,897 
3,805,500 
3,870,000 
3,560,000 
3,892,480 
4,265,742 
75,318,731 

$36,000,000 
33,490,900 
33,467,900 
.  39,929,200 
46,897,400 
51,206,400 
38,900,000 
36,000,000 
34,700,000 
32,500,000 
30,000,000 
30,800,000 
31,801,000 
34,869,000 
33,136,000 
33,167,500 
32,967,000 
32,845,000 
33,175,000 
33,015,000 
35,955,000 
39,500,000 
46,610,000 
53,088,000 
57,363,000 
64,463,000 
71,053,400 
79,171,000 
78,666,700 
80,000,000 
73,591,700 
80,464,700 
88,180,700 
1,556,974,500 

27,650,400 
28,868,200 
24,539,300 
29,996,200 
30,777,800 
35,022,300 
31,565,500 
30,318,700 
33,257,800 
36,196,900 
35,732,800 
37,743,800 
39,909,400 
39,694,000 
41,721,600 
45,792,700 
50,094,500 
54,516,300 
58,330,000 
63,500,000 
60,000,000 
49,500,000 
55,727,000 
58,834,800 
53,860,000 
54,438,000 
54,764,500 
57,647,000 
55,214,000 
55,500,000 
54,300,000 
57,682,800 
56,101,600 
1,498,797,900 

$35,881,600 
36,917,500 
30,485,900 
34,919,800 
36,991,500 
40,401,000 
35,477,100 
34,717,000 
37,657,500 
41,105,900 
39,618,400 
41,921,300 
42,503,500 
39,482,400 
40,887,200 
43,045,100 
46,838,400 
57,242,100 
57,630,000 
55,662,500 
46,800,000 
31,422,100 
36,445,500 
39,654,600 
32,316,000 
32,118,400 
32,858,700 
35,741,100 
33,128,400 
29,415,000 
29,322,000 
33,456,000 
34,222,000 
1,276,285,500 

1874  

1875  
1876  

1877  

1878  

1879 

1880 

1881  
1882  

1883  

1884  
1885 

1886 

1887  
1888  

1889  
1890  ' 

1891  . 

1892.  ... 

1893  

1894 

1895 

1896. 

1897.. 

1898. 

1899  

1900  

1901  

1902 

1903 

1904 

1905  
Total   .  . 

Grand  Total. 

134,785,679 

2,786,261,500 

1,617,675,600 

1,434,439,900 

THE   WORLD'S   PRODUCTION. 

There  is  a  constant  shifting  of  positions  by  the  principal  coun- 
tries in  the  production  of  gold  and  silver,  especially  the  former. 
As  previously  stated  the  United  States  lost  the  first  place  as  a  pro- 
ducer of  gold  in  1894,  having  been  surpassed  by  Australasia.  In 
1902  the  United  States  held  second  place,  still  being  preceded  by 
Australasia;  South  Africa,  Russia  and  Canada  holding  the  third, 


PRODUCTION   OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  565 

fourth  and  fifth  positions,  respectively.  In  the  same  year  the  total 
output  of  the  British  possessions  was  about  $154,000,000,  being 
more  than  one-half  of  the  world's  production.  The  United  States 
came  second  with  a  product  of  $80,000,000  or  more  than  one-fourth; 
together  these  two  nations  contributed  fully  four-fifths  of  the  out- 
put of  the  gold  mines  of  the  world. 

In  1904  the  ranking  positions  of  the  three  principal  gold-produc- 
ing countries  were:  Australasia,  first,  Africa,  second,  and  the  United 
States,  third.  In  1905  the  order  was  again  changed,  being:  Africa 
first,  the  United  States  second,  and  Australasia  third.  It  is  prob- 
able that  the  position  of  second  rank  now  held  by  the  United  States, 
will  be  maintained  for  some  time  to  come,  yet  it  is  possible  that  the 
discovery  and  development  of  a  number  of  large  producing  mines  of 
high-grade  product  of  the  bonanza  or  propylitic  type,  such  as  have 
been  discovered  recently  in  Nevada,  might  advance  the  production 
of  the  United  States  well  toward  the  position  of  first  rank. 

In  1902  Mexico  led  in  the  production  of  silver,  her  output  exceed- 
ing one-third  of  the  world's  production.  The  United  States  was  a 
close  second  having  a  product  of  one-third  that  of  the  world.  Of 
the  total  output  of  the  world,  North  America  contributed  71.9  per 
cent,  while  Central  and  South  America  added  14.1  per  cent,  making 
a  total  for  the  American  continent  of  six-sevenths  of  the  world's 
silver  output.  During  the  years  1903,  1904  and  1905  the  yield  in 
silver  of  the  United  States  and  Mexico  experienced  a  rapid  change, 
and  in  1905  there  was  a  reversal  in  the  positions  previously  held 
for  some  years.  The  yield  in  ounces  for  the  three  years  beginning 
with  1903  was  as  follows:  in  1903,  the  United  States,  54,300,000 
and  Mexico,  70,499,942;  in  1904,  the  United  States,  57,682,800  and 
Mexico,  60,808,978;  and  in  1905,  the  United  States,  56,101,600  and 
Mexico,  54,652,89s.1 

A  report  on  the  world's  production  of  precious  metals  made  in 
1897  by  M.  de  Foville,  Director  of  the  French  Mint,  is  an  interesting 
and  instructive  summary,  a  review  of  which  is  given  below.  His- 
tory is  divided  into  four  unequal  periods:  The  first  ends  with  the 
Middle  Ages,  and  is  of  historical  interest  only. 

"  In  the  fifteenth  century  Europe  possessed  a  slender  stock  of 
gold  and  silver,  whose  total  has  been  usually  estimated  at  one 
thousand  million  of  francs  —  $200,000,000.  The  second  period  be- 
gins with  the  discovery  of  America,  and  closes  in  the  middle  of  the 

1  Mines  and  Quarries,  Report  Bureau  of  Census,  1902,  p.  563,  and  Report 
Director  of  Mint,  1906,  pp.  125-127. 


566 


GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


WORLD'S  PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND 

TABLE  V. 


Gold. 

Country. 

Kilograms 
(fine). 

Ounces 
(fine). 

Value. 

North  America: 
United  States  

132,682 

4,265,742 

$88,180  700 

Mexico             

22,963 

738,261 

15  261  200 

Canada 

21,798 

700  800 

14  486  800 

170,522 

5,482,296 

113,329,100 

Australasia  .... 

129,291 

4,156,692 

85,926,500 

Europe: 
Russia                                   

33  542 

1  078  356 

22  291  600 

Austria-Hungary 

3  698 

118  875 

2  457  400 

Germany     

100 

3,227 

66,700 

Norway                ....               

Sweden 

55 

1  775 

36  700 

Italy 

66 

2  128 

44  000 

Spain        

Greece        

Turkey 

9 

289 

6  000 

France  .       

Great  Britain 

170 

5  450 

112  700 

South  America: 
Argentina 

g 

265 

5  500 

Bolivia  

33 

1,061 

21,900 

Chile  

1,427 

45,886 

948,500 

Colombia 

3,888 

125  001 

2,584,000 

Ecuador  

284 

9,117 

188,500 

Brazil             .  .           .                       .... 

3,076 

98,906 

2,044,600 

Venezuela 

258 

8,293 

171,400 

Guiana: 
British      

2,544 

81,789 

1,690,700 

Dutch 

952 

30  597 

632  500 

French  

2,718 

87,387 

1,806,400 

Peru      

711 

22,852 

472,400 

Urugruav 

75 

2,419 

50,000 

Central  America  

2,277 

73,212 

1,513,400 

Asia: 
Japan 

5,011 

161,105 

3  330,300 

China  

2,673 

85,918 

1,776,100 

Korea  

3,385 

108,844 

2,250,000 

Siam  .                            

73 

2,351 

48,600 

India  (British) 

17,537 

563,817' 

11,655,100 

British  East  Indies  

2,235 

71,854 

1,485,400 

Dutch  East  Indies  

2,128 

68,426 

1,414,500 

Total  .  . 

566.189 

18.202.991 

376.289,200 

PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


567 


SILVER  FOR  THE    CALENDAR  YEAR1  1905. 

—  Continued. 


Silver. 


Kilograms  (fine). 

Ounces  (fine). 

Commercial  Value. 

Coining  Value. 

1,745,318 

56,101,600 

$34,222,100 

$72,535,400 

1,700,249 

54,652,893 

33,338,300 

70,662,300 

185,878 

5,974,875 

3,644,700 

7,725,100 

19,276 

619,620 

378,000 

801,100 

390,791 

12,561,600 

7,662,600 

16,241,300 

6,376 

204,960 

125,000 

265,000 

57,870 

1,860,169 

1,134,700 

2,405,100 

181,090 

5,820,947 

3,550,800 

7,526,100 

7,554 

242,805 

148,100 

313,900 

770 

24,765 

15,100 

32,000 

23,574 

757,777 

462,200 

979,700 

124,439 

4,000,000 

2,440,000 

5,171,700 

25,791 

829,025 

505,700 

1,071,900 

1,178 

37,874 

23,100 

49,000 

9,275 

298,152 

181,900 

385,500 

5,210 

167,479 

102,200 

216,50 

4,671 

150,149 

91,600 

194,100 

88,175 

2,834,298 

1,728,900 

3,664,500 

12,377 

397,853 

242,700 

514,400 

21,131 

679,245 

414,300 

878,200 

160,828 

5,169,659 

3,153,500 

6,684,000 

42,355 

1,361,449 

830,500 

$        1,760,300 

74,971 

2,409,879 

1,470,000 

3,115,800 

5,690 

182,889 

111,500 

236,500 

4,894,837 

157,339,962 

95,977,400 

203,429,400 

Rept.  Director  of  Mint,  1906,  p.  127. 


568  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

present  century;  the  third  extends  from  1850  to  1875,  comprising 
the  third  quarter  of  the  century,  and  the  fourth,  beginning  in  1875, 
extends  to  the  present  time.  In  constructing  any  approximately 
accurate  table  of  the  production  of  gold  and  silver  during  the  402 
years  which  have  elapsed  between  the  date  of  the  discovery  of 
America  and  the  last  year  of  complete  returns  —  1896  —  it  is  evi- 
dently necessary  that  some  uniform  terms  should  be  used  both  of 
quantity  and  of  value.  The  director  of  the  French  mint  favors  the 
usual  standard  of  comparison  of  15 J  to  1,  estimating  the  value  of 
each  kilogram  of  gold  at  3,444  francs  44  centimes,  and  of  each  kilo- 
gram of  silver  at  222  francs  22  centimes.  A  kilogram,  it  may  be 
noted,  is  equal  to  2.6803  pounds,  or  32.16  ounces  troy. 

"  Beginning  with  the  period  between  1493  and  1850,  comprising 
358  years,  he  finds  that  the  total  production  of  gold  was  4,752,070 
kilograms,  valued  at  16,368,200,000  francs,  and  of  silver  149,826,750 
kilos,  valued  at  33,294,800,000  francs.  The  average  annual  pro- 
duction of  gold,  which  begins  with  5,800  kilos,  reaches  at  the  end 
of  the  period  54,759  kilos,  while  the  average  annual  production 
of  silver,  which  begins  with  47,000  kilos,  closes  with  780,415 
kilograms.  But,  while  at  the  beginning  of  the  period  the  average 
annual  value  of  the  production  of  gold  is  double  that  of  silver, 
it  is  less  than  10  per  cent  in  excess  of  it  at  the  end  of  the 
period,  and  but  for  the  gold  discoveries  in  this  state  (California)  the 
average  annual  value  of  the  silver  product  would  have  been  very 
much  greater.  In  the  second  period  —  1851  to  1875  —  is  reached 
a  time  in  which  the  gold  production  greatly  exceeded  in  value  that 
of  silver,  except  as  to  the  one  or  two  years  with  which  it  closes.  Be- 
tween 1856  and  1860  the  annual  average  of  gold  production  was 
201,750  kilos,  valued  at  694,900,000  francs,  and  of  silver  904,990 
kilos,  valued  at  201,100,000  francs.  For  the  entire  period  the  pro- 
duction of  gold  was  4,775,625  kilos,  valued  at  16,449,400,000  francs, 
or  a  little  over  the  entire  value  of  the  preceding  358  years.  Of  the 
73,000,000,000  francs  of  gold  and  silver  produced  between  1493  and 
1875,  South  America  yielded  26,000,000,000,  Mexico,  18,000,000,000, 
and  the  United  States,  8,000,000,000;  the  contribution  of  the  New 
World  amounting  in  all  to  53,000,000,000  francs. 

"  In  the  period  between  1876  and  1895  there  is  a  steady  increase 
in  production  of  silver,  accompanied  by  a  temporary  decrease  of  the 
gold  product  from  its  highest  point,  which  was  followed  by  a  rapid 
increase  to  figures  greatly  in  excess  even  of  those  reached  during 
the  early  days  of  the  Australian  and  Californian  discoveries.  Aa 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  569 

compared  with  1876,  the  production  of  gold  in  1895  was  twice  as 
great,  while  that  of  silver  had  increased  2J  times.  In  the  402  years 
over  which  this  review  extends,  it  appears  that  there  have  been 
produced  45,000,000,000  francs  in  gold  and  55,000,000,000  francs 
in  silver,  making  for  the  whole  period  an  average  annual  produc- 
tion of  the  precious  metals  of  about  250,000,000  francs.  But  the 
annual  averages  of  our  time,  as  compared  with  those  of  previous 
centuries,  show  an  extraordinary  rate  of  progression.  For  example, 
the  average  annual  product  of  the  sixteenth  century  was  80,000,000 
francs,  that  of  the  seventeenth  115,000,000,  and  for  the  eighteenth 
193,000,000  francs.  For  the  first  half  of  the  nineteenth  century  the 
annual  production  of  both  metals  averaged  about  227,000,000*  francs, 
but  for  the  twenty-five  years  following,  between  1851  and  1875,  there 
is  a  leap  to  the  annual  average  of  930,000,000  francs,  two-thirds  of 
which  was  in  gold.  But  even  this  average  is  exceeded  between  1876 
and  1885,  in  which  ten  years,  however,  the  production  of  silver 
reaches  a  nominal  value  about  equal  to  that  of  gold.  Since  1886 
the  increase  in  the  annual  production  of  the  precious  metals  has 
been  still  more  rapid  than  in  the  ten  years  preceding.  The  aver- 
age between  1886  and  1890  was  1,340,000,000  francs  per  annum,  of 
which  750  millions  represented  silver  at  its  nominal  coinage  value. 
Between  1891  and  1895  the  annual  average  was  1,934,000,000 
francs,  and  during  these  five  years  the  course  of  progression  has  been 
so  rapid  that  we  pass  from  a  gold  product  in  1891  of  677,000,000 
francs  to  one  of  1,030,000,000  francs  in  1895,  while  of  silver  the 
annual  production  has  advanced  from  939,000,000  francs  of  nominal 
value  in  1891  to  1,114,000,000  francs  in  1895,  the  production  of  the 
precious  metals  between  1851  and  1895  being  almost  exactly  equal  to 
that  of  the  whole  preceding  period  since  the  discovery  of  America." l 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  75,  p.  166. 


570 


GOLD   AND  SILVER. 


i 

1 


O*  CO  O*  C^  i-i 


O 

w 

I 

i 

B 


w 


< 

I 


§ 


p 

c 


i 


PRODUCTION   OF  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


571 


IO»OOOO»OOOOI>..-IOO»OCOOS—  i»-iO»OCO 

t^o»co»oooc<ioiooosc<iot^r>-oco»oooi>.oo 


ooooooooooooooooooo 

"tf<M'"tiOCOcOO<MOOO(M-*iCOCO-<*iCM(MCOTfri 


ir5ccxcocoi-ceoc<i>co  to  a*  a  to  <o  *&  1-4  o 

i-iT-i<Mt~-<£)COIr^COOiO«OCOCOOS(MeOi-(CC>O 


»-(  c<i  co  •*  •*  co  co  o*  co  co  co  •**<  »o  t^  co  c<  I-H  cq  co 


co  Tj  in  c  (x  oc  c<  «c  c  oc  c<  -    c< 


-oooooooo 


<M  CO  «O  t—  i-l  »O  VH  CO  C^  OS  -^  O  O  «O  O 


i-H  C^  OS  CO  CO  '^  *O  CO 
-^  -^  CO  CO  CO  CO  CO  ^J< 


O(M^«OQOO'-i 


572 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


<OOiOOCOCOOOl>«OOOSO>O'Ol>->  t^'^**C'OI>«O»Ob<-t^OOC^t^ 

•*  10  co  co  eo  co  <M  co  —i  CM  »o  co  co  co  T*  -*  ic  10  «o  10  »o  to  o?  t-H 


ooooooo 


t>t^-  ooooooo>O5O5OOseoc«5t>"O'—  ioo»—  it^^f  (x*—  i  «c  c^  c  t    oc  tc 
cococoeocoeococo-«i<cOTt<-^-«iiioio»ocoioioiooooocioO5t^t^i>. 


OO  QO  OO  OO  OO  OO  OO  OO  OO  OO  OO  OO  OO  OO  OO  QO  OO  OC  QO  OO  OO  OO  OO  CO  OO  OO  dO 


PRODUCTION   OF   GOLD   AND  SILVER. 


573 


574 


GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


J.  H.  Curie,  in  a  paper  entitled  The  Greatest  Gold  Producing 
Mines  appearing  in  the  London  Economist,  gives  a  list  of  thirty 
of  what  he  considered  the  biggest  producers  in  1903,  which  is  as 
follows: l 


No. 

Name  of  Mine. 

Locality. 

Monthly  Yield. 

1. 

Homestake  

South  Dakota  .        

425  000 

2. 
3 

Simmer  and  Jack  
Boulder  Perseverance 

Transvaal  
West  Australia 

390,000 
315  000 

4 

Robinson 

Transvaal 

310  000 

5 

Golden  Horseshoe 

West  Australia 

300  000 

6 

Champion  Reef  

India  

300  000 

7. 

Rose  Deep  

Transvaal  

290,000 

8. 

Mysore  

India  

275,000 

9 

Waihi 

New  Zealand 

255  000 

10 

Geldenhuis  Deep 

Transvaal 

255  000 

11 

Portland         

Colorado 

250  000 

12. 

Mount  Morgan  

Queensland  

250,000 

13. 

Great  Fingall  

West  Australia  .          ... 

240,000 

14. 

Crown  Reef      

Transvaal  

235,000 

15. 

Village  Main  Reef  

Transvaal  

230,000 

16. 

Crown  Deep  

Transvaal  

230,000 

17 

City  and  Suburban 

Transvaal 

230  000 

18. 

Great  Boulder  

West  Australia 

225  000 

19. 

Ferreira  

Transvaal         

220,000 

20. 

Oroya-Brownhill  

West  Australia  

220,000 

21. 

Ivanhoe  

West  Australia  

220,000 

22. 

Ferreira  Deep  

Transvaal  

210,000 

23 

Geldenhuis  Estate 

Transvaal 

205  000 

24. 

Angelo      

Transvaal 

190  000 

25. 

Langlaagte  Estate  

Transvaal 

180  000 

26. 

Robinson  Deep  

Transvaal       

175,000 

27. 

Camp  Bird  

Colorado  

170,000 

28. 

New  Primrose  

Transvaal  

170,000 

29. 

May  Consolidated  

Transvaal  

165,000 

30. 

Glen  Deep 

Transvaal 

160  000 

According  to  R.  W.  Raymond  the  various  estimates  of  the  world's 
production  of  silver  for  1800,  1846,  1850,  1854,  1865,  and  1867,  are 
as  follows:2 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  76,  p.  697,  and  Economist,  London,  Oct.  17,  1903. 
3  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  4,  p.  187,  1876.     A  short  discussion  is  also  given  in  con- 
nection with  the  table. 


PRODUCTION   OF  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


575 


stimate  of 
.  P.  Blake 
or  1867. 


sS 


§ 


o 

CN 


o  o 

O  O 
O  iO 


ooc»oo^oooo 

<MC<IC^OOOO«OTt<Tt< 

os  cc  r-<  •<*  ^  os   T»« 


§  | 


oo  o  o 

<N   OOO 

»-•  o  o 


S.S 


IS 


o 

•**< 


os  <-H  co  o»  i--  eo  cq  10  «o  o 

<MOiOO<M<NCOCO«OiOO 
O  I-H  iO  O5  O<  CO  i«  <M  O  O 


o  o  cq 
co  o  ^ 


cq  c^  co  co  «o  t-i  co 


1 1. IS 


c^ 


ft 


r-i  rH  coc<t~-  ic 

«O  C^  Tj<  CO  c»  «O          OO 


10    c     oo  cco  co       c 

M      >-H      CO  CO  O  i-H          1C 

-•«  <M  I-H  co  co 


*9 

sl 

>•  OQ 


i-HCOOS 
CO-*00 
OOCOOS 


cq 

N 


O>-iiOOSOOOO<MO 


^ 

3    8 

CO  i-H 

<* 


1  a§ 


I 


OO 
»O 


576 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


3 

'53 

, 

Tertiary 
(Mostly  Post- 
Miocene). 

o  i  esi  i-J  «d  t-H         o  o»      -c<i         o      * 

C<                      CS« 

o 

x 

>> 

•o 

§ 

ilbi 

S^ 

6  fe  ~  — 

•o     -t-     •^-e^'*           -o 

2 

!|g| 

LJU*    °  If  \^ 

o 
& 

o 

I 

1=1= 

OO        •    QO         *    t"-»        •        •        *    t**»        "        *    C^ 

- 

"^ 

_§ 

§  jf  6  « 

r^      •  -rt*      -  o                  •   I-H            •  o 

rl 

3 

fcC 

s 

S- 

c 

Q 

. 

•••* 

^p 

.H    — 

• 

^t  g 

• 

^ 

0 

M 

8 

1 

Jx 

ooo  —  ooSooSoo^      :      : 

rH 
CO           ^ 

4| 

1 

PI 

-8S£S"|2°2~=        | 

i| 

0, 

g    o   " 

5 

it&i 

0            0    0    to               '•    0 

«  1 

§1! 

§  .-*= 

^ 

IPl 

•*         o  o  t^-           •  »o 

CO             O    C«                          •    O» 

III              I                             '.       '.              '.              '. 

*  wr 
s 

•g 

ji 

HI 

I-    1-1    0       •    0                       -0               :    0 

C4    C4    >O            OS                         •    »O        •        -    ft 
CO                                   .... 
r-  1                                        .... 

hH 

oo   <d 

1  ^ 

o 

•3 

0 

c 

-e 

g 

—  * 

3 

•M 

fa 

»•*......                  .. 

,Q 

*• 

•^ 

*c 

^ 

B 

• 

••8 

g 

6 

M 

VC 

to 

• 

^^ 

Q 

—  -4 

s 

o 

Q 

fi 

I 

•    <u 

•St 

c 

•3 

& 

. 

2 

!«a 

3 

il 

6aO 

1 

fl 

:  cj           :  «  ^ 

::-:::-o:-5:c-g87 

"3 

1 

i 

^ 

p 

:      -iv    :    :    :•§    :•*    :3  M|°  | 

jj  I'll  o  i-sl  §2  :ll|^l 

1 

PRODUCTION   OF   GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


577 


s  ^ 

2     c8 

c 

o 

fl 

CO 

'g3 

00 

oT-0 

j 

CO 
t—  1 

*  2 

QQ       /- 

;  ^ 

CO 

0 

ff~ 
c 

0 

>  I 

.  rf 

S3 

N 

<N 

s 

|  .2^3 

-^    0    ^ 

cc 

CO 

O5 

l-H 

*3  2  2 

c 

o 

0 

10 

-J_) 

c- 

§§s 

c 

CO 

2r^    Od 
r^ 

g 

0   JQ    "S 

^2   'C   ,b 

• 

3.1  « 

l^| 

l|| 

<0 

CO 

c- 

c 

> 

T-l 

^     "8 

•  c 
•  r- 

O4 

>0 

co 

(M 

I—I 

c 
•<* 

i 

1  •  • 

OS 

111 

1-1 

x  g  P< 

*  *^ 

*• 

•   c— 

•Sgl 

t> 

.   c 

>    C3 

OS 

OS 

p  "?  5 

o- 

1    O« 

1 

1-4 

«0 

1—  1 

oo 
co 

0  ^3 

•"^ 

to  Jj    O 

5  s  g 

•     §     M 

• 

^"^     ^     Q 

•§ 

3 

( 

>    *    cf 

o    °° 

4. 

1 

2 

J  b 
i  S 

^     °     0 

•8  ^^ 

11 

! 
) 
» 

!        *c 

C 

|| 

H^  § 

o        S 

British  N< 

Nr»v«  S 

ij 

>    fl 

5     - 

;  c 

||-5 

!li 

J*O  ff 

!zi 

c 
c 

'p 

i 

1  " 

i  r-f 

^  - 
i 
i  • 

4i 

1^ 

H              V 

feli 

578  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

Detailed  information  regarding  the  value  of  ores  showing,  in 
certain  cases,  the  analysis  and  the  production  of  the  various  mines, 
districts  and  states,  are  given  in  the  following  pages.  A  table  has 
also  been  compiled  in  which  are  given  maximum,  minimum  and 
average  values,  and  when  available,  other  information  of  interest  in 
this  connection.  (See  Appendix  of  Tables.)  Vein  and  gravel  mines 
are  considered  separately,  as  has  been  done  heretofore. 

PRODUCTION    BY    STATES   AND   TERRITORIES. 

Southern  States.  —  Among  the  oldest  of  the  gold  mining  regions  of 
the  United  States  is  the  Appalachian  gold  belt,  which  extends  from 
the  Canadian  boundary  to  Alabama.  The  following  states  are  gold 
producing:  Alabama,  the  Carolinas,  Georgia,  Maryland,  Virginia 
and  Tennessee,  of  which  the  first  two  mentioned  are  most  impor- 
tant. The  total  production  of  gold  of  this  region  from  1799  to  1905, 
inclusive,  is  estimated  to  be  $48,759,700,  which  includes  a  certain 
amount  of  silver  alloyed  with  the  gold.  From  1877  to  1905,  inclu- 
sive, $9,759,700  represents  the  output.  The  total  average  produc- 
tion of  gold  for  the  20  years  ending  with  1900,  is  about  $300,000; 
while  the  average  yearly  production  for  the  six  years  from  1900  to 
1905,  inclusive,  is  $298,283,  the  maximum  being  $500,000  for  the 
year  1882.  In  1905  the  product  was  $299,800. 

The  distribution  and  extent  of  gold  mining  in  South  Carolina,  prior 
to  the  war,  are  given  below,  and  represent  the  mines  operating  in  1859: 

Chesterfield  and  Lancaster  counties 21   working  mines. 

Spartanburg,  Union,  and  York  counties 19 

Abbeville  and  Edgefield  counties 10  " 

Greenville  and  Pickens  counties 8  " 

Total  in  state  758 

In  1895  gold  mining  operations  were  almost  exclusively  confined 
to  the  Haile  mine,  and  conditions  were  practically  unchanged  as  late 
as  1901. 

The  following  estimates  regarding  the  southern  gold  mining  in- 
dustry for  the  year  1889  are  taken  from  the  United  States  Census 
Report  of  1890: 2 

Total  number  of  producing  mines  (of  these,  only  eight  were 

producing  between  10,000  and  50,000  dollars  per  year) 42 

Total  number  of  tons  of  ore  produced 123,745 

Total  yield  of  gold  bullion $  318,261 

Grand  total  of  expenses,  wages,  etc 535,285 

Total  value  of  mines  and  plants 5,281,801 

Total  value  of  mills  and  reduction  works 620,681 

1  South  Carolina  Resources,   etc.,    State  Board  of  Agriculture,    Charleston, 
1883,  and  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  718,  1895. 

2  Census  Report  of  1890  and  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  688,  1895. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


579 


In  Table  IX  are  given  the  number  and  kind  of  producing  mines 
in  the  Southern  states  in  1905,  together  with  their  output  and  aver- 
age yield  of  ore  per  ton : l 

TABLE  IX. 


State  and  Territory. 

Number  of  Mines. 

Ore  Produc- 
tion from 
Deep  Mines 
(Short  Tons). 

Average  Value 
of  Gold  and 
Silver  Per 
Ton  of  Ore 
from  Deep 
Mines. 

Placer. 

Deep. 

Total. 

Alabama  

1 

*  12 

2 
*  10 
2 
16 
2 
2 
*4 

3 
*22 
2 
23 
2 
3 
*7 

16,525 
*  16,000 
2,698 
18,831 
49,493 
399,330 
*800 

$2.46 
*4.18 
5.51 
6.76 
1.92 
.15 
*5.35 

Georgia  

Maryland 

North  Carolina 

7 

South  Carolina        .  .  . 

Tennessee  

1 

*  3 

Virginia  

Total  

24 

38 

62 

503,677 

3.76 

The  range  in  value  of  ores  for  a  number  of  particular  cases  is 
given  in  the  table  of  Yield  of  Ores.  (J3ee  Appendix  of  Tables.) 

A  general  average  of  200  assays  of  Silver  Hill,  North  Carolina, 
ore  gives  the  following  results: 

Per  cent. 

Galena 21.900 

Pyrite 17. 100 

Chalcopyrite 1 . 800 

Zinc-blende 59 . 200 

Silver  and  gold 0.025 

Total 100.025 

The  following  values  have  been  given  for  the  so-called  refractory 
ores  of  the  Southern  states:  "  Gold,  $5;  silver,  5  ounces;  copper, 
6  per  cent;  sulphur,  20  per  cent.  Another  class  of  ore  ranges  about 
as  follows:  gold,  $6;  silver,  12  ounces;  lead,  30  per  cent;  zinc,  20 
per  cent;  sulphur,  10  per  cent.  Others  again  about  $20  in  gold, 
10  per  cent  copper,  and  10  per  cent  sulphur.  These  are  minimum 
values  so  far  as  regards  gold  and  silver.  In  the  first  named  the 
united  value  of  the  product  would  be,  say,  $20  per  ton,  while  in  the 
second  instance,  it  would  be  a  little  more  than  double  that."  2 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  121. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  58,  p.  411. 

*  Estimated. 


580 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


The  following  table  shows  the   amount  of  gold  produced  by  the 
mines  of  Tennessee  since  1831  up  to  and  including  1905.  1 


TABLE  X. 

(PRODUCTION    OF    GOLD    ONLY.) 


Years. 

Value. 

Years. 

Value. 

Years. 

Value. 

1831 
1832 
1833 
1834 

$1,000 
1,000 
7,000 
3,000 

1839 
1840 
1841 
1842 

$300 
104 
1,212 

1847 
1848 
1849 
1850 

$2,511 
7,161 
5,180 
1  507 

1835 
1836 
1837 

100 
300 

1843 
1844 
1845 

2,788 
2,240 
3  202 

1851 
1852 
1853 

2,377 
750 
149 

1838 

1,500 

1846 

2,642 

1854 

(GOLD   AND    SILVER    PRODUCT.) 


1799-1879 

155,300 

1884 

300 

1880 

1,500 

1885 

300 

1889 

750 

1881 

1,750 

1886 

500 

1890 

1,001 

1882 

250 

1887 

500 

1891 

519 

1883 

750 

1888 

1,100 

1892 

1,006 

(GOLD    PRODUCT    ONLY.) 


1893 

1902 

140 

1894 
1895 

1898 
1899 

900 

1903 
1904 

800 
4  300 

1896 

1900 

100 

1905 

3  300 

1897 

1901 

In  the  early  days  of  mining  the  two  most  prosperous  years  were 
1833  and  1834,  the  production  in  the  former  year  being  $7,000, 
which  was  not  exceeded  until  recent  times  when  in  1905  an  output 
of  $7,400  was  attained. 

The  production  of  silver  in  the  Southern  states  from  1877  to  1906 
inclusive  is  shown  on  following  page.2 

1  Resources  of  Tennessee,  1874,  p.  266. 

2  Mineral  Industry1,  1895-1905. 


PRODUCTION   OF  GOLD   AND  SILVER. 
TABLE   XI. 


581 


Year. 

Georgia. 

North 
Carolina. 

d 

c 

J2  ^ 
ll 

Virginia. 

Year. 

Georgia. 

North 
Carolina. 

fl 
ll 

Virginia. 

H 

d 

<i 

1877 

1892 

1878 

1893 

1879 

1894 

$  205 

$  222 

$  192 

1880 

1895 

5,152 

6,614 

2,524 

1881 

1896 

1882 

$25,000 

1897 

1883 

$1,000 

3,000 

$500 

1898 

1884 

3,500 

500 

1899 

1885 
1886 
1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 

1,000 
500 
500 
464 
517 
517 

3,000 
3.000 
5,000 
3,500 
3,879 
7,757 
6,465 

500 
500 
200 
232 
517 
646 

$13 

1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 

248 
240 
212 
216 
870 
543 
668 

6,944 
12,180 
11,077 
5,940 
8,584 
7,966 
7,281 

248 
120 
159 
162 
290 
121 

$  420 
3,127 
5,130 
3,886 
121 

$6,519 
7,020 
34,336 
57,576 

$  62 
60 
53 

iie 

181 

Tables  XII  and  XIII  give  the  production  of  the  Southern  gold- 
fields  from  the  inception  of  mining  up  to  the  present  time. 


TABLE   XII. 


Years. 

Mary- 
land. 

Virginia. 

North 
Carolina. 

South 
Carolina. 

Georgia. 

Ala- 
bama. 

Tennes- 
see. 

Total. 

1799- 

Dols. 

Dols. 

Dols. 

Dols. 

Dols. 

Dols. 

Dols. 

Dols. 

1879 

2,500 

3,091,700 

19,659,600 

2,587,900 

14,180,500 

365,300 

155,300 

40,042,800 

1880 

250 

11,500 

95,000 

15,000 

120,000 

1,000 

1,500 

244,250 

1881 

500 

10,000 

115,000 

40,000 

125,000 

1,000 

1,750 

293,250 

1882 

1,000 

15,000 

215,000 

25,000 

250,000 

3,500 

250 

509,750 

1883 

500 

7,000 

170,000 

57,000 

200,000 

6,000 

750 

441,250 

1884 

500 

2,500 

160,500 

57,500 

137,000 

5,000 

300 

363,300 

1885 

2,000 

3,500 

155,000 

43,000 

136,000 

6,000 

300 

345,800 

1886 

1,000 

4,000 

178,000 

38,000 

153,500 

4,000 

500 

379,000 

1887 

500 

14,600 

230,000 

50,500 

110,500 

2,500 

500 

409,100 

1888 

3,500 

7,500 

139,500 

39,200 

104,500 

5,600 

1,100 

300,900 

1889 

16,962 

4,113 

150,174 

47,085 

108,069 

2,639 

750 

316,330 

1890 

16,962 

6,496 

126,397 

100,294 

101,318 

2,170 

1,001 

354,638 

1891 

11,264 

6,699 

101,477 

130,149 

80,622 

2,245 

519 

332,975 

1892 

1,000 

5,002 

90,196 

123,881 

95,251 

2,419 

1,006 

318,755 

1893 

114 

6,190 

70,505 

127,991 

100,375 

6,362 

250 

311,787 

1894 

978 

7,643 

52,927 

98,763 

99,095 

4,092 

329 

263,827 

1895 

#310  fiflfl 

1896 

OJ.U  jUl/U 

*264  300 

1897 

^-UT:TOUU 

*249  737 

1898 

*263  153 

1899 

*500  000 

1900 

100 

3,200 

35,444 

121,248 

116,948 

1,962 

100 

279',002 

1901 

5,720 

67,680 

46,820 

124,740 

3,160 

245,120 

1902 

'  2',500 

6,227 

101,777 

122,059 

98,012 

2,553 

'  6',519 

339,647 

1903 

500 

18,630 

76,440 

100,862 

62,216 

4,400 

7,820 

270,868 

1904 

2,400 

7,686 

132,484 

122,090 

97,770 

29,416 

38,636 

530,482 

1905 

16,900 

5,121 

131,866 

95,221 

95,343 

41,681 

60,876 

452,008 

*  Product  for  Alabama,  Georgia,  North  Carolina,  and  South  Carolina  in  Gold 
and  Silver. 


582 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


ESTIMATE   OF  THE  PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER  IN  THE 
SOUTHERN  STATES  FROM  1793  TO  1879. 

TABLE   XIII. 

Statement  of  Gold  and  Silver  produced  in  the  Southern  States;  Deposited  at 
the  United  States  Mint  and  Assay  Offices  from  1793  to  1879  inclusive. 


Year. 

Amount. 

Year. 

Amount. 

Year. 

Amount. 

1793-1823 

$  47,000 

1842 

$  723,761 

1861 

$141,778 

1824 

5,000 

1843 

1,050,100 

1862 

6,298 

1825 

17,000 

1844 

928,095 

1863 

1,624 

1826 

20,000 

1845 

986,849 

1864 

6,093 

1827 

21,000 

1846 

992,792 

1865 

33,345 

1828 

46,000 

1847 

1,018,079 

1866 

202,000 

1829 

140,000 

1848 

850,692 

1867 

106,903 

1830 

466,000 

1849 

891,968 

1868 

155,660 

1831 

519,000 

1850 

658,605 

1869 

191,738 

1832 

678,000 

1851 

500,539 

1870 

168,057 

1833 

868,000 

1852 

711,449 

1871 

138,791 

1834 

898,000 

1853 

486,184 

1872 

164,461 

1835 

686,300 

1854 

323,489 

1873 

158,952 

1836 

667,000 

1855 

362,349 

1874 

141,647 

1837 

282,000 

1856 

325,820 

1875 

150,612 

1838* 

358,750* 

1857 

141,810 

1876 

138,256 

1839 

429,648 

1858 

349,323 

1877 

159,009 

1840 

427,311 

1859 

379,677 

1878 

162,925 

1841 

544,661 

1860 

231,398 

1879 

186,123 

*  "  The  years  1838  to  1847  exclude  the  amounts  deposited  at  the  New  Orleans 
Mint,  which  were  not  available  for  each  year.  The  total  amount  at  New  Orleans 
in  those  years,  from  the  Southern  states,  was  only  $116,086." 

In  order  to  give  an  idea  of  the  fluctuation  during  the  86  years 
from  1793  to  1879,  Table  No.  XIII  is  given.  These  figures,  however, 
comprise  only  the  United  States  Mint  and  Assay  Office  receipts, 
and  do  not  include  such  bullion  as  went  abroad,  was  sold  directly 
to  local  jewellers,  or  was  coined  by  Christian  Bechtler  at  Ruther- 
fordton,  North  Carolina.1  The  source  of  gold  and  silver  product  of 
the  Southern  goldfields  for  the  year  1905  is  shown  in  Table  XIV.2 

TABLE  XIV. 


State. 

Placers. 
(Fine  Ounces.) 

Dry  or  Siliceous 
Ores. 
(Fine  Ounces.) 

Copper  Ores. 
(Fine  Ounces.) 

Total. 
(Fine  Ounces.) 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Alabama          

50 
1,451 

5 
100 

1,959 
3,159 
717 
5,224.50 
4,601 

331 
271 
93 
3,000 
111 

"78 
372 

669 
17,130 

2,009 
4,688 
717 
6,080 
4,601 
211 
241 

336 
1,040 
93 
20,230 
111 
95,522 
177 

Georgia  

Maryland 

North  Carolina  

484 

100 

South  Carolina 

Tennessee 

10 
39 

1 
4 

201 

95,521 

Virginia  

202 

173 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  687,  1895. 

2  Mineral  Resources,  U.  S.  G.  S.,  1905,  pp.  122  and  125. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.  583 

According  to  J.  D.  Whitham1  the  shales  of  the  Panhandle,  West 
Virginia,  have  yielded  some  $5,340,000  worth  of  precious  metals. 

The  Southern  Appalachian  states  maintain  an  aggregate  output 
of  $380,500  in  gold  and  110,300  fine  ounces  of  silver.  A  change 
in  source  from  that  of  1904,  is  noted  in  that  there  has  been  an 
increase  in  silver  from  the  Tennessee  copper  ores  and  a  decrease 
in  the  gold  output  from  South  Carolina.  There  was  considerable 
activity  in  the  quartz-mining  industry  of  Alabama  and  Maryland, 
while  North  Carolina  like  South  Carolina  showed  a  marked  depres- 
sion; however,  the  lola  mine,  in  Montgomery  County,  kept  up  the 
output.  The  two  mines  ranking  first  in  importance  in  the  South 
are  the  Haile,  of  South  Carolina,  and  the  lola,  of  North  Carolina.2 

Alaska.  —  It  was  not  until  1880  that  Alaska  began  to  assume 
some  importance  as  a  gold  producer,  at  which  time  an  output  of 
some  $6,000  is  reported,  but  is  hardly  more  than  a  rough  estimate. 
The  silver  product  prior  to  1894  is  estimated  by  the  Director  of  the 
Mint  at  probably  $11,000  coinage  value,  while  his  estimates  for 
the  years  1894,  1895  and  1896  are  $28,782,  $86,880,  and  $187,867 
respectively.  The  amount  of  silver,  coinage  value,  produced  by  the 
Apollo  Consolidated  mine  in  1896  was  $39,620,  which  came  chiefly 
from  the  sulphurets.  The  Alexander  Archipelago  probably  produced 
the  remainder  for  that  year.3 

The  million-dollar  mark  was  reached  in  the  gold  production  in 
1892,  and  in  1897  it  had  attained  about  $2,400,000  in  value.  The 
rapid  rise  of  the  succeeding  years  is  shown  by  the  following  figures : 
in  1899,  $5,500,000;  in  1900,  $8,200,000;  in  1902,  $8,345,800;  in 
1904,  $9,304,200;  and  in  1905,  $14,650,100.  The  total  gold  produc- 
tion of  Alaska  up  to  and  including  1905,  is  probably  very  close  to 
$79,102,425. 

The  estimated  number  of  placer  mines  operating  in  1905  was  1,100, 
while  there  were  18  deep  mines  producing  (against  7  in  1902)  making 
a  total  of  1,118.  There  were  1,422,515  short  tons  of  ore  produced 
by  the  deep  mines,  which  had  an  average  value  of  $2.46  in  gold  and 
silver. 

As  a  means  of  comparison  of  the  relative  values  of  the  gold  and 
silver  product,  Table  XVI,  showing  production  of  these  two  metals, 
is  given: 4 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  48,  p.  71. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  117. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18th  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  11,  1896-97. 

4  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18th  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  132,  1896-97,   and  from  Mineral 
Industry,  Mineral  Resources  and  Repts.  of  the  Director  of  the  Mint. 


584 


iff! 

all 

<  '•£  -ts 


.  " 
P 

2 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


O  •**  O  O  O  O  O  O  O  O  O  iO  CO  O  O  O  O  fr*  r-i  »O  t^  «O  O5  O  O  O 


o 

OcO< 
*"•  W  <M  CO  •*  CO  00  OS  t— 


00-rj< 

o  o    •  10 
10  o    ;  oo 


O  CO  t^  b-  lO  CO 


OOCOOOOCO<MOOOOlOt^COC<l 

t^  _ 

00  OJ  C<  0>  C0>0 


t^  CO  t^.  IO  »-l  CO 

CO  CO  O>  •"*<  CO  IO 


co  o  c<  co  ir  co  o  ir   o<  co"  co  t    co 


QOOOOOOOOOOOQOOOOOOOOOOOOOQOC»OOGOOOOOO5O3OSOSOSOS 


PRODUCTION  OF   GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


585 


*£5  ® 

1§ 
£ 


iO«3OOOOOO»OOOOO«5«5OOOOOOOO 
»0»0<N»OU3CHO<NI>OOOOOOOO 

i-H  i-H  i-l  rH  fH  i-H  C^  i-H  W  i-H  »O  M  ^f  CD  CD  00  t>-  O 


oggce  3 

*j  O^M  '.'.'.'.'.'.'.I  v 

§£3^  000  «t|.,';5l>  ,,*>«   •'*-!.     »•«''   O  '»•'*"«'••*••••«  6 

O'C?*1^;  *H       i-<       IN       CO       •*       CO 

^  o|>s  :;:::::::       * 

~§2 

g.5<2  oo    o  .Ooooooooo  ooooooo     •   • 

w  ZS{J  OO    .O  co°°®ooc>O0    OOOOOOO      •    • 

*O  —  OO"3o  ^OOOOOOOOO  O 
.^  C  ra  Q  O  2O*OO  OOOOO  O 
COM*  rS0^0.00000.0.0.0,  Ooooooo o 

.1*  >*  VJi-T  c»ou5o'o"o»c>oo  o'o'd'o'cjros'-^  •** 

i^coco-*  »o     o     1-1     o     o     o 

l_i   3  CO  •"•  rH         i-l         C*i         1*         t» 

<%z 

1 

e.2fi|  •  •         fe 

^j"|^g  0«0<NO-H-I-H      rHO^-H-H-H^'-lOS 

si|l  ;:illll:«ii   5 

^0-3 

C 

«t-l     O     IH 

0-^®  T-, 

j^  ^^  ^5  oooo^~^*^  o     ^*     "^     ^     ^     ^*     CM     c^       *     ..•••...»    •     c5 

C-7W  rH^-C  ^.^^^H^H^,^^  ..........  J» 

;-s  ::::::::::      g 

2 

,  5 

OOOOOOO    OOOOOOOOON   OOOOOOOOO 
JCOOOOOO    OOOOOOOOOt-   OOOOOOOOO 

•2^3  OOOOOOO    OOeO^COCOOlNOOO    iOO»OCOOO-^Tj<co 

"S  >  M<  OO    OOrftOS^^COOOOOOS    t^  O5  •*  "*<  "*  CO  ^  CO  '-< 

— '  OO    COOCOCDCOCOOOI--OON.    ^*  CO  00  ^  t^  l^- »O  CQ  CO 

co*    o"    as     o"    o"    o*    oo"    co"    »o*  O5"t>Tco">o'oo"oo"i>iM"'V 
-     oo     •*  •<*'oocoi<*tw<*t>e<iTt* 

ii  !  m  \  I 

OOCSOOOOSOJt^ 

l^r 

o  ooooooo  oooooooo 

>OOOO    OOOOOOOiO 

Q     .  ooO^OOOCO    OOOOOO'-^'OCOc^  i^(_^i_^<-^r^uu^r^tN^'-i  55 

CO*«OO*'d'o"iM"co"   »o"      o"      O"      <N       O"      O"      o"      CO"      "5      •*"  O<3U$i-*te}K$-<£-<fo  tl 

THU3OOOO-*    t^»OOcOOO^r-(i-i»-i  O(N(Nl>00^'-iOiO 

OOC5t^O5OO_rHCOO  1^  00 —I  i-H  00  CO  CO  CO  CO  ^ 

fL,  "*  CQ 

« 

w 

9^SJ25ISS  ^SSSS^^S^1^0  ^oo^0^^1: 

00  GO  CO  00  GO  00  00  GO   00   OD   9   9   9   §• 

00000000000000  00   00   00   00   00   00   00 


586 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


The  various  sources  from  which  the  precious  metals  are  derived 
in  Alaska,  together  with  the  amounts  obtained  in  fine  ounces,  are 
given  in  Table  XVII.1 

TABLE   XVII. 


Metal. 

Placers. 

Dry  or  Sili- 
ceous Ores. 

Copper  Ores. 

Total. 

Gold 

586  499  53 

166  168  13 

3  433  62 

756  101  28 

Silver 

75  092  00 

31,107  00 

26,525  00 

132  724  00 

By  far  the  most  interesting  and  important  mining  operations  in 
Alaska  are  those  of  the  three  companies  on  Douglas  Island,  namely : 
the  Alaska-Treadwell,  the  Alaska-Mexican,  and  the  Alaska-United 
mining  companies,  which  are  controlled  by  the  same  interests  and 
operated  under  a  joint  management. 

Although  the  yield  of  the  ore  in  these  mines  has  been  on  the 
decline  for  a  number  of  years  the  costs  of  mining  and  extracting 
have  also  been  reduced  and  the  tonnage  has  been  increased  several 
times  over. 

The  following  statements  of  results  accomplished  in  two  of  these 
mines  are  shown  in  the  following  tables:2 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  pp.  122  and  125. 

*  Mines  and  Quarries,  1902,  Rept.  Bureau  of  Census,  p.  557. 


PRODUCTION  OF   GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


587 


i 


- 


2  3 

II 


COOC^<MC^OOO<N 


o  i-  10  o  o  t-  cc 


i~-  ^*  co  «o  b-  oo  e<»  eo  o  oo  -^  <M 

COt»OO«OOO'«*<'-"«O»O«O-^ 


lO  CO  00  O  t^-  OS  00  O  C^I  PO 


03  .........  OOOO 

•£        O  ^H  <M  co  •«*  10  «o  t-  QO  o»  o»  os  o»  o» 

O         ^oOi 

i-l 


QOQOQOOOOOC»C»O5 


588 


GOLD  AXD  SILVER. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


589 


The  estimated  output  of  the  mines  of  Douglas  Island  for  1900  was 
$2,000,000. 

The  following  table  shows  the  gold  and  silver  production  of  Alaska, 
separately  stated,  for  the  year  1905,  in  standard  ounces  and  value: * 

TABLE  XX. 


Source. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Standard 
Ounces. 

Value. 

Standard 
Ounces. 

Value  at 
57  cents. 

Nome         .... 

245,058.665 
289,588.663 

267,802.586 

$4,558,091.17 
5,386,349.13 

4,981,128.10 

59,816.31 
66,605.39 

61,594.59 

$  34,095.30 
37,965.07 

35,108.92 

Fairbanks  ..  . 
Balance     of 
Alaska  .  .  . 

Total  

802,449.914 

14,925,568.40 

188,016.29 

107,169.29 

The  total  annual  production  of  gold  in  Alaska  for  1905  was  close 
to  $14,650,100,  while  that  of  silver  was  $144,313.  The  marked 
increase  in  gold  production  was  due  mainly  to  the  Fairbanks  placer 
district  on  the  Tanana,  Yukon  Basin.  The  Nome  placers  and  the 
quartz  mines  showed  moderate  increases  over  their  previous  yield. 

Arizona.  —  The  production  of  gold  from  this  territory  began  in 
the  early  70's  and  increased  slowly  until  in  1881  the  one-million 
mark  was  reached  and  there  was  little  change  from  this  output 
till  1892,  which  year  marks  the  turning  point  in  production;  the 
subsequent  increase  was  decided  and  quite  uniform.  Two  millions 
in  gold  were  produced  in  1895,  $4,200,000  in  1900,  and  $4,357,600  in 
1903.  However,  in  1904  there  was  a  decrease  of  over  $1,000,000, 
which  was  not  materially  bettered  during  1905,  when  the  product 
was  $3,500,000.  The  total  gold  production  of  Arizona  during  the 
period  1877-1905,  inclusive,  was  about  $52,996,800.  The  produc- 
tion of  gold  is  largely  confined  to  Cochise,  Yavapai,  Pima,  Final  and 
Yuma  counties,  among  which  Yavapai  County  usually  leads.2 

The  number  of  mines  operating  during  1905  were  as  follows: 
12  placers,  and  122  deep  mines,  making  a  total  of  134.  The  amount 
of  ore  produced  was  2,678,059  short  tons,  the  average  value  in  gold 
and  silver  being  $1.62.  The  gold  production  of  this  territory  is 
obtained  mainly  as  a  by-product  of  copper  smelting. 

1  Report  of  the  Director  of  the  Mint,  1905,  p.  47. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  814,  1903,  and  Mineral  Industry,  1905. 


590 


GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


The  output  of  silver  during  1905  was  3,400,000  fine  ounces  with 
a  commercial  value  of  $2,074,000.  The  total  production  of  silver 
from  1877  to  1905  was  $72,051,569. 

The  total  yield  of  metals  from  the  Tombstone  district  up  to  and 
inclusive  of  1903  was:  163,000  ounces  of  gold,  21,500,000  ounces  of 
silver  and  500  tons  of  lead,  and,  as  has  been  suggested,  a  correction 
of  15  per  cent,  for  the  gold  and  silver  output,  should  be  added  to  make 
up  for  losses  in  pan  amalgamation,  which  would  swell  the  product 
to  187,000  ounces  gold  and  22,500,000  ounces  in  silver.  The  propor- 
tion of  gold  to  the  silver-content  of  ores  was  then  about  .18  to  22.36, 
or  1  to  120;  however,  there  is  a  wide  variation  in  the  proportion 
between  the  precious  metals  in  the  different  mines.  In  the  Conten- 
tion and  Grand  Central  mines  the  proportion  ranges  from  1  to  80 
even  to  1  to  400  —  the  latter  being  the  yield  of  ores  from  the 
superficial  limestone  deposits.  The  production  may  be  grouped 
as  follows,  according  to  formation:  one-half  of  the  gold  and  silver 
produced  has  come  from  the  upper  shales;  about  one-third  has  been 
derived  from  the  blue  and  white  limestone,  while  the  remainder 
was  obtained  from  the  Lucky  Cuss  limestone  at  various  points  along 
the  outcrop.1  i 

The  Dividend  group  of  mines,  at  Chaparal,  produces  an  ore  about 
15  per  cent  of  which  is  smelted;  the  remainder  is  milled.  The  mill 
ore  usually  runs  from  $20  to  $25  per  ton.2 

Before  the  incorporation  of  the  Silver  King  mine  it  is  estimated 
that  one  million  dollars  had  been  produced.  From  that  time  to 
and  including  1881,  the  production  was  $1,973,458.68.3 

The  source  of  gold  and  silver,  as  reported  by  the  mines,  by  kinds 
of  ore,  is  given  in  Table  XXI : 4 

TABLE  XXI. 

(Fine  Ounces.) 


Copper- 

Metal. 

Placers  . 

Copper 
Ores. 

Lead 
Ores. 

Lead  or 
Copper- 
Lead-Zinc 

Lead- 
Zinc 
Ores. 

Dry  or 

Siliceous 
Ores. 

Total. 

Ores. 

Gold 

2,064 

55,668 

9,270 

121 

717 

67,572 

135,412 

Silver  

306 

1,480,732 

594,330 

88,392 

441,952 

2,605,712 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  34,  1903. 

2  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  78,  p.  833. 

3  Ibid.,  Vol.  35,  p.  270. 

4  U.  S.  G.  S.f  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  pp.  122,  123  and  125. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


591 


The  production  of  gold  and  silver  during  the  period  from  1866  to 
1906  and  1877  to  1906,  is  given  in  Tables  XXII  and  XXIII.1 


TABLE  XXII 

(Gold  Product.) 


Year. 

Yield. 

Year. 

Yield. 

Year. 

Yield. 

1866 

1880 

$  400,000 

1894 

$1,990,966 

1867 

$  500,000 

1881 

1,060,000 

1895 

1,965,300 

1868 

500,000 

1882 

1,065,000 

1896 

2,579,000 

1869 

1,000,000 

1883 

950,000 

1897 

2,700,000 

1870 

800,000 

1884 

930,000 

1898 

2,400,000 

1871 

800,000 

1885 

880,600 

1899 

2,575,000 

1872 

625,000 

1886 

1,110,000 

1900 

2,725,000 

1873 

500,000 

1887 

830,000 

1901 

4,193,400 

1874 

487,000 

1888 

871,000 

1902 

4,112,300 

1875 

750,000 

1889 

910,174 

1903 

4,357,600 

1876 

1890 

1,000,000 

1904 

3,343,900 

1877 

300,000 

1891 

975,000 

1905 

2^691^00 

1878 

500,000 

1892 

1,070,000 

1906 

3,223,800 

1879 

800,000 

1893 

1,010,100 

TABLE   XXIII. 

(Silver  Product.) 


Year. 

Yield. 

Year. 

Yield. 

Year. 

Yield. 

1877 

$  500,000 

1888 

$3,000,000 

1899 

$1,191,600 

1878 

3,000,000 

1889 

2,343,977 

1900 

1,073,275 

1879 

3,550,000 

1890 

1,292,929 

1901 

1,765,553 

1880 

2,000,000 

1891 

1,913,535 

1902 

1,612,843 

1881 

7,300,000 

1892 

1,369,980 

1903 

1,829,034 

1882 

7,500,000 

1893 

2,334,817 

1904 

1,571,578 

1883 

5,200,000 

1894 

969,755 

1905 

1,672,592 

1884 

4,500,000 

1895 

561,174 

1906' 

1,835,283 

1885 

3,800,000 

1896 

1,342,000 

1886 

3,400,000 

1897 

796,577 

1887 

3,800,000 

1898 

1,310,850 

Temporary  suspension  of  operations  in  some  of  the  more  important 
mines  of  the  Yavapai  districts  south  of  Prescott  has  been  responsible 
for  the  decrease  in  gold  output.  The  production  of  silver  has  also 


1  Tables  compiled  from  Reports  of  the  Director  of  Mint,  the  Mineral  Re- 
sources of  the  United  States,  and  the  Mineral  Industry. 


592  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 

been  affected  by  conditions  in  the  Yavapai  districts,  yet  the  decrease 
is  not  as  great  as  it  would  have  been  had  not  reopening  and  unwater- 
ing  operations  been  actively  carried  on  in  the  Tombstone  mines. 

California.  —  It  is  difficult  to  more  than  approximate  the  early 
gold-production  of  this  state,  but  from  1849  to  and  including  1900 
it  is  estimated  at  $1,380,000,000.  However,  the  figures  from  1877 
are  much  more  accurate,  and  the  production  for  the  period  1877  to 
1905,  inclusive,  is  close  to  $439,165,645.  From  1849  to  1853  there 
was  a  rapid  increase  in  production  of  gold  to  the  $65,000,000  mark, 
after  which  there  was  a  steady  decline  until  in  1873  the  yearly  output 
was  only  $18,000,000.  From  1873  to  1893  there  was  considerable 
fluctuation,  but  the  tendency  was  downward,  approximately 
$12,000,000  being  reached  in  1893.  The  years  1853  and  1893  then 
mark  the  maximum  and  minimum  points  in  the  gold  production  of 
California  after  gold  mining  had  become  a  fixed  industry.  Since 
1893  there  has  been  a  slow  but  more  or  less  regular  increase  noted. 
In  1900  the  output  was  $15,800,000;  in  1902,  $16,792,100;  and  in 
1905,  $19,168,045. 

Statistics  show  that  there  was  a  decrease  in  placer-gold  produced, 
amounting  to  $1,100,000  in  3  years  —  being  reduced  from  $4,300,000 
in  1897  to  $3,200,000  in  1900.1 

The  gold  mining  industry  has  passed  through  many  vicissitudes, 
not  the  least  of  which  was  the  closing  of  the  hydraulic  mines  as  a 
result  of  the  debris  controversy. 

Of  the  mines  operating  in  the  state  in  1905,  685  were  placers  and 
481  were  deep  mines,  making  a  total  of  1,139,  which  yielded  some 
2,696,603  tons  of  ore,  with  an  average  value  of  $5.06  per  ton. 

Judging  from  the  number  of  operators  in  the  state,  California  is 
probably  more  actively  engaged  in  mining  than  any  other  state. 
In  1902  the  number  of  operators  was  one-third  of  the  total  number 
reported  in  the  United  States,  and  eliminating  from  the  total  the 
argentiferous  lead  mines,  of  which  there  were  447,  California  still 
had  two-fifths  of  the  operators  reported.2 

The  production  of  gold  and  silver  obtained  through  the  different 
operations  in  1905  is  shown  in  Table  XXIV.3 

The  yield  of  the  veins  of  California  is  independent  of  their  size  as 
is  shown  by  the  following  data:  The  Eureka-Idaho  shoot  in  the 
vicinity  of  Grass  Valley,  a  vein  not  exceeding  2  or  3  feet  in  width,  pro- 
duced over  $25,000,000;  the  Soulsby  mine,  at  Soulsbyville,  Tuolumne 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  816,  1903. 

3  Mines  and  Quarries,  Kept.  Bureau  of  the  Census,  1902,  p.  558. 

*  Report  of  the  Director  of  the  Mint,  1905,  p.  68. 


PRODUCTION   OF  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


593 


County,  produced  over  $6,000,000  and  is  about  3  feet  wide,  and 
the  Sheep  Ranch  mine,  in  Calaveras  County,  which  does  not  exceed 
4  feet  in  width  and  is  usually  less  than  3  feet,  has  yielded  $3,000,000^ 

TABLE   XXIV. 


County. 

Quartz. 

Dredge. 

Hydraulic. 

Drift. 

Placer. 

Total. 

Alpine  
Amador  
Butte          

$           575 
2,412,575 
16,459 
1,504,302 

$    27,256 
57,945 
35,000 
5,000 

15,880 

$           575 
2,463,745 
2,614,634 
1,815,675 
10,590 
387,260 
49,224 
45,824 
165,700 
1,295,915 
149,000 
15,135 
60,881 
391,611 
40 
320,124 
4,000 
3,212,238 
605,834 
284,340 
36,036 
668,588 
493,488 
109,812 
300 
725 
852,500 
520,990 
805,534 
50,240 
693,888 
2,313 
1,313,074 
1,200 
324,504 
91,526 

$       890 
155,353 
53,230 

$23,024 
88,204 
32,483 
5,590 
34,533 
5,428 
6,620 
100 
836 

$2,296,673 
190,660 

Calaveras  

Del  Norte 

Eldorado  

240,707 
43,796 

29,538 

66,602 

Humboldt 

39,204 

Inyo 

165,600 
1,295,079 
149,000 
15,010 
60,881 
376,383 

Kern 

Los  Anjreles 

125 

Madera 

15,228 

Mendocino  
Atono 

40 
150 

319,974 



Monterey 

4,000 
11,973 
91,754 
68,719 

Nevada  
Placer  
Plum  as 

3,084,303 
138,532 
184,051 
36,036 



47,512 
156,161 
18,850 

68,450 
219,387 
12,720 

Riverside 

Sacramento 

599,311 

40,777 

28,500 
75,386 
18,500 
300 
725 
21,034 
18,646 
120,011 

San  Bernardino  .  .  . 
San  Diego 

418,102 
91,312 

San  Luis  Obispo 

Santa  Barbara  
Shasta  
Sierra       

828,666 
400,092 
368,438 
50,240 
294,588 
2,313 
1,297,082 

900 
53,507 
300,013 

1,900 

48,745 
9,945 

7,i27 

Siskiyou 

Stanislaus 

Trinity  

2,350 

344,707 

4,290 

47,953 

Tulare 

Tuolumne  

1,000 

8,374 

6,618 
1,200 
80,807 
15,000 

Ventura 

Yuba  
Undistributed  .... 

Total  

11,612 

201,314 
20,000 

30,771 
25,000 

31,526 

13,805,708 

3,346,973 

1,158,896 

722,189 

823,297 

19,857,063 

The  Mother  lode,  one  of  the  large  veins  in  the  state,  had  produced 
up  to  1899  between  seventy  and  one  hundred  million  dollars  worth 
of  gold.  The  Keystone,  Old  Eureka,  Utica,  Plymouth,  Consoli- 
dated and  Kennedy,  have  each  yielded  from  5  to  12  millions,  while 
several  others  have  recorded  productions  of  from  2  to  3  millions. 
This  lode  in  Amador  County  alone  has  produced  from  $35,000,000 
1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  88,  p.  178. 


594  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

to  $50,000,000.  The  product  of  the  whole  lode  exclusive  of  the 
placers  largely  derived  from  it  is  approximately  $100,000,000.  For 
several  years  prior  to  1899  the  lode  had  yielded  one-fifth  of  the 
annual  gold  product,  while  its  entire  yield  lay  between  one-third 
and  one-fourth  the  gold  obtained  by  quartz-mining.1 

The  yield  of  the  placers  has  been  variously  estimated  —  W.  H. 
Pettee  estimated  the  yield  of  California  placers  to  be  4.75  cents  per 
cubic  yard,  which  was  based  on  the  Cement  Mining  Company's 
work  at  North  Fork,  where  43  million  cubic  yards  of  gravel  had  been 
washed,  yielding  2  million  dollars;  Laur's  estimate  was  16  cents, 
while  Prof.  Silliman's  was  30  cents  per  cubic  yard. 

Sixteen  years  of  operating  at  Sebastopol  Hill,  by  the  American 
Company,  shows  a  yield  of  25  to  30  cents  per  cubic  yard,  while  the 
entire  yield  of  the  gravel  lying  between  the  Middle  and  South  Yubas 
has  been  estimated  at  from  30  to  35  cents  per  cubic  yard.2 

Averages  of  figures  obtained  from  different  operations,  as  hydrau- 
lic-, drift-,  river-  and  beach-mining  gave  an  approximate  estimate  of 
the  yield  of  the  various  gravels  found  in  the  state.  An  average  of 
thirteen  hydraulic  operations,  in  which  the  value  of  the  gravels 
ranged  from  $12  to  $822  per  ton,  gives  $152.05  per  ton.  Four  drift 
mines  showed  an  average  of  $103.25  per  ton,  the  range  being  from  $15 
to  $271.  Similarly,  four  river-mining  operations  gave  an  average  of 
$14.21  per  ton,  range  $10  to  $27  per  ton,  while  ten  beach  workings 
gave  an  average  of  $6.82,  with  a  range  of  80  cents  to  $18.50  per  ton.3 

The  total  yield  of  California  hydraulic  mines  during  1906  was 
about  $975,000,  of  which  $635,669  has  come  from  Del  Norte,  Hum- 
boldt,  Siskiyou  and  Trinity  counties,  all  of  which  are  drained  by 
the  non-navigable  streams  emptying  into  the  Pacific,  and  to  which 
the  legal  restrictions  against  hydraulic-mining  do  not  apply.  The 
$339,471  remaining  is  accredited  to  the  counties  in  the  drainage  basin 
of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  rivers,  where  the  Caminetti  law 
is  in  force,  and  the  Debris  Commission  has  jurisdiction.4  This  gives 
an  idea  of  the  condition  of  hydraulic-mining  in  the  state  at  the 
present  time. 

The  source  of  the  gold  and  silver  product  for  1905,  as  reported 
from  the  mines,  by  kind  of  ore  is  given  in  Table  XXV: 5 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Mines  and  Minerals  of  California,  p.  63. 

2  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  23,  p.  24,  The  Auriferous  Gravels  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada  of  California,  Vol.  I,  p.  371,  and  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  11,  p.  120. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  69,  p.  230. 

4  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  94,  p.  53. 

5  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  pp.  122,  123  and  125. 


PRODUCTION   OF   GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


595 


TABLE    XXV. 

(Fine  Ounces). 


Metal. 

Placers. 

Copper  Ores. 

Lead  Ores. 

Dry  or  Sili- 
ceous Ores. 

Total. 

Gold  .  . 
Silver  

285,029.17 
27,367 

10,867.46 
388,169 

464.40 
53,477 

617,856.11 
607,161 

914,217.14 
1,076,174 

The  following  table  shows  the  gold  and  silver  product  for  the 
period  1848  to  1905.1 

TABLE  XXVI. 


Year. 

Gold. 
Dollars. 

Silver. 
Dollars. 

Year. 

Gold. 
Dollars. 

Silver. 
Dollars. 

1848 

10  010  000  * 

1877 

15,000,000 

1,000,000 

1849 

49,000,000 

1878 

15,260,679 

2,373,389 

1850 

50,000,000  f 

1879 

17,600,000 

2,400,000 

1851 

55,000,000 

1880 

17,500,000  || 

1,100,000 

1852 

60,000,000 

1881 

18,200,000 

750,000 

1853 

65,000,000  J 

1882 

16,800,000 

845,000 

1854 

60  000  000 

1883 

14,120,000 

1,460,000 

1855 

55  000  000 

1884 

13,600,000 

3,000,000 

1856 

55  000  000 

1885 

12,700,000 

2,500,000 

1857 

55  000,000 

1886 

14,725,000 

1,400,000 

1858 

50,000,000 

1887 

13,400,000 

1,500,000 

1859 

50,000,000  § 

1888 

12,750,000 

1,400,000 

1860 

45,000,000 

1889 

12,586,722 

1,373,807 

1861 
1862 

40,000,000 
34,700,000 

1890 
1891 

12,500,000 
12,600,000 

1,163,636 
969,697 

1863 

30,000,000 

1892 

12,000,000 

330,000 

1864 
1865 

26,600,000 
28  500  000 

1893 
1894 

12,080,000 
13,570,397 

367,618 
441,941 

1866 

25  500  000 

1895 

14,928,600 

302,933 

1867 

25  000  000 

1896 

15,235,900 

402,600 

1868 

22  000  000 

1897 

15,000,000  If 

452,790 

1869 

22,500  000 

1898 

15,300,000 

378,690 

1870 
1871 
1872 

25,000,000 
20,000,000 
19,000,000 

1899 
1900 
1901 

15,100,000 
15,650,000 
16,891,400 

357,480 
719,051 
555,360 

1873 

17,000,000 

1902 

16,792,100 

477,424 

1874 

18,000,000 

1903 

16,104,500 

503,010 

1875 
1876 

17,000,000 
17,753,000 



1904 
1905 

19,109,600 
19,168,045 

888,850 
667,937 

1  Table  compiled  from  Reports  Director  of  Mint,  Mineral  Resources,  Mineral 
Industry,  and  School  of  Mines  Quarterly,  Vol.  3,  p.  80. 

*  Discovery  of  gold  in  California. 

t  From  1850  to  1856  river-mining  was  an  important  factor  in  the  production  of  gold. 

|  Hydraulic-mining  operations  were  inaugurated  in  1863. 

§  The  decline  noted  was  due  largely  to  the  discovery  of  the  Comstock  lode, 
which  detracted  the  attention'  from  California. 

||  The  effect  of  the  State  and  Federal  injunctions  against  hydraulic-mining  in 
California  was  to  completely  close  the  mines  by  1887. 

1  Improvements  in  methods  of  mining  and  milling  began  to  affect  the  output  of 
gold  ;  not  an  unimportant  factor  was  dredging.  The  first  modern  dredge  was  built 
in  California  in  1897  —  the  revival  of  placer-mining. 


596 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


The  past  few  years  have  shown  considerable  fluctuation  in  output 
of  the  mines  of  California,  1905  showing  no  decline  (nor  any  ma- 
terial increase)  in  the  gold  production.  The  activity  in  dredging 
operations  was  probably  responsible  for  the  slight  increase.  Nevada 
County,  which  includes  the  Grass  Valley  district,  led,  having  a  yield 
of  over  $3,000,000. 

There  was  a  falling  off  in  silver  production  for  1905,  owing  to  the 
decreased  output  of  siliceous  ores  in  Kern  County,  also  the  copper 
ores  in  Shasta  County.  However,  from  the  present  outlook  in  the 
copper  districts  a  material  increase  in  silver  may  be  expected  from 
that  source  in  the  future.1 

Canada:  Silver  Islet  Mine.  —  For  reasons  already  given  a  dis- 
cussion of  the  Silver  Islet  ore-deposit,  Ontario,  Canada,  has  been 
given  in  connection  with  each  of  the  subjects  considered,  and  accord- 
ingly its  production  of  the  precious  metals  is  herewith  given. 

From  the  beginning  of  operations  in  September,  1870,  to  the  close 
of  navigation,  in  1878,  2,174,499.5  ounces  refined  silver  had  been 
obtained,  which  had  a  value  of  $2,921,727.24.  Adding  to  this 
amount  that  mined  since  its  discovery  and  operation  by  the 
Montreal  Mining  Company,  a  total  of  $2,948,019.81  was  produced  by 
this  mine.  The  total  production  of  the  mine  when  it  was  abandoned 
was  $3,039,557.49. 

The  output  of  the  Silver  Islet  mine  from  1868  to  the  fall  of  1871 
was  as  follows: 


Weight  in 
Pounds. 

Value  per 
Ton. 

Total  Value. 

Under  the  Montreal  Mining  Co  
Under  new  proprietors,  1870  

27,073| 
155,543 

$1,646.80 
1,175.80 

$  23,115.35 
92,153.23 

Under  new  proprietors,  1871,  Newark  .  . 
Under  new  proprietors,  1871,  Wyandotte 
Lost  on  propeller  Coburn 

183,453 
778,468* 
10  000 

1,507.64 
1,296.48 
1  040  00 

138,291.88 
504,640.13 
5  200  00 

Total                     

1,154,5371 

$1,322.44 

$763,400  59 

The  silver  extracted  from  the  ore    mined  from    1874    to   1875, 
inclusive,  is  as  follows: 

Season  of  1872 310,744.02  ounces 

Season  of  1873 289,763 . 77  ounces 

Season  of  1874 250,021 . 75  ounces 

Season  of  1875 145,902.50  ounces 

Total 996,432.04  ounces 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  115. 


PRODUCTION   OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


597 


At  the  commercial  price  of  silver  of  $1.20  per  ounce,  the  value  of 
this  silver  amounts  to  $1, 195,718.4s.1 

The  analyses  of  samples  of  the  Silver  Islet  ore  are  given  below, 
each  representing  an  average  of  about  13  tons: 


AI. 

I.    May,  1872. 

I.  June,  1873. 

IV.   June, 
1871. 

IV.   June. 
1871. 

CaO  
MgO  
ALO 

7.57 
6.94 

19.39 
4.35 

19.94 
9.65 
•  ••  I 

23.15 
6.28 

22.90 
7.73 

I                0       «, 

Fe'oV' 

1  88 

:;;  } 

7.53 

>      3.84 

Pb 

40  24 

0.80 

Cu 

Zn 

2  27 

Ae- 

8  30 

2  85 

0  114 

0  1445 

sg  

3  36 

1  03 

0  64 

Silicates  .... 

13.23 

27.20 

30.50 

36.13 

33.78 

The  Roman  numerals  indicate  classes  into  which  the  ore  was 
separated:  AI,  containing  between  2,000  and  4,000  ounces  of  silver 
per  ton,  or  7  to  14  per  cent;  II,  600  to  2,000  ounces  or  2  to  7  per 
cent;  III,  above  100  ounces  or  0.3428  per  cent;  and  IV,  the  waste 
of  the  mine,  averaging  40  ounces,  or  0.14  per  cent.2 

In  the  fall  of  1878  the  second  bonanza  was  struck,  which  is  said 
to  have  yielded  800,000  ounces  of  silver.3 

Colorado.  —  Although  mining  began  in  a  more  or  less  desultory 
way  in  Colorado  shortly  after  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California, 
yet  it  was  not  until  1877  that  accurate  data  were  collected  regarding 
the  output.  From  1877  to  1905,  inclusive,  the  gold  production 
amounted  to  $332,976,047,  while  the  total  estimated  production 
from  the  year  1858  to  and  including  1905  was  $379,776,047.  Unlike 
California,  and  a  number  of  the  Western  states,  the  placers  of 
Colorado  were  comparatively  few,  and  the  values  were  often  quite 
irregularly  distributed.  It  is  not  surprising  therefore  that  the  pro- 
duction of  the  early  mining  days  was  relatively  small  —  the  output 
from  early  placer-mining  for  the  period  1858  to  1867  being  esti- 
mated at  $25,000,000  or  $30,000,000. 

The  production  of  gold  during  1877  to  1890  was  between 
$3,000,000  and  $4,000,000,  being  derived  principally  from  the  ores  of 
Gilpin,  Clear  Creek  and  Boulder  counties,  and  to  a  certain  extent 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  8,  pp.  248,  249  and  252,  1880. 
8  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  2,  pp.  91  and  92,  1873. 
8  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour,  Vol.  34,  p.  322. 


598  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

from  the  San  Juan  region.  Beginning  with  1890  the  gold  produc- 
tion showed  a  decided  and  rapid  increase,  reaching  $9,500,000  in 
1894,  $19,100,000  in  1897  and  attaining  a  maximum  of  $28,800,000 
in  1900.  Since  1900  there  has  been  a  marked  decrease,  although 
in  1902  the  maximum  output  was  closely  approached  by  a  pro- 
duction of  $28,500,000.  In  1905  the  output  was  $25,577,947. 

The  rapid  increase  in  gold  production  was  largely  due  to  develop- 
ments in  the  Cripple  Creek  district,  discovered  in  1892,  and  to  great 
activity  in  the  San  Juan  region  of  southwestern  Colorado.  The 
output  of  Cripple  Creek  for  1900  was  $18,100,000,  while  the  San 
Juan  region,  comprising  the  counties  of  Ouray,  San  Juan  and  San 
Miguel,  yielded  $4,000,000.  Leadville  and  the  adjoining  country 
produced  $2,700,000  in  gold,  and  Gilpin,  Clear  Creek  and  Boulder 
counties  also  produced  $2,700,000.1  Gilpin  County  is  the  largest 
producer  of  the  three  last  mentioned,  its  ores  being  auriferous  pyrites 
with  free-gold,  the  gold  being  saved  by  amalgamation  and  concen- 
tration. In  1897  the  county  produced  $3,500,000  in  gold;  in  1898, 
$3,000,000;  in  1899,  $3,100,000;  and  in  1900,  $2,700,000.  Cripple 
Creek  has  produced  more  gold  than  any  other  vein-mining  district 
in  the  United  States.  The  total  production  during  the  years  1892 
to  1900,  inclusive,  was  $77,300,000. 

San  Juan  yields  both  gold  and  silver,  which  occur  separately  and 
together.  The  total  gold  production  up  to  and  including  1900  was 
$24,000,000. 

Although  placer  mining  has  been  carried  on  quite  extensively  at 
certain  points  in  Colorado,  its  output  has  not  added  materially  to 
the  gold  production  of  the  state,  being  only  3.77  per  cent  in  1880. 
However,  a  gradual  increase  has  been  effected  by  the  employment  of 
dredgers,  hydraulic  elevators,  etc.  In  1897  the  placer-gold  product 
was  $200,000,  while  in  1900  it  was  $700,000.2 

During  1905  there  were  23  placer  mines  and  490  deep  mines 
operating  in  the  state,  making  a  total  of  513.  These  mines  pro- 
duced 2,504,087  tons  of  ore  of  an  average  value  in  gold  and  silver  of 
$12.73. 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  819,  1903. 

2  Ibid.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  820,  821,  1903.     For  tonnage  of  ore  sold  or  treated,  num- 
ber of  producing  mines,  and  tenor  of  ores  by  counties  in  1904  and   1905,  see 
Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  188. 


PRODUCTION   OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


599 


A  classification  is  given  in  Table  XXVII  of  the  mines  of  Colorado, 
by  counties,  showing  the  chief  products: l 


TABLE   XXVII. 


County. 

'    -^! 

Gold  Placer 
Mines. 

Deep  Mines. 

1  g 

L1 

31 
15 
49 

* 

5t 
5 
9 
66 
1 
18 
10 
4 
61 
4 
10 
14 
19 
25 
2 
4 
20 
19 
34 
88 

513 

o 

I 

•e 
02 

1 
3 

i 

•JB 

1 

53 

55 

T3 
73 

1 

12 
2 

11 

* 

31 
1 
1 
30 

6 
2 

12 
3 

"G 
i 

5 
7 
6 

55  S, 

.  o. 

1^ 

3 
5 
9 

1 
3 
20 
1 
2 

2| 
2 

1 

4 
2 

3 
2 

ri 

co  6 

.  D. 

I8 

1 

1 

1 

4 

| 
53 

T3 

1 

3 

12 

2 
5 

3 
4 

1 
53 

2 
"2" 

II 

53 

Boulder  
Chaffee  
Clear  Creek  

1 

14 
1 
3 

1 
9 

5 

1 
1 
2 

2 

7 

1 
1 

Conejos  

Custer  

Dolores 

Eaele 

1 

1 

2 

Gilpin 

Grand 

i2 

2 
13 

"2" 

"5" 

1 
1 

6 

Gunnison 

Hinsdale 

Jefferson 

2 
2 

Lake 

2 
1 

2 
1 
1 
88 

9 
4 

4 
6 

2 

5 

"r 
i 

4 
1 

14 

5 
2 
4 

'3 
2 
6 
10 

La  Plata                 .    . 

Mineral  
Ouray  
Park  
Pitkin            

'3 

Routt            

Saguache  
San  Juan 

3 
1 
2 

7 

San  Miguel  
Summit  
Teller 

1 

5 

1 

Total  

108 

60 

19 

75 

10 

10 

3 

128 

29 

37 

34 

*  Included  in  Custer  County.  f  Including  Conejos  County. 

J  Two  copper  mines. 


The  source  of  the  gold  and  silver  products  in  Colorado,  by  kinds 
of  ore  in  1905,  and  by  counties  is  shown  in  Tables  XXVIII.2 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  189. 

2  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  pp.  190  and  191. 


600 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


TABLE 

(Fine 


County. 

Placers. 

Deep  Mines. 

Dry  or  Siliceous  Ores. 

Copper  Ores. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Boulder 

4.83 
726.07 
91.00 

2 
131 
45 

12,650.09 
73.38 
21,944.25 
140.00 
1,200.43 
1,476.22 
2,176.86 
66,763.11 

70,919 
5,035 
348,019 
900 
32,059 
47,030 
42,487 
322,609 

Chaffee  
Clear  Creek      

349.49 
420.48 

5^00 
12.05 
2.00 
2,762.73 
1.50 
7.93 
7.23 

23,586 
3,361 

100 
4,708 
80 
13,992 
22 
1,060 
1,169 

Conejos            

Custer     

Dolores  

Eagle  

7.60 
6.53 

2 
3 

Oilpin           

Grand         

Gunnison  

964.13 
363.83 

37,046 
7,567 

2,244,343 
93,258 
745,172 
158,048 
144,547 
401,663 

"35 
263,138 
1,094,235 

Hinsdale      

Jefferson  *  

Lake  

50,909.47 
12,187.61 
395.14 
107,835.55 
18,600.25 

La  Plata           .... 

Mineral      

Ouray       

312.18 

3,530 
2,400 

Park  t  *  

2,641.36 

695 

Pitkin     



Routt  

334.03 

30 

"33^52 
42,679.14 
79,297.81 

Saguache 

San  Juan  

3.54 

1,380 

San  Miguel 

Summit  *   

Teller         

745,542.17 

49,449 

Unapportioned  .  .  . 

1,044.29 

Total 

4,855.71 

908 

1,165,232.96 

6,107,559 

3,884.13 

55,388 

*  Included  under  Park  County. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


601 


XXVIII. 

Ounces.) 


Deep  Mines. 

Total. 

Lead  Ores. 

Zinc  Ores. 

Lead-  Zinc  Ores. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

13,006 
60,835 

12,654.92 
1,566.28 
24,366.42 
140.00 
1,205.43 
1,681.81 
2,268.34 
70,145.33 
1.50 
1,362.05 
580.07 

70,921 
75,265 
692,437 
900 
32,159 
76,526 
46,487 
340,901 
22 
53,649 
54,419 

417.34 
1,779.61 

29,912 
280,177 

3,595 

"iai'.os 

68.54 
'612.96 

7,288 
783 
4,297 

125.00 

17,500 

81.88 

3,135 

384.77 
209.01 

4^043.11 

8,416.95 
4,724.79 
371.76 
12.00 

13,780 
45,683 

954,999 

69,017 
144,828 
9,614 
1,651,913 

5.22 

1,763 

1,759.29 

488,954 

390.00 

345,466 

57,101.87 
12,187.61 
8,812.09 
112,872.52 
24,014.84 
12.00 
334.03 
33.82 
50,840.74 
81,766.60 

4,033,762 
93,258 
814,189 
306,406 
258,683 
2,469,520 
30 
4,401 
750,844 
1,275,079 



3,000 
415,944 

2,401.47 

98,427 

.30 
8,158.06 
2,468.79 

4,366 
486,326 
180,844 

745,542.17 
1,044.29 

49,449 

31,667.99 

3,883,827 

1,846.39 

916,391 

3,047.55 

535,234 

1,210,534.73 

11,499,307 

f  Includes  Jefferson  and  Summit  counties  for  silver  only. 


602 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


A  partial  analysis,  i.e.,  determination  of  the  metallic  contents  of 
the  rich  Cripple  Creek  ores  are  as  follows : 1 

TABLE   XXIX. 


l 

2 

3 

Gold             .... 

0  35 

0  0506 

0  060 

Silver         

none  or  trace 

0  0075 

0  0103 

Copper  

0  03 

0.0059 

0  0070 

Lead  *  

0.18 

Bismuth  

0  .  0025 

Molybdenum 

0  018 

0  0015 

0  0018 

Tellurium 

0  0742 

0  0920 

Tellurium  dioxide 

0  36 

*  From  another  sample  of  same  class  of  ore. 

1.  Oxidized  ore  from  100-foot  level  of  Stratton's  Independence 
mine.     Analyst,  W.  F.  Hillebrand.     Mine  assays  give  107  ounces  of 
gold  per  ton. 

2.  Telluride  ore,  El  Paso  mine.     Au  and  Mo  determined  on  100 
grains;    Te  on  50  grains.     Analyst,  W.   F.  Hillebrand;  results  of 
assays:   2.19  to  2.07  ounces  Ag,  14.53  to  15.60  ounces  Au,  per  ton. 

3.  Similar  ore,  El  Paso  mines.     Analyst,  W.  F.  Hillebrand;  re- 
sults of  assays:    2.87  to  3.00  ounces  Ag,  17.75  to  19.63  ounces  Au, 
per  ton. 

"  The  average  tenor  of  gold  (in  the  Cripple  Creek  district)  in  the 
ores  is  about  $30,  or  1.5  ounces  per  ton,  and  at  various  mines  ranges 
from  one  ounce  up  to  3  or  4  ounces.  Ore  with  less  than  $12  per  ton 
is  rarely  mined.  Small  amounts  of  ore  with  up  to  2,500  ounces  of 
gold  per  ton  have  been  mined.  The  pyrite  is  rarely  auriferous 
except  when  admixed  with  tellurides.  The  ores  contain  on  an  aver- 
.age  only  about  one  ounce  of  silver  to  10  ounces  of  gold.  In  some 
mines  the  proportion  is  very  much  less.  Small  shipments  have  been 
made  of  tetrahedrite  ore  rich  in  silver.  The  tenor  of  the  ore  as 
mined  has  decreased  somewhat  in  the  last  ten  years,  but  this  is 
probably  mostly  due  to  lowered  operating  and  reduction  expenses." 2 

The  decrease  in  tenor  of  the  Cripple  Creek  ores  is  shown  to  good 
.advantage  by  the  following  data.3 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Geol.  and  Gold  Deposits  of  the  Cripple  Creek  Dist.,  Colo.,  Pro- 
fessional Paper  No.  54,  173,  1906. 

2  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Geol.  and  Gold  Deposits  of  the  Cripple  Creek  Dist.,  Colo.,  Pro- 
fessional Paper  No.  54,  pp.  6  and  7. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Professional  Paper  No.  54,  p.  171. 


PRODUCTION  OF   GOLD  AND  SILVER.  603 

TENOR    OF    GOLD    ORE    FROM    PORTLAND    MINE. 


Per  Ton. 

1894 $71.00 

1895 54.00 

1897 60.00 

1900 39.00 


Per  Ton. 

1902 $26.00 

1903 29.00 

1904 26.92 

1905..  .    23.60- 


Assay  and  analysis  of  sample  from  the  Smuggler  vein,  Telluride, 
Colorado.1 

BATTERY  SAMPLE.  Oz.  per  Ton. 

AU £•'.    ; ;;•   v    .    .    .    .    .         0.53 

Ag      '•£    . * .-.«  •;.-  •'.    .      13.10 

An  analysis  of  ore  milled  at  the  Camp  Bird  mine,  Ouray  County, 

Colorado,  in  1903,  is  as  follows:2 

Per  cent. 

Silica  and  insolubles    .    .    .    .  • .     85.20 

Galena      .    .    .   .    . .' •.         .50 

Copper  pyrites ;.          .80 

Iron  pyrites '.'"..'•.       6.50 

Magnetite .   ,         .50 

Blende      3.00 

Rhodonite 2.50 

Alumina  .    .    . 1.50 

100.50 

The  following  is  an  assay  of  an  average  ore  from  the  Leadville 
district,  made  in  1886: 3 

TABLE   XXX.  Percent. 

Carbonic  acid 5.58 

Oxide  of  lead 24.77 

Silica 22.59 

Sulphur 0.90 

Protoxide  of  iron 0.89 

Peroxide  of  iron 24.86 

Protoxide  of  manganese     ...       4.03 

Silver   .  ..  .'.*. ;•*, 0.31 

Lime 2.36 

Magnesia 3.04 

Arsenic 0.01 

Antimony 0.02 

Potash  and  soda 0.98 

Chlorine 0.09 

Water 5.53  ' 

Alumina  .    .   >  ^  ,.:>. 3.99 

Gold,  copper,  zinc Trace. 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  18th  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  835,  1896-97. 

»  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol  33,  p.  536,  1903. 

8  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Monograph  No.  12,  p.  620,  1886. 


604 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


Silver,  90.5  ounces  to  the  ton;  lead,  23  per  cent;  iron,  18  per 
cent;  silica,  22.59  per  cent. 

Owing  to  the  importance  of  the  Cripple  Creek  district  as  a  factor 
in  the  production  of  gold  in  Colorado,  the  following  table  is  given, 
which  covers  the  period  of  1891  to  1905: 1 

TABLE  XXXI. 


Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 
(Fine  Ounces.) 

Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 
(Fine  Ounces.) 

1891 

$            449 

1900 

$18  073  539 

80  166 

1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 

1QQ7 

583,010 
2,010,367 
2,908,702 
6,879,137 
7,512,911 

in  ion  7nn 

5,019 
25,900 
70,448 
60,864 

K7  007 

1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 

17,261,579 
16,912,783 
12,967,338 
14,504,350 
15,411,724 

90,884 
62,690 
42,210 
66,638 
49,449 

1898 
1899 

13,507,244 
15,658,254 

68,195 
82,520 

Total  

$154,331,096 

762,280 

The  production  of  gold  and  silver  in  the  Leadville  district,  by 
decades,  is  given  in  Table  XXXII,  beginning  with  1860,  after  the 
inauguration  of  the  Carbonate  ore  era: 2 


TABLE   XXXII. 


Period. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Lead. 

Copper. 

Zinc. 

1860-1878 
1879-1888 
1889-1898 
1899-1904 

Total. 

$6,900,000 
2,291,000 
7,906,000 
10,329,000 

$11,700,000 
106,415,000 
73,054,000 
49,473,000 

$3,000,000 
36,136,000 
23,776,000 
12,743,000 

$1,500,000 
3,065,000 
2,459,000 

$9,439,000 

$27,426,000 

$240,642,000 

$75,655,000 

$7,024,000 

$9,439,000 

The  gold  and  silver  production  of  Colorado  from  1866  to  1905  is 
given  in  Table  XXXIII.3 

In  1905  Colorado  led  in  the  production  of  gold  and  was  second  in 
the  production  of  silver.  The  permanency  of  several  of  the  principal 
producing  districts,  as  Cripple  Creek,  the  San  Juan  region  and 
probably  Leadville  and  Gilpin  counties,  is  practically  assured  by 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  213. 

2  Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  11,  p.  435. 

8  Compiled  from  the  Mineral  Resources,  Mineral  Industry  and  Kept.  Direc- 
tor of  the  Mint. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


605 


TABLE   XXXIII. 


Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

1866 

$17,000,000 

1886 

4,450,000 

16  000  000 

1867 

2,500,000 

1887 

4,000,000 

15,000  000 

1868 

3,250,000 

1888 

3,758,000 

19,000  000 

1869 

4  000  000 

1889 

3  883  859 

23  757  751 

1870 
1871 

3,675,000 
4,663  000 



1890 
1891 

4,150,000 
4  600  000 

24,307,070 
27  358  384 

1872 

4,661  465 

1892 

5  300  000 

21  758  750 

1873 

4,020,263 

1893 

7  525  000 

20  432  000 

1874 

5,188,510 

1894 

9  549  731 

14  638  696 

1875 

5,302,810 

1895 

13  527  300 

11  687  150 

1876 

1896 

14  867  971 

15  097  500 

1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1885 

3,000,000 
3,366,404 
3,225,000 
3,200,000 
3,300,000 
3,360,000 
4,100,000 
4,250,000 
4,200,000 

4,500,000 
5,394,940 
11,700,000 
17,000,000 
17,160,000 
16,500,000 
17,370,000 
16,000,000 
15,800,000 

1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 

19,579,637 
23,534,531 
26,508,675 
28,762,036 
27,693,500 
28,466,207 
22,540,100 
24,395,800 
25,701,100 

12,722,227 
13,866,535 
13,771,731 
12,472,500 
10,869,083 
8,176,602 
7,014,708 
8,312,328 
7,811,239 
* 

the  character  of  recent  developments.  It,  however,  remains  to 
be  seen  whether  increased  depth  of  working  with  the  consequent 
increased  cost  of  operating  will  materially  reduce  the  output  or 
maintain  it  at  its  present  status. 

Idaho.  —  In  this  state,  as  in  most  of  the  others  in  which  mining  was 
done  at  an  early  date,  the  records  as  to  production  are  of  little  or  no 
value  and  only  a  rough  estimate  can  be  made.  Idaho  is  claimed 
to  have  yielded  $112,800,000  in  gold  alone  up  to  and  including  1900. 
Since  then  the  production  has  been  $7,669,245,  which  includes  1905. 
The  total  production  then,  inclusive  of  1905,  has  been  $120,469,245. 
Probably  the  maximum  annual  production  was  reached  in 
1866,  when  the  extremely  rich  placer  mines  were  being  actively 
worked.  A  steady  drop  in  production  of  gold  occurred  until  in  1878 
only  $1,150,000  was  obtained  as  the  yearly  output.  However, 
in  1888  the  gold  product  had  increased  to  $2,400,000  and  has 
fluctuated  between  $1,250,000  and  $2,300,000.  During  the  past 
few  years  the  output  of  the  placer  mines  has  remained  pretty  close 
to  the  $500,000  mark.  The  main  source  of  the  gold  production  is 
Owyhee  County  and  the  veins  of  Gold  Hill,  Atlanta,  Rocky  Bar 
and  Custer. 

The   silver   product   amounted   to   8,679,093   ounces,  valued  at 


606 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


$5,242,172,  in  1905,  showing  an  increase  of  1,012,711  ounces  in 
quantity  and  $853,168  in  value  over  1904.  The  chief  source  of  the 
silver  is  the  lead-silver  mines  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene  region,  Shoshone 
County,  which  is  alone  credited  with  7,292,986  ounces.  Owyhee 
County  ranks  second  in  point  of  yield,  having  produced  846,035 
ounces  in  1905.1 

Of  the  257  mines  operating  in  the  state  in  1905,  only  105  of  them 
were  deep  mines,  the  remaining  152  being  placers.  The  yield  of 
the  deep  mines  was  1,669,038  tons,  having  an  average  value  of  $3.58 
in  gold  and  silver  per  ton. 

The  following  table  gives  the  classification  of  mines  by  chief 
product  in  Idaho  in  1905,  by  counties:2 

TABLE    XXXIV. 


County. 

Non- 
pro- 
ducing 
Mines. 

Mines 
report- 
ing 
Pro- 
duct. 

Gold  Placer  Mines. 

Deep  Mines. 

I 

| 

I 

«g 
Q 

i 

1 

2 
o 
O 

<3 
> 

53 

1 

2 

| 

X 

Ada  and  Bannock  
Bingham 

19 
11 

61 

88 

4 
7 
18 
40 
4 
7 
10 
13 
1 
45 
2 
7 
19 
2 
27 
2 
7 
37 
5 

2 
7 
4 
30 
4 
6 
3 
3 

23 

"7 
10 
2 
25 
2 
3 
8 
2 

141 

2 
7 
4 
31 
4 
6 
4 
3 

1 

1 

23 
18 
79 
128 
4 
17 
49 
58 
9 
174 
42 
27 
191 
9 
74 
2 
34 
170 
53 

Blaine      

7 

1 

i 

7 

2 

8 

1 

2 

2 

11 

1 

i 

2 

3 

Boise     

Canyon     

Cassia  

10 
39 
45 

8 
129 
40 
20 
172 
7 
47 

Custer  

Elmo  re 

Fremont 

1 

Idaho                    .    . 

... 

30 
.  „.. 

10 
2 
25 
2 
3 
10 
2 

13 

6 
2 

1 

2 
2 

i 

2 

Kootenai       

Latah         

Lemhi  

Lincoln  

Nez  Perce 

Oneida 

4 

2 
2 

24 

i 

Owyhee           ... 

27 
133 
48 

i 

i 

Shoshone  

Washington  

Total 

904 

257 

8 

3 

152 

40 

13 

7 

41 

4 

1,161 

The  source  of  gold  and  silver  production  in  Idaho,  by  kinds  of  ore, 
in  1905,  by  counties,  is  given  in  Table  XXXV.3 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  217. 

2  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  224. 

8  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  pp.  216,  217. 


PRODUCTION   OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


607 


a  § 
8 » 


O  O^       •  *O  O          CO       •  •  iO 

CO  CO      -  O  00          CO      •  -  CO      •       • 


608 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


The  gross  value  of  the  product  of  the  principal  lead-silver  mines 
of  the  Coeur  d'Alene  district  in  1903  was  as  follows:1 

Standard-Mammoth $2,544,918 


Morning 

Bunker  Hill  and  Sullivan 

Last  Chance 

Hercules 

Hecla 

Tiger-Poorman 

Helena-Frisco 

Gold  Hunter    ...... 

Other  mines 


.. 1,635,612 

.    .    .    ;'1'   -. 1,604,538 

.   ,  ...   ...    .- 1,409,672 

850,258 

655,721 

../... 580,477 

465,287 

166,000 

.....:,   151,735 

Total $10,064,218 

The  production  of  gold,  silver  and  lead  from  the  Coeur  d'Alene 
district  for  1904  and  total  from  1884  is  as  follows:  gold,  $144,690  and 
$4,770,177;  silver,  $3,512,895  and  $34,163,655;  and  lead,  $9,271,672 
and  $69,040,856.  The  total  value  of  all  for  1904  was  $12,929,257 
and  since  1884,  inclusive  of  1905,  $107,974,688.2 

The  average  value  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene  ores  in  silver  is  a  trifle 
over  one-half  ounce  to  each  per  cent  of  lead  per  ton.  During  the 
year  1903-4  the  ore  obtained  from  Bunker  Hill  and  Sullivan  mine 
averaged  3.9  ounces  of  silver  and  8.8  per  cent  lead  —  the  range  of 
values  being  3.6  to  6.8  ounces  silver  and  8  to  16  per  cent  lead  per 
ton.  In  1905  the  richest  ore  produced  came  from  the  Hercules  mine 
and  contained  approximately  45  ounces  silver  and  50  per  cent  lead 
to  the  ton.3 

The  following  fragmentary  data  give  an  approximate  idea  of 
the  output  of  the  Warren  mining  district: 4 

TABLE  XXXVI. 


Year. 

Placer. 

Quartz. 

Total. 

1869   

$385,000 

$35,000 

$420,000 

1871 

160  000 

1872 

56,000 

1875 

*120,000 

1881.. 

108,800 

18,672 

127,472 

1882  

115,280 

11,170 

126,450 

1884  

83,000 

17,000 

1886 

f  124,077 

1887  

|  145,000 

*  Approximate. 

t  $121,881  gold,  $2,196  silver. 

%  $141,127  gold,  $3,873  silver. 

1  Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  12,  p.  30. 

2  Coeur  d'AlSne  Souvenir,  1906,  p.  105. 

8  Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  12,  pp.  31  and  32. 

4  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20th  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  238,  1898-99. 


PRODUCTION  OF   GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


609 


No  later  data  is  available,  but  the  output  has  not  varied  much 
from  that  of  1887,  the  last  year  given. 

The  gold  and  silver  production  of  the  placer  mines  of  Idaho  for 
the  year  1905,  by  counties,  is  shown  in  Table  XXXVII.1 

TABLE  XXXVII. 

(Fine  Ounces.) 


Counties. 

Gold. 

Value. 

Silver. 

Value. 

Total  Value. 

Ada 

104 

$2,150 

16 

$10 

$2,160 

Bingham  .  .  . 
Blaine  
Boise  

276 
258 
6,351 

5,705 
5,333 
131,287 

4 
9 
1,478 

2 
5 

893 

5,707 
5,338 
132,180 

Canyon  
Cassia  
Custer  
Elmore  
Idaho  

71 
140 
947 
1,126 
2,289 

1,468 
2,894 
19,576 
23,276 
47,318 

3 
11 
524 
186 
254 

2 
6 
317 
113 

153 

1,470 
2,900 
19,893 
23,389 
47,471 

Latah  
Lemhi  
Lincoln  
Nez  Perce  .  . 
Oneida  
Owyhee  .... 
Shoshone.  .  . 
Washington 

225 
1,440 
156 
951 
393 
68 
1,640 
35 

4,651 
29,768 
3,225 
19,659 
8,124 
1,406 
33,902 
724 

21 
421 
6 
193 
15 
7 
331 
3 

13 
255 
4 
116 
9 
4 
200 
2 

4,664 
30,023 
3,229 
19,775 
8,133 
1,410 
34,102 
726 

Total  

16,470 

340,466 

3,482 

2,104 

342,570 

The  production  of  gold  and  silver  during  the  period  of  years  1866 
to  1905  is  given  in  Table  XXXVIII:2 

TABLE   XXXVIII. 


Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

1866 

$17  000  000 

1887 

$1  900  000 

$3  000  000 

1867 

6  500  000 

1888 

2  400  000 

3  000  000 

1868 

7,000  000 

1889 

984  159 

4  056  482 

1869 
1870 
1871 

7,000,000 
6,000,000 
5,000,000 

1890 
1891 
1892 

,850,000 
,680,000 
721  364 

4,783,838 
5,216,970 
3  712  500 

1872 

2,695,870 

1893 

,646  900 

3  058  167 

1873 

2  500  000 

1894 

2  081  281 

2  071  785 

1874 

880  004 

1895 

1  779  600 

2  236  951 

1875 

750  000 

1896 

2  155  300 

3  623  400 

1876 

1897 

2  000  000 

3  587  400 

1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 

1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1885 

,500,000 
,150,000 
,200,000 
,980,000 
,700,000 
,500,000 
,400,000 
,250,000 
,800,000 

$250,000 
200,000 
650,000 
450,000 
1,300,000 
2,000  000 
2,100,000 
2,720,000 
3,500,000 

1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 

2,050,000 
1,750,000 
2,067,000 
2,273,900 
1,475,000 
1,570,400 
1,503,700 
1,250,845 

3,661,492 
2,859,840 
3,741,130 
2,358,000 
3,103,044 
3,513,996 
4,529,916 
5,262,344 

1886 

,800,000 

3,600,000 



1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  223. 

2  Table   compiled   from   Mineral   Resources,    Mineral   Industry   and   Repts. 
Director  of  Mint. 


610  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

Judging  from  the  operations  of  the  placer  mines  during  the  past 
decade  it  seems  probable  that  they  will  continue  an  important  factor 
in  the  gold  production  of  Idaho.  With  regard  to  the  future  of  the 
lode-mines  there  is  considerable  uncertainty  owing  to  the  nature  of 
developments  made.  The  deposits  which  have  been  developed 
largely  in  the  past  partook  of  the  nature  of  bonanzas,  being  quickly 
exhausted;  thus  periods  of  idleness  followed  others  of  great  activity. 
The  production  of  silver,  on  the  other  hand,  will  probably  increase 
owing  to  its  occurrence  in  the  lead  deposits,  and  being  a  by-product 
its  output  will  not  be  affected  by  commercial  conditions. 

Montana. — The  discovery  of  placers  in  1862  marks  the  beginning  of 
the  mining  industry  in  Montana.  It  is  claimed  that  the  output  of  placer 
gold  during  the  five  years,  beginning  with  1862,  was  about  $65,000,000. 
The  known  output  from  1877  to  1905  inclusive,  was  $107,292,000,  while 
the  total  since  discovery  approximates  $227,192,000  inclusive  of  1905. 

The  characteristic  condition  of  Montana's  gold  production  has 
always  been  its  relative  uniformity,  not  being  subject  to  any  sudden 
changes.  From  1862,  to  and  including  1866,  there  was  an  increase 
which  culminated  in  the  maximum  output,  in  1866,  of  $16,000,000. 
Shortly  after  this  a  decline  began,  and  in  1875  and  1882  the  pro- 
duction was  $2,700,000  and  $2,500,000  respectively.  However,  in 
1887  the  output  was  $6,000,000,  which  increase  was  occasioned  by 
the  smelting  of  auriferous  silver  ores  and  the  development  of 
several  large  quartz-veins  bearing  gold  and  silver  values.  The  pro- 
duction of  silver  began  in  1872.  There  was  a  subsequent  falling 
off  in  gold  to  $3,600,000  in  1894,  and  from  1897  to  1905  the 
gold  production  has  varied  between  approximately  $4,400,000  and 
$5,100,000,  being  $5,064,600  in  1905. 

In  1902  Colorado  led  in  the  production  of  silver,  Montana  coming 
second;  however,  in  1904  Montana  ranked  first,  producing  $8,472,698 
compared  with  $8,312,328  for  Colorado,  while  in  1905  her  silver-prod- 
uct was  $8,235,000,  exceeding  that  of  Colorado  by  $491,182. 

During  later  years  a  considerable  amount  of  the  precious  metal 
production  has  come  from  the  smelting  of  copper  ores,  especially 
those  from  Silver  Bow  County.1 

Two-thirds  of  the  gold  production  in  1880,  or  about  $2,400,000,  was 
derived  from  placers;  in  1884  the  ratio  was  reduced  to  two-fifths, 
or  $960,000  to  $2,400,000  —  during  late  years  the  output  of  placers 
has  been  fairly  constant.  An  output  of  $600,000  in  1900  compared 
with  a  total  of  $4,700,000  was  recorded,  while  in  1905  it  had  dropped 
to  $396,901,  or  practically  $400,000. 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  825  and  826,  1903. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


611 


The  gold-quartz  and  auriferous  silver-quartz  ores  yielded  $1,400,000 
in  1897,  and  $2,300,000  in  1900,  while  the  lead  and  mixed  smelt- 
ing ores  for  the  same  years  yielded  approximately  $1,200,000  and 
$700,000  respectively.  Further,  the  gold  production  of  the  copper 
ores  of  Butte  is  assuming  considerable  importance,  being  for  the 
period  1882  to  and  including  1900,  about  $14,500,000,  and  in  silver 
and  copper  $86,000,000  and  $331,000,000.  The  silver- veins  of  Butte 
have  also  added  materially  to  the  output  of  both  gold  and  silver.1 

As  producers  of  placer-gold  Madison  and  Beaverhead  counties 
held  the  first  place,  Prickly  Pear  and  Confederate  gulches  being  the 
chief  producers  in  later  years.  With  the  beginning  of  deep  mining 
the  gold  and  silver-gold,  smelting  and  milling,  ores  immediately 
became  important  factors  in  the  production  of  the  precious  metals. 
The  following  counties  lead  in  the  production  of  gold,  being  given  in 
the  order  of  importance:  Lewis,  Clark,  Jefferson,  Deer  Lodge,  Silver 
Bow,  Granite,  Meagher,  Fergus,  Madison  and  Beaverhead. 

In  1905  there  were  332  mines  being  worked  in  Montana,  of  which 
78  were  placers  and  254  were  deep  mines.  These  mines  produced 
5,020,137  tons  of  ore  at  an  average  value  in  gold  and  silver  of  $2.47.2 

In  Table  XXXIX  is  a  classified  list  of  the  mines  of  Montana  by 
counties,  with  regard  to  chief  product  for  1905: 3 

TABLE   XXXIX. 


County. 

Non- 
pro- 
ducing 
Mines. 

Gold  Placer 
Mines. 

Deep  Mines. 

Mines 
report- 
ing 
Pro- 
duct. 

o 

1 
S 

fi 

i 

1 

2 
O 

OQ 

| 

i 

1 

Beaverhead 

16 
11 
2 
12 
19 
6 
21 
17 
18 
23 
16 
6 
10 
21 

1 
4 

3 
5 

7 
3 
21 
10 
8 
1 
8 
1 

72 

1 
4 

1 
13 

3 
3 
6 

1 
1 

2 
1 

3 
1 
3 

1 
11 

5 
19 
6 
2 
3 
5 
19 
39 
24 
55 
4 
3 
10 
60 

254 

6 
23 
6 
5 
8 
5 
26 
43 
45 
66 
12 
6 
20 
61 

332 

B  road  water 

Chouteau,  Meagher  and  Ravalli 
Deer  Lodge  and  Flathead  
Fergus  
Granite  
Jefferson          

i 

3 
5 

7 
4 
21 
11 
8 
3 
10 
1 

78 

2 
2 
5 
11 
12 
19 
49 
1 
3 
9 

127 

7 
21 
4 
3 
1 

20 
68 

1 
3 

2 

40 

48 

Lewis  and  Clark      

Madison 

i 
i 

i 
i 

2 
5 

Missoula     

Park 

Powell          

Silver  Bow                   

Total  

198 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  828,  1903. 

8  For  average  value  of  ore  by  counties,  see  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  246. 

8  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  247. 


612 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


The  amount,  contents  and  value  of  ore  sold  by  the  Elkhorn  mine 
of  the  Elkhorn  district,  Jefferson  County,  are  given  in  Table  XL.1 


TABLE   XL. 


Year. 

Ore. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Lead. 

Total  Value. 

Value  per 
Ton. 

Tons. 

Ounces. 

Ounces. 

Pounds. 

1898 
1897 
1896 

1,700.309 
715.241 
554.234 

214,908.89 
96,872.10 
90,787.29 

230.626 
109.147 
85.566 

532,429 
179,341 
149,367 

$104,945.83 
48,478.44 
50,355.59 

"$67^78' 
90.85 

Car  load  lots  of  ore  from  the  Elkhorn  mines  shipped  in  1894  gave 
assays  as  follows: 

Sulphide  ore:  Zinc,  32.6;  silver,  180.6;  gold,  0.13;  lead,  14. 
Oxidized  silver:  Zinc,  17.3;  silver,  223.3;  gold,  0.17;  lead,  12.8. 

According  to  W.  H.  Weed:  "  Although  native  silver  is  of  common 
occurrence  in  oxidized  portions  of  the  deposit,  no  free  gold  has,  so 
far  as  the  writer  knows,  ever  been  found.  The  ratio  of  gold  to  silver 
in  the  ores  is  very  constant,  and  approximates  1,000  ounces  of  silver 
to  one  ounce  of  gold."  2 

The  value  of  the  ores  in  the  Judith  Mountains  district  is  quite 
variable,  ranging  from  many  thousands  per  ton  as  in  the  bonanzas 
of  the  Spotted  Horse  mine,  to  the  more  universal  low-grade  ores. 
The  average  is  as  a  usual  thing  low,  not  exceeding  $10  per  ton.3 

The  source  of  the  gold  and  silver  product  in  Montana,  by  kinds  of 
ore,  in  1905,  by  counties,  is  given  in  Table  XLI: 4 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  22d  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  2,  p.  418,  1900-01. 

2  U.  S.  G.  S.,  22d  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  2,  pp.  475  and  476,  1900-01. 

3  Ibid,  18th  Ann  Kept.,  Pt.  3  p.  592,  1896-97. 

4  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  pp.  247  and  248. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


613 


to  t^.  oo           e*       os  os  .-i  oo       o  o  co  o  eq  co 
T-H  co  r>-            oi       r~-  co  <M  T-I       10  oo  o  oo  o  o 

1 

i 

y 

55 

!5  °O  i-1                                 CO          i-l  CO          to  CO                  ^  °^ 

i—  T 
i—  i 

co" 

1 

i 

COtOT-l                  t~          OS  00  CO  Tt<           T-I  t^  t-  OS  iO  <M 

to 

•d 
"o 

S*S     £  Ssii  islSIs 

CO 
OS 

0 

m               i-      osoi>oo      ^  to               TH 

CO 

i—  i  OS  OO                 OS          i—  I  OS  !>•  CO          to  to  CO  OO  »O  •"*" 
•^  00  O                  CO          OCOtOOO          O  »O  CO  OS  tO  OS 
I-H  tO  b-                OS         b-  CO  <M  O         to  OO  OS  t~  OO  OS 

s 

55 

^  S  T-I                               CO          T-H  CO          »O  CO                 O<  OS 

^                                                                   l>   ^              T-H    T—  1                                    T-^ 
T-T 

co" 

0 

o^oo           t>-      ^otoco      toc<ioi>-c<ioo 

O  •<*<  i-H               O         OS  00  OS  00        fr-  CO  »O  O  CO  00 

s 

2 
o 

O 

00  b»  CO               OS         OS  OS  t>.  »O         OS  »O  T-H  O  -^  O 
t-  -<^  CO                 CO          CO  T-I  T-I  t--          O*  CO  Tj<  t^  CO  Tt< 
»O  i-H                >O         l>  t—  <M  ^         OS  O  T-I  T-I  t>-  T-I 

CO 

i 

IO                      t>-         OO  O  t>-  OO         CO  (M         «  T-H  I-H 

g 

' 

to 

CO 

1 

•Si 

55 

. 

£ 

Q 

1  « 

T3 

•     •     •              •         •     •     •  o         o 

•      •      •                   •            •      •      •  <N            0 

C3 

ex  *^ 

* 

O  N 

'       '       '                     '              •       •       •  »H              0> 

^« 

o 

o 

^H 

1 

3 

ooi-ti-H                   co-oco      co-^<         ;co 

COCOOO                               CO-T-liO                 <N              -C1 
CO                                                    <M 

00 

OS 

'""T* 

KN          pj 

w    o 

I 

i 

•  too                    -*    -oo      ooo         :  co 
•  os  o                   o»    ;  o  co      T-<t>.        ;  o 

•  oo  ci                    i>I    '  o  *n       os  t-         'oo 

'CO<M                               CO'C^^          "*OO              'OS 

;  os                      »o    ;      t^          oo        ;  co^   ; 

•   ^H 

0 
i-H 

OS 

1 

1  1 

1 

55 

O              •                                          •  T-H  Tjl          00  CO  »O      •       •  O 
T-«             •                                        •  00  »O         OO         -^     •      •  CO^ 

1—  1 

;                   :                       .   .  co^ 

OS 

1 

o" 

| 

o      -                    :^o     Sco§   :   :5 

5 

rf 

i 

i 

6 

'2 
o 
O 

«     ;               |    •    §25  ;  ;| 

1 

I 

i 

I 

55 

o  i—  <  co            os       F-OSCO^       tot^oooooo^** 

O  t^  OS                  CO          CO  CO  CO  Tj<          i-H  TH  CO  OS  i-H  i-H 
C^  CO  i"H                 OS          C^  CO  ^  C^          C^  O  ^t^  t^  4O  t"* 

t^»    TH                T—  1    1—4                                        If} 

OS 

1 

§OSOO                t»         OOCOCO         C^OSOt^OS^i 
•^T-I                 O          OOOt^CO          t>-Tl<OOiOTj< 

0» 

55 

1 

r-  o  co           co      o  T-I  os  <M       to  10  o  t^  co  T^J 
eoi-t             to       c<it^T-ib»       t^^H,-,,-,        c^ 

OS 

^*                     ts»         OO  O  £*•  ^*         CO  i—  i         C^         oo 
CO                       <M  <M 

s 

j 

55 

•^00                        CO          00          Tfl  to          to  tO  O  <M  t^  C^l 

co                e*       to    ;  I-H  to      oo  oo  os  ••*  to  c^i 

CO 
IO 

3 

i—  I  to                        OO          ^          OOS          OSCOCOOOt^C^ 
CO  TH                        «O          O          ^  to          CO  i-H  C<l  00  OS  CO 

^ 

i 

2 
o 

O 

to  00                      i»<         C<»         to  OS         •**  M  !>.  00  T-H  O 
CO  CO                        OS          OO          CO  OO          b*  C^  CO  !>•  t^»  i^ 
C«                              T-H            O            T-H  C*            »O  1-J^O  <M   TJH   T-H 

oT 

l-H 

^.j  tn        <%   •  gjT3    ;   • 

i 

li!!feislil|Illill 

PQPQOO           Q      feO^r-5       S^Pnfl,^ 

1 

1 

614 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


Table  XLII  gives  the  production  of  gold  and  silver  in  Montana 
during  a  period  of  years  beginning  with  1866  and  including  1905:  * 

TABLE   XLII. 


Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

1866 

$18,000,000 

1886 

4,425,000 

12,400,000 

1867 

12,000,000 

1887 

5,230,000 

15,500,000 

1868 

15,000,000 

1888 

4,200,000 

17,000,000 

1869 

9,000,000 

1889 

3,139,327 

17,468,960 

1870 

9,100,000 



1890 

3,300,000 

20,363,636 

1871 

8,050,000 

1891 

2,890,000 

21,139,394 

1872 

6,068,339 

1892 

2,891,386 

15,262,500 

1873 

5,178,047 

1893 

3,575,000 

13,294,000 

1874 

3,844,722 

1894 

3,651,410 

8,077,151 

1875 

3,573,600 

1895 

3,677,586 

9,825,305 

1876 

1896 

4,324,700 

10,548,120 

1877 

3,200,000 

750,000 

1897 

4,496,431 

10,049,112 

1878 

2,260,511 

1,669,635 

1898 

5,247,913 

8,633,352 

1879 

2,500,000 

2,225,000 

1899 

4,819,157 

10,039,680 

1880 

2,400,000 

2,500,000 

1900 

4,698,000 

8,801,148 

1881 

2,330,000 

2,630,000 

1901 

4,744,100 

7,879,020 

1882 

2,550,000 

4,370,000 

1902 

4,373,600 

7,019,214 

1883 

1,800,000 

6,000,000 

1903 

4,411,900 

6,826,842 

1884 

2,170,000 

7,000,000 

1904 

5,097,800 

8,472,698 

1885 

3,300,000 

10,060,000 

1905 

5,064,600 

8,235,000 

It  is  not  probable  that  the  output  of  gold  and  silver  in  Montana 
will  suffer  any  material  decrease  in  the  near  future,  owing  primarily 
to  the  discovery  and  development  of  large  deposits  of  low-grade 
ores,  and  to  a  less  extent  to  the  output  of  the  placers.  However,  a 
number  of  the  large  mines  have  been  exhausted.  Any  serious 
decline  in  price  of  copper  would  also  affect  the  production  of  gold 
and  silver,  constituting,  as  they  do,  a  valuable  part  of  the  returns 
from  copper  mining. 

Nevada.  —  Nevada  has  been  made  famous  by  the  stupendous 
production  of  the  Comstock  lode,  which  if  maintained  would  not 
only  have  put  it  in  the  lead  as  a  producer  of  the  precious  metals,  but 
would  have  caused  it  to  maintain  that  position.  In  1877  the  Com- 
stock yielded  $14,500,000  in  gold  and  $21,800,000  in  silver,  which 
was  the  banner  year  in  its  production  of  gold,  the  following  years 
witnessing  a  decline.  In  1893  the  total  output  of  gold  from  the 
state  was  less  than  $1,000,000.  However,  an  increase  in  gold  pro- 


1  Table  compiled  from  Mineral   Resources,   Mineral  Industry  and  Reports 
Director  of  the  Mint. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  615 

duction  began  subsequent  to  1893,  and  for  the  period  1897  to  1900 
the  yield  was  $3,000,000,  $3,000,000,  $2,200,000,  and  $2,000,000  per 
year  respectively.  In  later  years  the  De  Lamar,  in  Lincoln  County, 
has  been  largely  responsible  for  the  increase,  although  the  Comstock, 
Eureka  and  other  districts  have  made  substantial  additions. 

For  a  time  the  Comstock  lode  furnished  more  than  one-half  of  the 
total  silver  output  of  the  United  States.  Following  the  abandon- 
ment of  a  large  part  of  the  deep  mines  on  the  lode,  in  1886,  silver- 
mining  in  Nevada  dropped  to  insignificant  proportions,  and  that,  too, 
when  silver  was  nearly  twice  as  high  as  in  1902.  In  time,  however, 
improved  methods  have  made  it  possible  to  resume  operations  in 
the  submerged  levels,  and  even  at  the  present  low  price  of  silver 
many  of  the  mines  are  working  at  a  profit.  To  work  the  deep  mines 
necessitates  the  investment  of  considerable  capital,  which  in  turn 
requires  the  maintenance  of  a  large  output.  Consolidation  of  inter- 
ests naturally  resulted,  which  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  in  1902 
three-fifths  of  the  total  yield  was  produced  by  five  operators,  each 
with  a  production  valued  at  over  $100,000,  while  the  production  of 
one  company  was  over  $1,000,000. 

The  total  gold  production  of  Nevada  since  1860,  the  date  of  dis- 
covery of  mining  districts,  is  estimated  at  $268,255,000,  while  the 
Comstock  contributed  from  1859  to  1900,  inclusive,  $148,000,000. 
The  recorded  output  of  the  state  during  the  period  1877  to  1905, 
inclusive,  was  approximately  $117,955,000. 

The  total  yield  of  the  Comstock  lode,  to  and  including  1900,  is 
claimed  to  have  been  $368,000,000,  of  which  $148,000,000  was  gold 
and  the  remainder,  or  $220,000,000,  was  silver. 

As  a  placer-mining  state,  Nevada  is  not  of  much  conse- 
quence, although  an  annual  output  of  from  $20,000  to  $100,000 
is  recorded.1 

During  1905  there  were  132  gold  and  silver  producing  mines  in 
Nevada,  of  which  10  were  placers,  and  122  were  deep  mines.  The 
yield  of  these  mines  was  432,202  tons,  having  an  average  gold  and 
silver  content  of  $21.25.2 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  829  and  830,  1903,  and  Mines  and  Quarries, 
1902,  Rept.  Bureau  of  Census,  p.  562. 

2  For  value  and  tonnage  of  ore,  concentrates,  etc.,  in    Nevada  in  1905  by 
counties,  see  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  264. 


616 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


The  following  table  gives  the  mines  classified  by  principal  product 
by  counties,  in  Nevada  for  1905:1 

TABLE   XLIII. 


County. 

Non- 
pro- 
ducing 
Mines. 

Mines 
report- 
ing 
Pro- 
duct. 

Gold 
Placer 
Mines. 

Deep  Mines. 

jj 

1 
''.it' 

8 

1 

~ 

-3 

•2 

| 

3 

§ 

5 

11 

i 

1 

Churchill  and  Douglas  
Elko  

27 
26 
136 
15 
58 
35 
160 
29 
175 
11 
30 
60 
66 

7 
9 
30 
11 
4 
7 
14 
6 
12 

1 

1 

1 

3 

2 

2 
22 
1 
2 
1 
10 
4 
2 

2 

2 
5 

"i 

5 

1 
'9 

i 

i 

i 

2 
1 

2 
9 

i 

6 
6 
30 

11 
4 

7 
12 
5 

12 

13 
4 
12 

Esmeralda       

Eureka     

i 

Humboldt     

Lander  

..  . 

"2 
i 

*2 
1 

Lincoln  

i 

1 

;;;: 

Lyon 

Nye  

Onnsby        

Storey      

13 
5 
14 

n 

Washoe  

.... 

i 

2 

1 
2 

4 
2 

White  Pine  

1 

i 

8 

Total 

828 

132 

2 

8 

10 

65 

27 

4 

23 

1 

2 

122 

The  yield  of  the  Comstock  ores  has  been  variously  given,  but  in 
reality  seldom  exceeds  $50  per  ton,  while  for  large  quantities  of  ore 
$15  is  probably  a  closer  average.  The  average  yield  of  twelve  mines 
in  1872,  the  total  production  being  $13,569,724,  of  which  $12,000,000 
was  taken,  was  $19.60  per  ton.  The  following  figures  illustrate 
the  wide  variation  in  value  of  ore  from  the  various  mines  on  the 
Comstock  lode:  Consolidated  Virginia,  average  $600  per  ton;  the 
Utah,  $3  to  $12,  principally  in  gold;  Sierra  Nevada,  average  $5.50; 
Virginia  Consolidated  and  California,  average  (1875)  $150;  Savage, 
$10  to  $12;  Hale  and  Norcross  (1874),  $14  to  $17;  Bullion,  $10  to 
$15;  and  the  Belcher,  $25  to  $35.  The  quartz  in  the  Bullion  carried 
two-thirds  silver  and  one-third  gold,  while  the  deepest  ore-body  in 
the  Chollar  carried  three-fifths  gold  and  two-fifths  silver;  the  upper 
body  yielded  two-thirds  gold  and  one-third  silver.  Although  the 
cases  cited  are  for  special  mines  and  localities,  yet  they  are  valuable 
in  indicating  the  range  in  values.2 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  264. 
*  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  18,  p.  404. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


617 


Two  analyses  are  given  below  of  ore  from  the  Savage  and  Ken- 
tuck  mines.  The  ore  is  from  the  lower  levels,  and  was  analyzed  in 
1869 :l 

ANALYSES  OF  COMSTOCK  ORES. 


• 

Savage. 

Kentuck. 

Silica        

83.95 

91.49 

Protoxide  of  iron  

1.95 

0.83 

Alumina,                                                 

1.25 

1  13 

Protoxide  of  mangarese        .        

0.64 

Manganese            

2.82 

1.37 

0  85 

1  42 

Sulphide  of  zinc          

1.75 

0.13 

Sulphide  of  copper 

0  30 

0  41 

Sulphide  of  lead      

0.36 

0.02 

Sulphide  of  silver                                                 

1  08 

0  12 

Gold          

0.02 

0.0017 

Bisulphide  of  iron                .             

1  80 

0  92 

Potassa  and  soda         

1  28 

1  05 

Water  

2.33 

0.59 

100.38 
W.  G.  Mix- 

ter. 

99.48 
A.  Hague. 

The  following  analyses  of  ore  from  the  so-called  "  middle  depth  " 
of  a  number  of  the  Comstock  mines  illustrate  the  range  in  consti- 
tuents and  values: 2 

TABLE  XLIV. 


California 
Mine. 

California 
Mine. 

Ophir  Mine. 

Yellow 
Jacket. 

Yellow 
Jacket  Mine. 

Silica      .... 

67.5 

65.783 

63.38 

98.310 

96.560 

Sulphur  .... 

8.75 
1  30 

11.35 
1  31 

7.919 
1  596 

.693 

.160 

Iron  
Silver  
Gold 

2.25 
1.75 
.059 

2.28 
1.76 
.57 

5.463 
2.786 
.059 

^575 
.150 
.005 

2.800 
.05 
.001 

Zinc 

12  85 

11.307 

14.455 

Lead 

5  75 

6.145 

4.151 

Antimony 

.087 

25 

267 

429 

100.00 

100.00 

99.896 

100.00 

100.00 

London 

Swansea 

G.  Attwood 

W.  F.  Rick- 
ard 

W.  F.  Rick- 
ard 

1  Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction,  A.  G.  Lock,  p.  175,  1882,  and  Mining 
Industry,  Vol.  3,  p.  80,  J.  D.  Hague,  1870. 

2  Mining  Industry,  Vol.  3,  p.  80,  1870. 


618 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


t>-     <M 

o>     eo 

CO      t^ 


oc       t~-tooocoi-Hcoooo 
<r>       I-H*-IOOIOCOCOO-<*< 

O          i—  'T^cO^F-C^i—  id 


co     to  •<*< 
to     to  r- 

CO      O  Oi 


i-i  cq  oooo    ^ 


C><          i-l  »-H 


age 

ld. 


§oo» 
t^co 


o       »o     o 

-ti       tatt 


eOOOi-H  to 

1-1      t^      ^  O_ 

§t^   t~-T  oo" 

t~-CO  i—  1 

i-H      t^      O  •* 


QO»OOcDi-i 


o-cocoi-     Tj        o    -w 

'1"1  i-Hi-Hi—  (t^-  O5        «D   r—  I 


coiococ^c^co^eo 


3  2 


OtOtO^ 


OiOO 


o    o       o 


CO          i-HCOlM          i-i 


OO 

oo 


o       « 
•** 


O5OCO 

to     «o    «o 

OOOOOO 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD   AND  SILVER. 


619 


Comstock  total  gold  and  silver  production,  from  discovery  and 
commencement,  1859  to  1900.1 

TABLE  XLVI. 


Aver- 

Year. 

Ore  (Tons). 

Gold,  Value. 

Silver,  Value. 

Total  Value. 

age  per 

Ton. 

1859 

$30,000.00 

$30,000  00 

1860 

10,000 

550,000.00 

$200,000.00 

750,000.00 

'$75" 

1861 

140,000 

2,500,000.00 

1,000,000.00 

3,500,000.00 

25 

1862 

250,000 

4,650,000.00 

2,350,000.00 

7,000,000.00 

28 

1863 

450,000 

4,940,000.00 

7,460,000.00 

12,400,000.00 

28 

1864 

680,450 

6,400,000.00 

9,600,000.00 

16,000,000.00 

24 

1865 

430,745 

6,133,488.00 

9,700,232.00 

15,833,720.00 

37 

1866 

640,282 

5,963,158.00 

8,944,737.00 

14,907,895.00 

23 

1867 

462,176 

5,495,443.20 

8,243,164.80 

13,738,608.00 

30 

1868 

300,560 

3,391,907.60 

5,087,861.40 

8,479,769.00 

28 

1869 

279,584 

2,962,231.20 

4,443,346.80 

7,405,578.00 

26 

1870 

238,967 

3,481,730.16 

5,222,595.24 

8,704,325.40 

36 

1871 

409,718 

4,099,811.46 

6,149,717.19 

10,249,528.65 

25 

1872 

384,668 

4,894,559.86 

•7,341,839.79 

12,236,399.65 

32 

1873 

448,301 

8,668,793.40 

13,003,187.13 

21,671,980.53 

48 

1874 

526,743 

8,990,714.06 

13,486,071.09 

22,476,785.15 

43 

1875 

546,425 

10,330,208.62 

15,495,312.92 

25,825,521.54 

47 

1876 

598,818 

12,647,464.08 

18,971,196.12 

31,618,660.20 

53 

1877 

562,519 

14,520,614.68 

21,780,922.02 

36,301,536.70 

65 

1878 

272,909 

7,864,557.64 

11,796,836.47 

19,661,394.11 

72 

1879 

178,276 

2,801,394.33 

4,202,091.49 

7,003,485.82 

39 

1880 

172,399 

2,051,606.00 

3,077,409.00 

5,129,015.00 

30 

1881 

76,049 

430,248.00 

645,372.00 

1,075,620.00 

14 

1882 

90,181 

697,385.60 

1,046,078.40 

1,743,464.00 

19 

1883 

125,914 

802,539.54 

1,203,809.29 

2,006,348.83 

16 

.      1884 

188,369 

1,261,313.60 

1,577,438.40 

2,838,752.00 

15 

1885 

266,147 

1,729,531.25 

1,415,071.04 

3,144,602.29 

14 

1886 

238,780 

2,054,920.15 

1,681,298.31 

3,736,218.46 

16 

1887 

223,682 

2,481,176.85 

2,030,053.78 

4,511,230.63 

20 

1888 

271,152 

3,169,209.07 

4,458,058.66 

7,627,267.73 

28 

1889 

286,144 

2,590,973.32 

3,358,949.95 

5,949,923.27 

21 

1890 

286,075 

1,992,349.03 

2,988,523.56 

4,980,872.59 

17 

1891 

188,647 

1,380,857.02 

2,071,285.53 

3,452,142.55 

18 

1892 

133,678 

1,043,158.86 

1,130,088.77 

2,173,247.63 

16 

1893 

109,780 

1,123,262.54 

748,841.70 

1,872,104.24 

17 

1894 

97,049 

768,880.63 

512,587.09 

1,281,467.72 

13 

1895 

63,558 

548,873.68 

365,915.79 

914,789.47 

14 

1896 

39,240 

340,258.36 

226,835.57 

567,088.93 

14 

1897 

17,850 

223,808.63 

149,205.76 

373,014.39 

21 

1898 

10,766 

123,023.89 

82,015.92 

205,039.81 

19 

1899 

6,780 

103,006.74 

68,671.16 

171,677.90 

25 

1900 

35,300 

384,423.56 

319,441.70 

700,865.26 

20 

Total  .  . 

10,698,681 

146,613,877.61 

203,636,062.84 

350,249,940.45 

Total  plus  mill  tailing 

368,013,803.61 

Mines  and  Quarries,  1902,  Report  Bureau  of  Census,  p.  563. 


620 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


The  output  of  the  Nevada  mines  decreased  from  a  maximum  in 

1878  of  $19,546,513  in  gold  and  $28,130,350  in  silver,  a  total  of 
$47,676,314  or  nearly  50  per  cent  of  the  product  of  the  United 
States,  to  $3,520,000  in  silver  and  $2,679,675  in  gold,  a  total  of 
$6,199,675  in  1891. 

The  following  reasons  have  been  given  for  this  decline: 1 

"  1.   Failure  of  the  Big  Benanza,  primary  cause. 

"2.   Remoteness  of  undeveloped  portion  of  the  state  from  railways. 

"3.   The  avaricious  policy  of  railways,  when  they  can  be  reached. 

"4.  And  the  absence  of  centrally  located  competing  'custom' 
reduction  works. 

"5.  The  Comstock  mill-ring,  which  owned  the  entire  political  and 
judicial  organization  of  the  state." 

The  following  summary  of  the  Yield  of  the  Comstock  mines  to 

1879  was  made  by  Mr.  Church: 2 

Duration  of  mining 20  years 

Number  of  bonanzas 16 

Tons  of  ore  extracted 6,500,000 

Value  of  ore  per  ton,  nearly $56.00 

Yield  in  mills $44 . 60 

Yield  from  tailings  and  slimes,  per  ton $5.00 

Lost  in  tailings,  per  ton 6.00 

Total  value  of  ore $363,671,605.00 

Yield  in  mills 291,171,605.00 

Yield  from  tailings  and  slimes 32,500,000.00 

Lost  in  tailings 40,000,000.00 

The  analysis  of  an  average  of  the  Richmond  ore  (Eureka,  Nevada) 
as  made  in  1878  is  as  follows:  3 


Lead  oxide 

Per  cent. 
35.65 

Lead           

Per  cent. 
33.12 

Bismuth 

Copper  oxide             .... 

.15 

Copper  . 

.12 

Iron  protoxide 

34  39 

Iron 

24  07 

Zinc  oxide 

2  37 

Zinc 

1  89 

Manganese  oxide        .... 

.13 

Arsenic  acid 

6  34 

Arsenic      

4  13 

Antimony  

.25 

Antimony  

.25 

Sulphuric  acid 

4  18 

Sulphur       

1.67 

Chlorine 

Lime       

1.14 

Silica        .    .           

2  95 

Magnesia    

.41 

Alumina    

.64 

Water  and  carbonic  acid 

10.90 

Silver  and  gold  

.10 

Total  .  .  :  

100.52 

27.55  Troy  ounces  ($35.61)  silver  per  ton  of  2,000  pounds. 
1.59  Troy  ounces  ($32.87)  gold  per  ton  of  2,000  pounds. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.  Vol.  28,  p.  356. 

a  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  38,  p.  86. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Monograph  No.  VII,  p.  60,  1884. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


621 


«    § 


& 


co  c<i  co  oo  »o  t>«  co  t»  T-H  t~       os 

O<  OS  t>-         O«  CO  CO  «O  !>•         I-H 

TjlO  1-H 


O  O 

IOU3 
OS  t- 


1-1  O 

»-i  c^i 


i-H  -^   OS 

O  M  »O 
i-HTj<CO 


•<tico*-iooi^r^coio 

OOOCOTl<'<J<t^^J'"H 

*t$  r>^  oT  ccT  co"  t>T 


•*  10 
uf 


t-»  i-H   CO 

OS  00  OS 
OOi-HC^ 


os 

00 


!  § 


§  1 


1 


622 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


According  to  Mr.  J.  E.  Spurr's  estimate,  in  1904,  the  average 
value  of  the  ores  mined  in  the  Goldfield  district  was  from  $200  to 
$300  per  ton  and  even  more.  The  average  value  of  shipping  and  mill- 
ing ore  in  1905  was  about  $200,  and  $40  to  $50  per  ton  respectively. 

The  following  analysis  of  the  Florence  mine  ore  was  published  in 
the  Goldfield  News  of  April  7,  1905  :  1 


Gold  

.  .Ounces  per  ton  . 

..70.21 

Zinc  

.  .Per  cent  

3 

Silver 

Ounces  per  ton 

..   7.8 

Arsenic  .... 

.  .  Per  cent   .  .    . 

3 

Copper  .... 
Iron  

.  .Per  cent  
.  .Per  cent  

..   6.9 

.  .28.5 

Sulphur  .  .  . 
Silica  

.  .Per  cent  
.Percent..    .. 

13.20 
43.44 

The  production  of  gold  and  silver  for  the  years  1866  to   1905, 
inclusive,  is  given  in  Table  XL VIII : 2 

TABLE  XL VIII. 


Year. 

Cold. 

Silver. 

Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

1866 
1867 

$16,000,000 
20  000,000 

1887 
1888 

2,500,000 
3,525,000 

4,900,000 
7,000,000 

1868 

14,000,000 

1889 

3,506,295 

6,072,241 

1869 

14,000,000 

1890 

2,800,000 

5,753,535 

1870 

16  000  000 

1891 

2  050  000 

4  551  111 

1871 

22  500  000 

1892 

1,571,500 

2  062  500 

1872 

25  548  801 

1893 

958,500 

1  329  400 

1873 

'  35,254,507 

1894 

1,137,819 

652,145 

1874 

35,452,233 

1895 

1,509,323 

527,120 

1875 

40,478,369 

1896 

2,410,538 

805,200 

1876 

1897 

3,000,000 

896,850 

1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1885 

18,000,000 
19,546,513 
9,000,000 
4,800,000 
2,250,000 
2,000,000 
2,520,000 
3,500,000 
3  100  000 

26,000,000 
28,130,350 
12,560,000 
10,900,000 
7,060,000 
6,750,000 
5,430,000 
5,600,000 
6  000  000 

1898 
'  1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 

3,000,000 
2,371,882 
2,006,200 
2,963,800 
2,895,300 
3,388,000 
4,307,800 
4,700,000 

466,080 
342,585 
842,394 
1,087,500 
1,985,486 
2,727,270 
1,563,158 
3,660,000 

1886 

3,090,000  ' 

5,000,000 

NOTE.  —  The  gold  and  silver  product  is  combined  in  the  table  for  the  years 
1866-1875. 

New  Mexico.  —  The  output  of  the  early  placer  mining  done  by 
the  Spaniards  and  Mexicans  as  early  as  the  16th  century  is  impossible 
to  estimate,  but  probably  was  not  large. 

Prior  to  1846  it  is  claimed  that  the  production  from  both  placer 
mines  and  vein-workings  often  yielded  as  much  as  $30,000  to  $250,000 
per  year.3  During  1877  the  gold-yield  was  about  $300,000,  which 
gradually  increased  to  $1,000,000  in  1889,  then  fell  to  $400,000  in  1897, 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No.  303,  1907,  p.  38. 

2  Table  compiled   from    Mineral  Resources,  Mineral   Industry  and    Repts. 
Director  of  Mint. 

3  Memoir  of  a  Tour  to  Northern  Mexico,  1846-7,  published  by  Congress,  p.  24. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD   AND    SILVER. 


623 


rising  again  until  in  1900  it  amounted  to  $800,000;  in  1905  it  was 
$413,400.  From  1877  to  1905,  inclusive,  the  output  was  about 
$15,559,400,  while  the  total  product  from  1860  to  and  including  1905 
was  $19,860,000.  The  production  of  silver  for  1905  was  $152,500, 
and  for  the  years  1900,  1902  and  1904  it  was  $269,266,  $242,316  and 
$124,468,  respectively. 

Deposits  of  gold  and  silver  occur  in  many  parts  of  the  territory, 
although  Grant  County  has  probably  been  most  productive,  con- 
taining as  it  does  the  Pinos  Altos  ore-bodies. 

The  gold  production  from  the  placers  varies  between  $20,000  and 
$150,000  annually;  during  1904  and  1905  the  yield  was  $149,424 
and  $99,335,  respectively,  the  decrease  being  due  to  a  falling  off  in 
yield  from  Colfax  County.1 

The  total  number  of  mines  operating  in  New  Mexico  during  1905 
was  73,  21  being  placers  and  52  deep  mines.  The  output  of  ore 
from  the  latter  was  145,629  short  tons,  the  average  yield  of  which 
was  $3.03  per  ton  in  gold  and  silver. 

A  classification  of  the  producing  mines  by  chief  product  for  1905 
and  arranged  by  counties  is  given  in  Table  XLIX : 2 

TABLE  XLIX. 


Gold  Placer 
Mines. 

Deep  Mines. 

-  8' 

. 

Total 
Mines 

County. 

«! 

i 

T3       . 

—  o 

J 

pro- 

I 

g  § 

I 

. 

i 

i  S 

OQO 

. 

ducing, 

•i 

w 

1* 

03 

S 

2 
o 

O 

35 

8 

I 

o 

o 

33 

Colfax  

5 

*    1 

1 

7 

Dona  Ana  

t  2 

1 

2 

5 

Grant                

3 

f  5 

5 

1 

1 

§  3 

? 

20 

Lincoln          

3 

1 

1 

II  1 

6 

Luna 

1 

4 

5 

Otero 

1 

1 

1 

1 

4 

Rio  Arriba 

1 

!        1 

San  Miguel 

2 

2 

Santa  Fe                 

1 

4 

5 

Sierra  

2 

1 

1 

t  1 

1 

6 

Socorro  

1 

2 

13 

1 

1 

1 

9 

Taos           

1 

1 

2 

Valencia 

1 

1 

Total  .  . 

8 

9 

4 

9 

6 

13 

5 

3 

7 

9 

73 

*  Dredge.  §  One  gold,  silver,  copper,  zinc  mine. 

t   One  copper-zinc  mine.  ||   Gold-silver,  copper  and  lead. 

i   One  silver-copper  mine.  f  One  copper,  silver,  lead-zinc  mine. 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,Vol.  33,  pp.  831,  833,  1903,  and  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  278. 
J  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  277. 


624 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


The  source  of  the  gold  and  silver  production  of  New  Mexico  in 
1905  according  to  character  of  ore  and  arranged  by  counties  is  given 
in  Table  L: 1 

TABLE  L. 

(Fine  Ounces.) 


County. 

Placer. 

Deep  Mines. 

Total. 

Siliceous  Ore. 

Copper  Ore. 

Lead  Ore. 

•d 
"o 

O 

7. 

i 

Q 

1 

a 

I 

t 

a 

•d 
1 

i 

55 

$ 

O 

jj 

9 

Colfax,    Otero, 
Rio      Arriba 
and  Taos. 
Dona  Afia  . 

1,649.68 

185 

22.02 
324.60 
1,560.78 
245.00 

2 
347 
59,053 
131 

2.00 

89 

1,673.70 
324.60 
2,225.60 
361.59 

302.00 
4,791.16 
5,680.91 

27« 
21,776 
86,629 
757 
t  5,199 

42 

8,760 
245,753 

21,429 
21,035 
•621 
5,199 

Grant 

529.37 
109.33 

202 
5 

4.84 

6,339 

130.61 

7.26 

Lincoln.  
T^nna.  .  . 

San        Miguel. 
Santa  Fe"  and 
Valencia. 
Sierra  

193.60 
2,316.11 
7.25 

35 

235 

108.40 
2,475.05 
5,636.07 

7 
4,514 
231,430 

4,011 
9,523 

Socorro  

37.59 

t  4,800 

Total  

4,805.34 

662 

10,371.92 

295,484 

44.43 

19,962 

137.87 

53,084 

15,359.56 

369,192 

*  Copper-lead  ore.         f  Two  thousand  ounces  from  copper-lead-zinc  ore. 

The  approximate  yields  from  the  different  mines  in  the   Lake 
Valley  district  are  given  below : 2 

Ounces  of  Silver. 

Bridal  Chamber 2,500,000 

Thirty  Stope 1,000,000 

Emporia  Incline 200,000 

Bunkhouse 300,000 

Bella  Chute 500,000 

Twenty-five  Cut     200,000 

Apache  and  scattering      300,000 

Total 5,000,000 

An  analysis  of  ore  from  the  Apache  mine,  being  the  average  of 
a  year's  shipment  (4000  tons)  is  given  below:3 


Silver 

Ounces  per  ton 

47  7 

Iron 

Per  cent  

..13.9 

Lead 

Trace            

Manganese  .  . 

.  .Per  cent  

...18.2 

Silica 

Per  cent 

28  5 

Zinc 

Per  cent  

...   4.0 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  pp.  277  and  278. 
1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  24,  p.  150,  1894. 
1  Ibid.,  Vol.  24,  p.  165,  1894. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


625 


The  above  represents  ore  principally  from  the  Incline  and  Bunk- 
house,  with  some  from  the  Thirty  Stope  and  Twenty-five  Cut. 

The  gold  and  silver  production  of  New  Mexico  during  the  years 
1867  to  1905,  inclusive,  is  given  in  Table  LI.1 


TABLE  LI. 


Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

1867 

$500,000 

1886 

$400,000 

$2,300,000 

1868 

250,000 

1887 

500,000 

2,300,000 

1869 

500,000 

1888 

602,000 

1,200,000 

1870 

500^000 

1889 

815,655 

1,617,578 

1871 

500,000 

1890 

850,000 

1,680,808 

1872 

500,000 

1891 

905,000 

1,713,131 

1873 

500,000 

1892 

950,000 

1,031,250 

1874 

500,000 

1893 

913,100 

358,468 

1875 

325,000 

1894 

567,751 

398,275 

1876 

1895 

1,051,979 

267,430 

1877 

175,000 

"$500,000  " 

1896 

475,800 

469,700 

1878 

175,000 

500,000 

1897  ' 

470,000 

209,265 

1879 

125,000 

600,000 

1898 

480,000 

262,170 

1880 

130,000 

425,000 

1899 

500,000 

253,215 

1881 

185,000 

275,000 

1900 

832,900 

263,266 

1882 

150,000 

1,800,000 

1901 

688,400 

338,040 

1883 

280,000 

2,845,000 

1902 

581,100 

242,316 

1884 

300,000 

3,000,000 

1903 

244,600 

97,578 

1885 

800,000 

3,000,000 

1904 

381,900 

124,468 

1905 

413,400 

152,500 

NOTE.  —  Gold  and  silver  product  combined  from  1867  to  1875. 

There  is  little  reason  to  suppose  that  the  gold  and  silver  output 
of  New  Mexico  will  do  anything  but  increase  for  many  years  to  come, 
lying  as  it  does  between  Colorado  and  Mexico,  both  of  which  are 
large  producers  of  the  precious  metals.  Further,  it  is  well  known 
that  all  of  the  mountain  ranges  of  the  territory  contain  encouraging 
indications  of  the  occurrence  of  both  gold  and  silver  deposits,  some 
of  which  belong  to  the  bonanza  or  propylitic  type. 

Oregon.  —  The  gold  production  of  Oregon  since  the  beginning 
of  mining  is  estimated  at  $62,056,000.  Following  the  exhaustion 
of  the  rich  placers  the  output  decreased  to  a  minimum  of  $800,000 
in  1888.  The  development  of  quartz-mining  has  caused  an  in- 
crease to  take  place,  and  at  intervals  beginning  with  1899  the  gold 
production  has  been  as  follows:  $1,500,000  in  1899;  $1,700,000  in 

1  Table  compiled  from  Mineral  Resources,  Mineral  Industry,  and  Reports 
Director  of  the  Mint. 


626 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


1900;  $1,817,000  in  1902;  $1,310,000  in  1904;  and  in  1905  it  was 
$1, 320,200.' 

The  production  of  silver  in  Oregon  during  1905  was  $49,752,  while 
at  periods  of  two  years  beginning  with  1900  it  has  run  as  follows: 
in  1900,  $71,548;  in  1902,  $49,449;  and  in  1904,  $77,256. 

In  1905  there  were  167  placer  mines  and  66  deep  or  quartz  mines 
operating  in  the  state,  making  a  total  of  233.  The  deep  mines 
yielded  some  150,268  short  tons  of  ore,  which  had  an  average  value 
of  $8.03  in  gold  and  silver  per  ton.2 

In  Table  LII  is  given  a  classification  of  the  producing  mines  of 
Oregon  according  to  product  for  1905  and  arranged  by  counties:3 


TABLE   LII. 


Gold  Placer  Mines. 

Deep  Mines. 

Total 

Non- 

Mines 

County. 

Pro- 
ducing 

| 

S 

r  "5? 

be 

Report- 
ing 

Mines. 

1 

S  g 

sfi 

1 

Total. 

T3 

jj 

& 

j 

Total. 

Pro- 
duct. 

ffi 

s 

2 

02 

O 
P 

55 

1 

5 

Baker              .    .  . 

212 

17 

2 

19 

17 

1 

18 

37 

Coos          

7 

? 

2 

2 

Crook             

6 

1 

1 

1 

Curry  

17 

8 

7 

15 

2 

2 

17 

Douglas      

53 

7 

q 

16 

3 

3 

19 

Grant 

117 

11 

1 

1 

13 

11 

11 

24 

Harney 

5 

Jackson  

96 

22 

9 

31 

8 

8 

39 

Josephine      and 

Lane  

197 

31 

1 

22 

54 

18 

1 

19 

73 

Lake 

1 

Lincoln 

1 

Malheur 

11 

2 

6 

g 

4 

4 

12 

Marion 

9 

Union 

7 

1 

1 

1 

Wallowa 

12 

Wheeler       

6 

2 

8 

8 

Total  

751 

104 

2 

61 

167 

63 

1 

2 

66 

233 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  833,  1903. 

2  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  121. 

3  Ibid.,  p.  288. 


PRODUCTION   OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


627 


The  source  of  the  gold  and  silver  production  of  Oregon  by  kinds 
of  ore  for  1905  and  by  counties  is  shown  in  Table  LIII.1 

TABLE  LIII. 

(Fine  Ounces.) 


County. 

Placers. 

Deep  Mines. 

Total. 

Siliceous  Ores. 

Copper 
Ores. 

Lead 
Ores. 

Total. 

2 
o 

o 

1 
02 

297 

21 
45 
15 

262 
356 

793 
112 

44 

H 

JB 

O 

$ 

3 

"o 

O 

I 

35 

OJ 

_> 

02 

1 

0 

(D 
1 

2° 

i 

3 

55,161 

21 
62 
1,404 
24,755 
897 

6,471 
132 

1,733 

Baker  
Coos        and 
Crook    .  .  . 
Curry  
Douglas     .  .  . 
Grant  
Jackson.    .  .  . 
Josephine 
and  Lane. 
Malheur  .... 
Union     and 
Wheeler  .  . 

Total  

1,232.40 

66.76 
322.22 
23.12 
1,163.76 
2,148.00 

5,872.23 
757.07 

336.50 

36,089.00 

54,864 

5.10 

36,094.10 

54,864 

37,326.50 

66.76 
382.69 
897.54 
4,268.90 
4,358.59 

19,446.05 
894.70 

336.50 

60.47 
624.42 
3,105.14 
2,210.59 

12,742.98 
137.63 

17 

1,389 
24,493 
541 

3,853 
20 

60.47 
624.42 
3,105.14 
2,210.59 

13,573.82 
137.63 

17 
1,389 
24,493 
541 

5,678 
20 

1,689 

830.84 

1,825 

1,689 

12,172.06 

1,945 

54,970.23 

85,177 

835.94 

1,825 

1,689 

55,806.17 

88,691 

67,978.23 

90,636 

The  yield  of  the  placer  mines  for  the  year  1905  by  counties,  is 

given  below: 2 

TABLE  LIV. 

(Fine  Ounces.) 


Hydraulic  Mines. 

Surface  Placers,  Drift 
and  Dredging. 

Total. 

County. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Baker      

1,184.03 

$24,476 

48.37 

$1,000 

1,232.40 

$25,476 

Coos  and  Crook 

66.76 

1,380 

66  76 

1  380 

Curry  

213.38 

4,411 

108.84 

2,250 

322.22 

6,661 

Douglas                 .  • 

172.02 

3,556 

101.10 

2,090 

273.12 

5,646 

Grant                 .    •  • 

1,059.99 

21,912 

103.77 

2,145 

1,163.76 

24,057 

Jackson  

2,054.15 

42,463 

93.85 

1,940 

2,148.00 

44,403 

Josephine         and 
Lane  

5,456.11 

112,788 

416.12 

8,602 

5,872.23 

121,390 

Malheur  

524.87 

10,850 

232.20 

4,800 

757.07 

15,650 

Union  and  Wheeler 

318.50 

6,584 

18.00 

372 

336.50 

6,956 

Total  

10,983.05 

227,040 

1,189.01 

24,579 

12,172.06 

251,619 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  pp.  289  and  290,  1905. 

2  Ibid.,  p.  289,  1905. 


628 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


The  production  of  gold  and  silver  in  Oregon  from  1866  to  1875, 
inclusive,  is  shown  in  Table  LV:1 


TABLE  LV. 


Year. 

Gold  and  Silver. 

Year. 

Gold  and  Silver. 

1866 

$8  000  000  * 

1872 

|2  000  000 

1867 

3  000  000 

1873  

1  376  400  t 

1868 

4  000  000 

1874  

609  070  t 

1869 

3  000  000 

1875  

1  246  978  J 

1870 

3000  000 

1871  

2,500,000 

Total  

$28,732.448 

*  Estimated  by  some  as  high  as  $20,000,000. 

f  Estimate  of  total  by  Wells,  Fargo  Express  Company;    Oregon  only. 

J  Oregon  only. 

The  production  of  both  gold  and  silver  for  the  period  1877  to 
1905  is  given  in  Table  LVI:2 

TABLE  LVI. 


Silver 

Silver 

Year. 

Gold. 

(Coinage 

Total. 

Year. 

Gold. 

(Coinage 

Total. 

Value). 

Value). 

1877 

1,000,000 

$100,000 

$1,100,000 

1892 

1,491,781 

$64,080 

$1,555,861 

1878 

1,000,000 

100,000 

1,100,000 

1893 

1,690,951 

13,557 

1,704,508 

1879 

1,150,000 

20,000 

1,170,000 

1894 

2,113,356 

10,315 

2,123,671 

1880 

1,090,000 

15,000 

1,105,000 

1895 

1,837,682 

15,192 

1,852,874 

1881 

1,100,000 

50,000 

1,150,000 

1896 

1,290,964 

71,811 

,362,775 

1882 

830,000 

35,000 

865,000 

1897 

1,354,593 

109,643 

,464,236 

1883 

660,000 

3,000 

663,000 

1898 

1,216,669 

165,916 

,382,585 

1884 

660,000 

20,000 

680,000 

1899 

,467,379 

187,932 

,655,311 

1885 

800,000 

10,000 

810,000 

1900 

,694,700 

71,54811 

,766,248 

1886 

990.000 

5,000 

995,000 

1901 

,818,800 

96,06011 

,914,860 

1887 

900,000 

10,000 

910,000 

1902 

,816,700 

49,449|| 

,866,149 

1888 

825,000 

15,000 

840,000 

1903 

,290,200 

63,72011 

,353,920 

1889 

1,200,000 

38,787 

1,238,787 

1904 

,309,900 

77,256|| 

,387,156 

1890 

1,087,000 

129,199 

1,216,199§ 

1905 

1,244,900 

53,65311 

,298,553 

1891 

1,994,622 

296,280 

2,290,902 

§  Census  reports:  gold  $964,000;  silver,  $23,383 ;  total,  $987,383. 
U  Commercial  value. 

The  approximate  output  of  gold  from  1866  to  1899,  inclusive, 
was  $59,000,000.  That  from  1861  to  1865,  inclusive,  was  roughly 
$50,000,000.  The  total  production  to  and  including  1899  was 
$109,000,000,  of  which  silver  constituted  but  a  very  small  amount. 

The  production  of  gold  and  silver  hi  the  Blue  Mountains,  or  Baker, 
Grant  and  Union  counties,  is  given  in  the  following  table: 3 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  2,  p.  569,  1900-1901. 

2  U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  2,  p.  570,  1900-01. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  2,  p.  573,  1900-01. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


629 


>  r*  O  O  OS  »-H  O5  ^  O  OS  O  O  b-  ^    O 
O  O  CO  CO  CO  f-  CO  t^  OS  CO  •<*  O  CM    t~ 

~cTcM*'orcr.-ri_  _  _  _   .  . 

oo" 

t^OOOOCNOOOt^OcOiOCOOOOOOOO 
CO  O  00  CO  CO  CO^CO^C^C^C^C^-^CO^C^t-^QO^C^t>^i-^eO^ 

§  Tj<  CO  •«*<-<*<          CNi-Hi-il^OCMiOcMCO-^O-^COCO          IO 
iO  Tj<  CO  I-  •<*"  O  i-l  CO  CM  CO  i-H          CO 

tl$ 

§O  -00-OOCOOO-i-HCOCO          l>- 

O  -(N-OO-<t"OO-t^i-iCO         <M 

CO  CO  •  O       •  IO  OS  O^I-H  O       •  O  00  "^          CO 

^  '  i-T   ;  of <-Teoooco    !  co't^ToT     «o~ 

CO  CO  i-H          ^ 

OsOcOiOt^OOOOSTt<(M 
CO  O  O  O  O  CO  CO  O  O  OS  O  OS  t^  <N  O  00  O  CO  CO  <M          CO 

•o 

COOOO5OOCOOOSOS'*OOCOCOO'-IC^O         I>- 

00  O  CO  I-H  r^  OS  OS  t- iO  00  OS  CM  iO  OS  <M  O  O  OS  t»  O    «O 
g#&  CO  (M  <M  C<«  i-l  i-*  i-H  i-l       T-(    i-H  i-l  rH  i-(    T-I  CO    CM 

oo~ 

•OSOiOcMOS-^  OOCO(M         CO 

»O  O  O  O  O      •      •  *>^O  IO  I-H  CM  00  t^  CO         CO 

€^  x-T.X'.-r.^r   •      _T— r*»r     _•?  ^c^Tco"     *n 

CO  OO          CO 
<N 

cooosot^oococo  o"o»~w~: 

OSOOOOOOOOiO>O»OOCOCOU3          CO 
OOOOSOrfl—  COOOOOOOS-^fO          »O 

CO  CO  CO  ^  CO  OO  OS  i"H  O  CO  CO  t^-    CM 
CM 

o 

co"' 

OS  if)  CO    IO 
O-«*Tt<OCMCOCO    CM 
T-iiOOOOO-^CN^OOOCOt^    CO 

t>-  o  »o  CM  CM  oo  to  oo  10^ i— r cr<r cT o  oTcTo  cTco"oo"t^     CM" 
icooscoco-^ot^-ost^-coost^-cototo  __ 

oT 

-*  O^C^U^iO^     •  0^0  »0  >0  00  CM  ^  CM  03  O  O  CO  t=-         ^ 

^cTtcTcNrcM"  !  oT»o">»o"'t>ri>rt^rcoscrcMst^crGrcM"»o*'    CM 

CM  •-!         I-H  CM  IO  •*  10 

»-i  CM  us 

tOOOOTf*OOOt—t^COCMOr-i»O  00          CO 
i-HlOOOO'OOO'^OSOOO-^-^'*          t^ 
CO  O  O  O  O  O  rH  IO  O  CO  O  O  IO  OS  OS  -*  O  b-  05  CO         O 

CMiOOSCOCO-^OSt^OSCOCOt^COCM^-^COOSCMOO          S 
CMCMi-Hi— li-HCOCOi— li-H'<*<COOOCOt>'^'OSOOl^-»O»O          OS 

€6~ 

T-I  (M  co  •*  10  co  t^  oo  os  o -H  CM  co  •<*<  »o  «o  t^  oo  os      r3 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOS  W 

OO  00  00  00  00  00  00  00  00  00  00  00  00  OO  00  00  00  00  00    "g 

^^^^^^^^^^H^^^^,^^,.,    ^ 


630 


GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


The  output  of    the  Bohemia  district,  western  Oregon,  for   1893- 
1897  is  shown  in  the  following  table:1 

TABLE  LVIII. 


Year. 

Free  Gold. 

Concentrates. 

Total  Output. 

1893 

$11,000 

1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 

13,000 
14,500 
17,000 
35,900 

$10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 

$23,000 
24,500 
27,000 
45,900 

The  gold  and  silver  production  of  Oregon  during  the  period  1877 
to  1905,  inclusive,  is  given  in  the  following  table:2 


TABLE  LIX. 


Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

1877 

1,000,000 

100,000 

1892 

1,400,000 

82,500 

1878 

1,000,000 

100,000 

1893 

1,645,300 

9,227 

1879 

1,150,000 

20,000 

1894 

1,422,056 

16,687 

1880 

1,090,000 

15,000 

1895 

825,105 

7,631 

1881 

1,100,000 

50,000 

1896 

1,226,000 

40,998 

1882 

830,000 

35,000 

1897 

,354,593 

50,703 

1883 

660,000 

20,000 

1898 

,216,669 

74,763 

1884 

660,000 

20,000 

1899 

,275,000 

83,412 

1885 

800,000 

10,000 

1900 

,640,000 

91,995 

1886 

990,000 

5,000 

1901 

,818,100 

94,379 

1887 

900,000 

10,000 

1902 

,816,700 

49,449 

1888 

825,000 

15,000 

1903 

,290,200 

63,720 

1889 

964,309 

23,382 

1904 

,309,900 

77,256 

1890 

1,100,000 

96,969 

1905 

,320,200 

49,752 

1891 

1,640,000 

297,374 
1 

1906 

1,369,900 

66,858 

Mr.  Waldemar  Lindgren  concludes  as  follows  regarding  the 
probable  future  of  the  mining  industry  in  Oregon:  3  "  In  spite  of 
the  introduction  of  dredges  and  an  increased  activity  in  placer- 
mining,  the  product  from  these  deposits  will  doubtless  continue  to 
diminish,  while  there  is  good  reason  to  suppose  that  within  the 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20th  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  8,  1898-99. 

2  Compiled  from  Reports  Director  of  Mint,  Mineral  Resources  and  Mineral 
Industry. 

8  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  834,  1903. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  ' 


631 


next  few  years  the  output  from  the  quartz  mines  will  show  a  fair 
increase." 

South  Dakota.  —  The  total  production  of  this  state  from  1877 
to  1900  was  $89,400,000;  from  1900  to  and  including  1905  was 
$34,247,800,  which  makes  a  grand  total  of  $123,648,000,  beginning 
with  1877.  As  the  mines  were  discovered  in  1876  this  amount  would 
not  be  materially  increased  by  its  addition  were  the  exact  amount 
for  that  year  known.  The  increase  in  production  of  the  Black 
Hills,  practically  the  only  source  of  supply  of  the  precious 
metals,  has  been  very  rapid,  and  ranged  between  $2,000,000  and 
$3,000,000  annually  from  1877  to  1889.  In  1881  it  was  $4,000,000 
and  has  been  practically  $7,000,000  since  1900  —  in  1905  it  was 
$6,951,600.1 

The  silver  product  in  1905  was  $84,430,  having  fallen  con- 
siderably since  1900,  when  it  was  $128,961,  the  number  of  fine 
ounces  of  product  for  these  years  being  138,409  and  210,000, 
respectively. 

Of  the  32  producing  mines  in  the  state  in  1905,  20  of  them  were 
deep  mines  and  12  were  placers.  The  deep  mines  yielded  1,837,411 
tons  (short)  of  gold  and  silver  ore  with  an  average  value  of  $3.86 
per  ton.2 

The  classification  of  the  producing  mines  of  South  Dakota  with 
respect  to  character  of  ore  during  1905,  by  counties,  is  given  in 
Table  LX: 3 

TABLE  LX. 


Mines  Re- 

Gold  Placer  Mines. 

Deep  Mines. 

County. 

Produc- 
tion. 

Hy- 
draulic. 

Drift 
Mines. 

Surface 
Placers. 

Total. 

Gold 
and 

Silver. 

Gold 
and 
Copper. 

Total. 

Ouster  

5 

1 

2 

3 

1 

1 

2 

Lawrence  

19 

4 

4 

15 

15 

Pennington  

8 

2 

1 

2 

5 

3 

3 

Total  

32 

2 

2 

8 

12 

19 

1 

20 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  834. 

2  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  121,  and  for  production  of  gold, 
silver  and  copper  ores  in  tons  with  values,  see  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  pp.  293 
and  294. 

3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  294. 


632 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


The  source  of  gold  and  silver  in  South  Dakota  during  1905  with 
respect  to  kinds  of  ore  and  by  counties  is  given  in  Table  LXI.1 


TABLE  LXI. 

(Fine  Ounces.) 


County. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Placers. 

Deep  Mines 
Siliceous 
Ores. 

Total. 

Placers 

Deep  Mines 
Siliceous 
Ores. 

Total. 

Ouster  
Lawrence  
Pennington  .... 

Total  

21.73 
170.38 
251.16 

12.43 
336,311.15 
1,349.85 

34.16 
336,481.53 
1,601.01 

3 

18 
31 

182,579 
118 

3 
182,597 
149 

443.27 

337,673.43 

338,116.70 

52 

182,697 

182,749 

The  value  of  the  ores  of  the  Homestake  mine,  Lawrence  County, 
is  shown  by  the  following  figures  for  1880,  1888  and  1902:  Mill 
runs  of  ore  in  1880  gave  a  range  in  value  of  from  $3  to  $3.25  per  ton, 
while  a  later  clean-up  gave  a  value  of  $4  per  ton.  In  1888  there  were 
mined  243,355  tons  of  ore  which  yielded  $3.68  in  gold  and  $0.13  in 
silver,  making  a  total  of  $3.71  per  ton.  For  the  first  ten  months  of 
1902  the  Homestake  mill  treated  1,218,000  tons  of  ore  with  900 
stamps,  which  yielded  $4,303,000.  An  output  of  21,500  ounces  of 
gold  was  obtained  from  ore  which  yielded  less  than  $3.60  per  ton.2 

However,  the  siliceous  ores  have  higher  values,  the  average  for 
1900  being  between  $10  and  $15  per  ton,  while  certain  ore-bodies 
average  $20  to  $25  and  certain  portions  run  as  high  as  $100  per  ton. 
The  general  average  is  given  at  $12  to  $18  per  ton.3  In  the  Trojan 
group  of  mines  the  gold  and  silver  content  of  the  ore  has  a  value  of 
from  $40  to  $60  per  ton.4 

As  the  principal  mines  of  the  Black  Hills  are  situated  in  the 
southern  part  of  Lawrence  County,  this  county  is  by  far  the  most 
important  as  a  producer  of  precious  metals.  The  following  list 
gives  the  names  of  the  mines,  how  developed  and  kind  of  plant 
connected  with  each  operated  in  1905:5 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  295. 

3  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  30,  p.  57,  and  Ibid.,  Vol.  75,  p.  82. 

8  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  69,  p.  227. 

«  Ibid.,  Vol.  30,  p.  107. 

8  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  296. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


633 


Company. 


Development. 


Reduction  Plant. 


Gilt  Edge  Maid  Mining 
Company. 


Spearfish   Gold   Mining 
and  Reduction  Co. 

Alexander         Maitland 
properties. 


Lundberg,  Dorr  &  Wil- 
son. 


Clinton  Mining  and  Min- 
eral Co. 

Dakota  Mining  and  Mill- 
ing Co. 

Golden  Reward  Consoli- 
dated Gold  Mining  Co. 


Hidden    Fortune    Gold 
Mining  Co. 


Horseshoe  Mining  Co — 
Imperial  Gold  Mining  Co 

Monarch    Gold    Mining 
Co. 

Portland  Mining  Co. 
Wasp  No.  2,  Mining  Co. 


By  shaft  350  feet  deep  and 
drifts  on  two  levels; 
open  cuts. 

By  tunnels  in  flat  lime- 
stone. 

By  vertical  shaft  and  a 
drift  3,800  feet  in 
length. 

By  tunnels,  1,800  feet  in 
length 


By  tunnels  several  thou- 
sand feet  in  length. 


By  vertical  shafts,  up  to 
587  feet  in  depth;  about 
25  miles  of  tunnels  and 
drifts. 


Crosscuts  and  drifts , 


By  tunnel  2,000  feet  long 


By  tunnel  1,150  feet  long 


Tunnels  about  two  miles 
in  length. 


Dry-crushing    cyanide 
plant  with  rolls. 


Cyanide  plant;    capac- 
ity, 200  tons. 

40-stamp    wet-crushing 
cyanide  plant. 


Wet-crushing  cyanide 
plant;  capacity,  90 
tons. 

To  custom  mill. 


Wet-crushing  cyanide 
mill;  capacity,  120 
tons. 

Dry-crushing  cyanide 
mill,  capacity  200  tons 


Wet-crushing  cyanide 
mill;  capacity,  250 
tons. 

Cyanide  plant  destroyed 
by  fire,  1905. 

Dry-crushing  cyanide 
mill;  capacity,  150 
tons. 

Ore  sent  to  smelter. 


To  smelter  and  custom 
mill. 

Cyanide  plant;    capac- 
ity, 125  tons. 


634 


GOLD   AND  SILVER. 


The    gold    and    silver  production  of   South    Dakota   during   the 
period  of  years  1877  to  1906  is  given  in  Table  LXII.1 


TABLE  LXII. 


Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

1877 

$2,000,000 

1892 

$3,700,000 

$82,500 

1878 

3,000,000 

1893 

4,005,400 

109,792 

1879 

3,420,000 

$10,000 

1894 

3,299,100 

37,153 

1880 

3,600,000 

70,000 

1895 

3,869,500 

45,858 

1881 

4,000,000 

70,000 

1896 

4,919,000 

301,950 

1882 

3,300,000 

175,000 

1897 

5,300,000 

298,950 

1883 

3,200,000 

150,000 

1898 

5,720,000 

189,345 

1884 

3,300,000 

150,000 

1899 

5,848,464 

208,530 

1885 

3,200,000 

100,000 

1900 

6,625,000 

128,793 

1886 

2,700,000 

425,000 

1901 

6,601,800 

214,655 

1887 

2,400,000 

540,000 

1902 

6,965,400 

180,306 

1888 

2,600,000 

100,000 

1903 

6,826,700 

119,448 

1889 

3,091,137 

135,331 

1904 

7,024,600 

108,460 

1890 

3,200,000 

129,292 

1905 

6,951,600 

84,430 

1891 

3,550,000 

231,929 

1906 

6,822,700 

105,196 

Utah.  —  It  is  claimed  that  the  placer  gold  amounted  to  about 
SI, 000,000  in  1867.  The  main  source  of  the  precious  metals  has 
been  the  lead  and  copper  ores,  the  development  of  which  began  in 
1870.  The  annual  production  of  gold  fluctuated  between  one-half 
and  one  million  dollars  up  to  1890,  after  which  year  it  rose  from 
$700,000  to  $1,900,000  in  1896.  In  1900,  it  was  $4,000,000;  in 
1902,  $3,600,000;  in  1904,  $4,215,000;  and  in  1905,  $4,651,200. 
From  1877  to  1905,  inclusive,  the  output  has  been  approximately 
$43,948,300,  while  the  total  production  to  and  including  1905  was 
$46,848,300.2 

The  silver  product  for  1905  was  12,000,000  fine  ounces,  having 
a  value  of  $7,320,000.  The  production  beginning  with  1900,  for 
intervals  of  two  years,  up  to  1904  is  as  follows;  in  1900,  $5,745,912 
or  9,267,600  ounces;  in  1902,  $5,740,801  or  10,831,700  ounces; 
and  in  1904,  $7,240,894  or  12,484,300  ounces.  Utah  was  third  in 
the  production  of  silver  in  1905  being  a  close  second  with  Colorado, 
Montana  leading. 

1  Table  compiled  from  Mineral  Resources,  Mineral  Industry  and  Reports 
Director  of  Mint. 

2  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  836,  1903. 


PRODUCTION  OF   GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


635 


In  1905  there  were  121  mines  being  worked  in  Utah,  of  which 
7  were  placers  and  114  deep  mines.  The  yield  of  the  deep  mines  was 
2,181,061  tons  of  gold  and  silver  ore,  having  an  average  value  of 
$5.41  per  ton.1 

The  mines  of  Utah,  classified  by  chief  product  in  1905,  by 
counties,  are  given  in  Table  LXIII : 2 


TABLE  LXIII. 


County. 

Non- 
produc- 
ing 
Mines. 

Mines 
Report- 
ing 
Prod- 
uct. 

Gold 
Placer 
Mines, 
Hy- 
drau- 
lic. 

Deep  Mines. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Copper. 

Lead. 

Zinc. 

Total. 

Beaver,    Piute, 
&  Sevier  
Box  Elder,  Mor- 
gan,  Millard, 
Washington, 
&  Weber  

Grand,  Garfield 
San  Juan  and 
Uinta  

Juab  
Salt  Lake  

Summit  &  Wa- 
satch 

126 
120 

32 

77 
83 

59 
89 

52 

9 
9 

8 
32 

27 

14 
15 

7 

1 
1 
1 

3 
3 

2 
2 

3 
3 

135 
129 

40 
109 
110 

73 
104 

59 
^75T 

7 

2 
1 

2 

11 
10 

"2" 

19 
17 

11 

8 

7 

1 
1 

Tooele 



3 

Utah 

Total 

638 

121 

7 

6 

10 

27 

68 

3 

1  For  production  of  gold   and  silver  with   associated   metals,   see   Mineral 
Resources,  1905,  p.  306. 

2  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  315. 


636 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


The  following  table  gives  the  source  of  production  of  gold  and 
silver  in  Utah  according  to  kinds  of  ore  during  1905,  by  counties: l 

TABLE  LXIV. 

(Fine  Ounces.) 


County. 

Plac 

1 

O 

ers. 

1 

s 

Siliceous  Ores. 

Copper  Ores. 

Lead  Ore. 

Zinc  Ore. 

3 

"o 

O 

i 

% 

I 

1 

53 

T3 

a 

|j 

1 

i 

1 

8 

Beaver,  Piute,  and 
Sevier. 

.... 

19,391 

554 

14 
132 

61,132 
26,309 

1,281 

33,181 
2,620 

15 
18 

1,400 
2,570 

95 

18,108 

Box  Elder,  Mor- 
gan, Millard, 
Washington  and 
Weber  

Grand,      Garfield 
San    Juan    and 
Uinta.  .  . 

322 

61 

Juab 

6,600 

77,610 
46,912 
92 

2 

1,656,391 
608,907 

194 
1,823 
13,143 

127 
2,485 

256,169 
524,664 
2,094,136 

39,474 
185,962 



Salt  Lake  

Summit  and  Wa- 
satch. 
Tooele  .. 

44,292 

456 

250 

Utah 

95 

18.108 

Total 

322 

61 

64,383 

94,497 

125,897 

2,301,349 

17,805 

3,104,375 

County. 

Mixed  Ores. 

Total. 

Copper-  Lead- 
Zinc  Ore. 

Copper-Lead 
Ore. 

Lead-Zinc 
Ore. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Beaver,    Piute,    and 
Sevier  

480 

129,623 



21,262 

572 

336 
99,757 
64,651 
14,807 
44,821 
2,486 

243,444 

31,499 

61 

3,897.082 
2,352,266 
3,998,165 
327,556 
186,368 

Box  Elder,  Morgan, 
Millard,  Washing- 
ton and  Weber 

Grand,  Garfield,  San 
Juan  and  Uinta 

Juab 

20,503 
15,751 
83 
1 

1,818,174 
1,187,643 
64,959 
429 

1,318 
63 
86 
223 

159,748 
1,802 
34,370 
32,039 

Salt  Lake 

102 
1,403 
176 

1 

29,250 
1,804,700 
254,908 
436 

Summit  and  Wasatch 
Tooele 

Utah 

Total 

1,628 

2,089,294 

36,818 

3,200,828 

1,690 

227,959 

248,692 

11,039,471 

The  output  of  the  Tintic  district,  from  1880  to  1896,  inclusive,  is 
given  in  Table  LXV.3 


1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  pp.  307  and  308. 

»  U.  S.  G.  S.,  19th  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  pp.  615  and  686,  687,  1897-98. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


637 


TABLE   LXV. 


Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

1880 

3,012 

8,682 

1889 

14,940 

2,055,700 

1881 

2,332 

105,354 

1890 

24,633 

3,801,700 

1882 

3,000 

232,558 

1891 

19,444 

2,901,730 

1883 

2,000 

224,800 

1892 

16,470 

2,011,642 

1884 

1,500 

612,016 

1893 

15,097 

1,990,860 

1885 

868 

868,925 

1894 

18,066 

2,582,033 

1886 

2,300 

825,000 

1895 

27,525 

3,517,166 

1887 

3,200 

1,412,463 

1896 

40,470 

3,955,843 

1888 

7,110 

1,201,620 

Total 

201,067 

28,308,092 

The  average  proportion  of  gold  to  silver  in  the  ores  of  the  Tintic 
district  is  about  1  to  400,  but  varies  considerably  in  different  mines: 
in  the  Mammoth,  1  to  20;  in  the  Centennial  Eureka,  1  to  100;  in 
the  Eureka  Hill,  1  to  250;  in  the  Bullion-Beck,  1  to  350;  and  in  the 
Gemini,  1  to  2,000. 

The  relative  metallic  constituents  of  the  ore  taken  from  an  average 
of  240,000  tons  coming  from  a  majority  of  the  mines  are  as  follows: 

Gold Ounces      0.1356  per  ton. 

Silver      '.'.'......  Ounces    52.440    per  ton. 

Copper .".'.>....  Pounds    11.200    per  ton. 

Lead Pounds  270 . 000    per  ton. 

The  average  value  of  the  ore  is  close  to  $40  per  ton.  The 
Centennial  Eureka  ores  average  about  $80.  In  general  ores  worth 
$10  to  $25  per  ton  are  milling,  while  those  worth  more  than  $25 
are  smelting  ores.  The  low-grade  ores,  when  rich  in  base  metals, 
although  poor  in  the  precious  metals,  often  yield  a  better  profit  by 
smelting  than  by  milling.1 

The  average  assays  of  the  Daly- West  ore,  for  the  years  1901  and 
1902,  are  given  in  the  following  table: 2 

TABLE  LXVI. 


1901 


1902 


Silver. 

Gold. 

Lead. 

Copper. 

Zinc. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Lead. 

Copper. 

Zinc. 

Oz. 

Oz. 

% 

% 

% 

Ozs. 

Ozs. 

% 

% 

% 

Crude  ore 

61.15 

0.05 

23.28 

2.45 

17.7 

52.66 

.041 

19.40 

1.90 

9.40 

Concen- 

trates. 

46.68 

.06 

26.95 

1.64 

16.8 

52.68 

.040 

28.71 

1.67 

16.50 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  19  Ann.  Kept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  687,  1897-98. 

2  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  327. 


638 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


This  table  shows  that  a  higher  grade  of  ore  was  mined  during 
1901  than  in  1902,  and  further  that  the  concentrates  did  not  run  so 
high  in  values. 

For  the  gold  and  silver  production  of  Utah  for  1870  to  1906,  inclu- 
sive, see  table  LXVII.1 

TABLE  LXVII. 


Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

1870 

$1,300,000 

1892 

$660,175 

$7,400  250 

1871 

2  300  000 

1893 

853  600 

5  671  533 

1872 

2,445  284 

1894 

868,031 

3  711  898 

1873 

3,778,200 

1895 

1,149,356 

4  296  115 

1874 

3,911,601 

1896 

1,899,900 

5,933  526 

1875  ' 

3,137,688 

1897 

1,845,938 

3,999,804 

1876 

1898 

2  372  442 

3  827  773 

1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1885 

350,000 
392,000 
575,000 
210,000 
145,000 
190,000 
140,000 
120,000 
180,000 

$5,075,000 
5,208,000 
6,250,000 
4,740,000 
6,400,000 
6,800,000 
5,620,000 
6,800,000 
6,750  000 

1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 

3,506,582 
3,972,200 
3,690,200 
3,594,500 
3,697,400 
4,215,000 
5,140,900 
5,172,200 

4,279,695 
5,745,912 
6,456,480 
5,740,801 
6,046,272 
7,240,894 
6,228,205 
7,706,346 

1886 

216,000 

6,500,000 

1887 
1888 

220,000 
290  000 

7,000,000 
7  000  000 

1889 

487,666 

9,057,014 

1890 

680  000 

10  343  434 

1891 

650  000 

11,313,131 

NOTE.  —  The  gold  and  silver  products  are  combined  from  1870  to  1875. 

If  we  may  judge  from  indications  in  the  smelting  world  there  is 
good  reason  to  expect  a  still  further  increase  in  the  production  of  the 
precious  metals,  especially  gold.  The  copper  ores  lead  in  the  yield 
of  gold,  while  the  copper-lead  ores  are  most  productive  of  silver. 
Prospecting  and  development  work  is  being  actively  engaged  in, 
and  several  promising  discoveries  have  been  made  in  recent  years. 

Washington.  —  Owing  to  the  custom  employed  in  the  early  days 
of  uniting  in  the  returns  the  production  of  gold  from  Washington 
and  Oregon,  hardly  an  approximation  of  the  output  can  be  made. 
The  yield  from  1877  to  1905,  inclusive,  was  $10,729,300.  It  has 
been  estimated  that  the  production  prior  to  1868  was  $10,000,000, 
which,  if  correct,  would  make  the  total  output  to  the  end  of  1905 
about  $23,229,300.  An  output  of  $300,000  was  recorded  for  1877, 
subsequently  it  fell  to  $100,000,  but  recovered  and  reached  the 

1  Table  compiled  from  Mineral  Resources,  Mineral  Industry  and  Report 
Director  of  Mint. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


639 


$400,000-mark  in  1896.  Since  then  the  production  has  increased, 
until  in  1900  it  was  about  $700,000,  and  then  decreased  again.  In 
1902,  1904  and  1905  the  following  outputs  are  given:  $272,200, 
$327,900  and  $368,800,  respectively.1 

The  silver  production  of  Washington,  for  1905,  was  $70,410 
or  115,412  ounces,  showing  a  decided  falling-off  from  1902,  when 
it  was  $328,070  or  619,000  ounces.  In  1902  and  1904  the  yield 
was  $328,070  or  619,000  ounces  and  $86,942  or  149,900  ounces, 
respectively.2 

There  were  16  placers  and  35  deep  mines  operating  in  1905.  The 
deep  mines  produced  46,650  tons  of  ore  averaging  $10.17  per  ton  in 
gold  and  silver  values. 

The  mines,  classified  according  to  character  of  ore  for  the  year 
1905,  and  arranged  according  to  counties,  are  given  in  Table 
LXVIII.3 

TABLE  LXVIII. 


County. 

Non- 
Pro- 
ducing 
Mines. 

Mines 
Report- 
ing 
Pro- 
duc- 
tion. 

Gold  Placer. 
Mines. 

Deep  Mines. 

Hydraulic. 

5 

Sluice. 

5 
g 

2 

8 

53 

Copper. 

a 

i 

Asotin      

10 
41 
3 
3 
70 
1 
40 
50 
2 
17 
131 
12 
8 
81 
104 
45 
1 

3 
3 
1 

3 

r 
r 

3 
1 

1 

'3' 

... 

3 

4 

1 
3 

5 

1 
6 
10 
2 

35 

Chelan          

Clark     

Cowlitz                         

Ferry                 

4 
1 
1 
11 

4 

Franklin           

TCincr 

1 

Kittitas      

2 

3 

3 

8 

2 

... 

1 

Lewis 

Lincoln 

1 

Okanogan  

6 

1 

7 
10 
3 

... 

1 

1 

r 

1 

1 
1 

3 

3 
4 
1 

2 

4 
1 

i 

3 

1 

Skagit  

Skamania          

Snohomish            

Stevens        

^Vhatcom                        •     •  •  • 

YakiniQ*                 

Total        

2 

4 

10 

16 

21 

7 

6 

1 

619 

51 

'  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  pp.  837  and  838,  1903. 

2  Mineral  Industry  for  1905,  p.  219. 

8  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  335. 


640 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


The   source  of   the   gold  and  silver  production,  by  kinds  of  ore 
during  1905,  by  counties,  is  given  below: l 

TABLE  LXIX. 
(Fine  Ounces.) 


County. 

Placers. 

Deep  Mines. 

Siliceous  Ores. 

Copper  Ores. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Asotin,  Clark  and 
Chelan  

54.42 
.92 

127.32 

4.84 

8 

611.46 
4,162.81 

775.21 
107.05 

1,649.59 
8,022.50 
3,665.37 

613 

34,945 

838 
10,690 

25,790 
12,768 
22,093 

Ferry  and  Frank- 
lin. 
King  and  Kittitas 
Okanogan  

30 

Skamania  and 
Snohomish  
Stevens      

16.93 

4 

289.04 
1.12 

4,152 
2,222 

Whatcom  

107.05 

18 

Total 

311.48 

60 

18,993.99 

107,737 

290.16 

6,374 

County. 

Deep  Mines. 

Total. 

Lead  Ores. 

Total. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Asotin,  Clark  and 
Chelan. 
Ferry  and  Frank- 
lin   

611.46 

4,162.81 
775.21 
107.05 

1,938.63 
8,023.62 
3,665.37 

613 

34,945 
838 
10,690 

29,942 
26,195 
22,093 

665.88 

4,163.73 
902.53 
111.89 

1,955.56 
8,023.62 
3,772.42 

621 

34,945 
868 
10,690 

29,946 
26,195 
22,111 

King  and  Kititas. 
Okanogan  

Skamania  and 
Snohomish 

Stevens          ...    . 

11,205 

Whatcom  

Total 

11,205 

19,284.15 

125,316 

19,595.63 

125,376 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  335. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


641 


There  are  three  grades  of  ore  produced  in  the  Republic  mine: 
the  highest  running  from  $360  to  $100  per  ton,  averaging  between 
$175  and  $200;  medium  ore  varying  from  $100  to  $30  and  averag- 
ing $65  per  ton;  and  the  lowest  grade,  ranging  from  $30  to  $5, 
and  averaging  about  $20  per  ton.1 

The  gold  and  silver  production  for  Washington  for  the  period  of 
years  1866  to  1906  is  given  in  Table  LXX:2 


TABLE   LXX. 


Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

1866 

$8,  000,  000 

1889 

186  156 

36  801 

1867 

3,000,000 

1890 

204  000 

90  505 

1868 
1869 

4,000,000 
3,000,000 

1891 
1892 

335,000 
373,561 

213,334 
123,750 

1870 

3,000,000 

1893 

222,100 

118  411 

1871 

2,500,000 

1894 

195,100 

71,290 

1872 
1873 

2,000,000 

1,585,784 



1895 
1896 

144,092 
405  700 

64,336 
184  458 

1874 

763,605 

1897 

449  664 

145  159 

1875 

1,246,978 

1898 

600  000 

160  215 

1876 

1899 

750  000 

178  740 

1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 

300,000 
300,000 
75,000 
410,000 

50,000 
25,000 
20,000 

1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 

718,200 
580,500 
272,200 
279  900 

139,190 
206,640 
328,070 
159  030 

1881 

120  000 

1904 

327  900 

86  942 

1882 

120,000 

1905 

370  000 

72  060 

1883 

1884 

80,000 
85,000 

500 
1,000 

1906 

352,600 

93,841 

1885 

120,000 

70,000 

1886 

147,000 

80,000 

1887 

145,000 

100,000 

1888 

145,000 

100,000 

NOTE.  —  The  gold  and  silver  production  for  Oregon  and  Washington  are 
combined  for  the  years  1866  to  1875. 

The  Republic  mining  district  is  the  principal  producer  in  Wash- 
ington, and  will  probably  continue  to  be  an  important  source  of 
precious  metal  production.  There  is  a  great  field  in  this  territory 
for  the  development  of  the  mining  industry,  and  there  is  but  little 
doubt  but  that  new  and  important  discoveries  will  add  consider- 
ably to  the  output  of  gold  and  silver. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  68,  p.  725. 

2  Table  compiled    from  Mineral  Resources,  Mineral  Industry  and  Reports 
Director  of  Mint. 


642 


GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


Wyoming.  —  With  this  state,  as  with  Washington  and  Oregon, 
the  early  production  of  gold  has  been  rendered  uncertain  by  its 
having  been  united  with  that  of  neighboring  states  and  territories. 
The  production  given  in  the  Mint  Reports  for  the  period  from  1868 
to  1900  was  only  about  $500,000.  The  yield  for  1900,  and  at  inter- 
vals of  two  years,  ending  with  1904,  was  as  follows:  In  1900,  $34,200; 
in  1902,  $38,800;  and  in  1904,  $16,400.  In  1905  it  was  $20,700. 
The  total  output  from  1868  to  and  including  1905  was  $626,400. 
The  variation  in  gold  output  during  the  past  six  years  has  been  great 
having  ranged  from  $3,600  to  $38,800,  which  variation  was  for  the 
two  successive  years  of  1903  and  1902.1 

The  silver  production  of  Wyoming  has  been  even  more  variable 
than  that  of  gold  as  in  1900  and  1901,  when  an  output  of  200  ounces 
in  the  former  year  was  increased  to  21,400  ounces  in  the  latter.  The 
range  in  amount  and  value  of  the  silver  produced  from  1900 
to  1905,  inclusive,  was  as  follows:  in  1900,  200  ounces  or  $124;  in 
1901,  21,400  ounces  or  $12,840;  in  1902,  5000  ounces  or  $2,650; 
in  1903,  200  ounces  or  $108;  in  1904,  4,400  ounces  or  $2,552;  and 
in  1905,  3,528  ounces  or  $2,152,  respectively.2 

In  1905  there  were  only  13  mines  producing  gold  and  silver,  of 
which  7  were  placer  workings  and  6  were  deep  mines.  The  deep 
mines  yielded  31,007  tons  of  ore  averaging  $0.87  per  ton. 

The  mines  of  Wyoming,  classified  according  to  kinds  of  ore,  oper- 
ating during  1905  and  arranged  by  counties  is  given  in  Table  LXXI : 3 


TABLE   LXXI. 


County. 

Mines  Re- 
porting 
Produc- 
tion. 

Gold  Placer  Mines. 

Deep  Mines. 

Surface 
Placers 

Drift 
Mines. 

Total. 

Silver. 

Cop- 
per. 

Total. 

Albanv  ,  .  . 

2 
1 
3 
5 

1 
1 

1 



1 

1 

1 

1 
1 

3 
1 

Carbon 

Crook 

2 
2 

1 

1 

3 

2 

i 

7 

Fremont        ... 

3 

1 

Natrona  

Uinta  
Total 

13 

6 

1 

3 

3 

6 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33,  p.  839;  1903,  Mineral  Industry,  1903,  p.  144. 
3  Compiled  from  Mineral  Industry  for  the  respective  years. 
8  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  339. 


PRODUCTION  OF   GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


643 


The  source  of  gold  and  silver  production  in  Wyoming  in  1905,  by 
counties,  is  given  in  the  following  table :  * 


TABLE   LXXII. 

(Fine  ounces). 


Deep  Mines. 

Total. 

Metal. 

Placers. 

Siliceous 
Ores. 

Copper  Ores. 

Total. 

Gold  

102.38 

961.11 

230.32 

1,191.43 

1  293  81 

Silver  

10 

86 

3,559 

3,645 

3  655 

The  following  table  gives  the  production  of  gold  and  silver  in 
Wyoming  from  1870  to  1873  and  1900  to  1906,  inclusive: 2 


TABLE  LXXIII. 


Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Year. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

1870 
1871 

$100,000 
100  000 



1902 
1903 

38,800 
3  600 

2,650 
108 

1872 

100,000 

1904 

16  400 

2  552 

1873 

50,000 

1905 

23,700 

1  630 

1900 
1901 

34,200 
12,700 

124 
12,840 

1906 

i 

26,400 

869 

NOTE.  —  The  gold  and  silver  productions  are  combined  for  the  years  1870 
to  1873,  while  no  separate  record  is  obtainable  for  the  period  1874  to  1899, 
the  amount  being  so  small  that  it  is  given  with  that  of  the  less  important 
states. 

Much  unprospected  ground  exists  in  Wyoming,  especially  in  the 
northwestern  portion,  which  will  in  all  probability  produce  some  valu- 
able mineral  deposits.  Wyoming  is  situated  similarly  to  New  Mexico, 
i.e.,  lies  between  two  great  gold  producing  States  —  Colorado 
and  Montana,  and  for  that  reason  might  be  expected  to  share  in 
their  mineral  wealth.  It  is  not  improbable  to  suppose  that  such 
may  be  the  case. 

Other  States.  —  The  remaining  states,  although  not  included 
in  the  list  of  producing  states,  as  given  in  the  preceding  pages, 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  p.  339. 

2  Table  compiled  from  Mineral  Resources,   Mineral  Industry  and  Reports 
Director  of  Mint. 


644  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

contain  sufficient  gold  and  silver  to  warrant  a  brief  consideration  in 
this  connection.  However,  owing  to  the  exceedingly  small  amount 
usually  found,  either  in  a  separate  state  or  associated  with  other 
metals,  and  owing  to  the  irregularity  of  occurrence,  the  search  for, 
and  exploitation  of  such  deposits,  has  proven  in  most  cases  very 
unprofitable.  These  states  are  considered  in  alphabetical  order, 
rather  than  in  accordance  with  their  importance  as  producers, 
although  those  particular  states  in  which  precious  metals  occur  in 
very  small  amounts  are  grouped  together  and  briefly  considered. 
Reference  to  previous  statements  regarding  the  states  is  made 
in  order  that  the  desired  information  may  be  obtained  without 
reiteration. 

Arkansas.  —  Although  many  statements  have  been  made  regard- 
ing the  value  of  the  ores  from  this  state,  yet  practically  no  record 
is  obtainable  showing  the  actual  yield  of  the  mines. 

The  following  analysis  of  a  sample  of  ore  from  the  Montezuma 
mine  is  taken  from  a  paper  by  C.  P.  Conrad  on  Silver  in  Arkansas: l 

Gray  copper  (dull) 880  ounces 

Galena,  high-grade 75  ounces  and  $9  gold 

Galena,  low-grade 48  ounces 

Quartz  with  azurite  and  malachite 153  ounces 

Gray  copper  (metallic) 225-260  ounces 

Quartz  (no  metal  showing) 18-25  ounces 

Brown  "  carbonates  " 377  ounces  and  $12  gold 

Selvage  clay 78  ounces 

Average  of  8  assays:   235.5  ounces  silver;   2.66  ounces  gold. 

Indiana.  —  The  total  yield  of  gold  from  the  glacial  drift  in  this 
state  is  claimed  by  different  authorities  to  be  $2,900  and  $10,000  up 
to  1875.2  Under  the  head  of  Silver  Mines  the  following  facts  are 
given  for  the  year  1888  in  one  of  the  mining  journals:  The  silver 
mines  of  Dubois  County  produced  1500  pounds  of  silver  (bullion) 
daily  through  a  local  smelter.  The  ore  runs,  according  to  the 
United  States  Mint  assay  reports,  58  ounces  in  silver  and  4.10  ounces 
in  gold  per  ton.3  According  to  the  reports  of  the  Geological  Survey 
of  Indiana,  $70  was  collected  at  Gold  Branch  of  Pine  Creek,  prob- 
ably in  1873  and  in  1874,  $1,000  was  produced  by  Brown  County. 
Morgan  County  was  also  reported  to  have  "  yielded  considerable  " 
gold,  but  the  amount  was  not  given.4 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  30,  p.  186. 

2  Sixth  Report  State  Geologist  Indiana,  1875,  Folio  107. 

3  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  56,  p.  102. 

4  Geology  of  Indiana,  1873,  p.  224,  and  6th  Ann.  Kept.,  p.  108. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  645 

Iowa.  —  Gold  was  reported  to  occur  "  in  nearly  paying  quanti- 
ties "  at  Wadena,  while  on  Brush  Creek,  "  In  one  case  an  experi- 
enced miner  is  reliably  reported  to  have  realized  a  dollar  per  day 
for  some  months  in  extracting  the  shining  dust  with  a  small  rocker 
and  with  inadequate  water  supply."  1 

Massachusetts.  —  The  Newburyport  silver  mines  are  interesting, 
owing  to  their  discovery  and  operation  during  Revolutionary  times 
and  also  on  account  of  their  richness  in  precious  metal  content. 
However,  no  record  of  the  production  is  available.2 

The  following  assay  returns  are  given  on  a  sample  of  the  ore  of  the 
Newburyport  mines: 

Per  Ton  2240  Ibs. 

52  per  cent  lead  at  6  cts.  per  lb $69.84 

.1736  per  cent  silver  at  $1.29  per  oz.  Troy 72.87 

. 0017  per  cent  gold  at  $20. 60  per  oz.  Troy 11.43 

Total $154.14 

According  to  a  report  made  by  Prof.  R.  H.  Richards,  on  the  ore 
of  the  Merrimac  Silver  Mining  Company's  mine,  the  gray  copper 
contains  $4,583.93  per  ton  in  silver  and  $26.69  per  ton  in  gold,  giv- 
ing a  total  of  $4,611.62  per  ton.  Further,  from  a  report  made  on 
the  mine  by  Prof.  F.  L.  Vinton  there  were  40,000  tons  of  ore  in  sight 
which,  when  concentrated,  would  yield  4,000  tons  of  ore  worth  $94 
per  ton,  being  worth  $376,000.  The  ore  occurs  in  a  vertical  chimney.3 

The  Davis  mine,  at  Charlemont,  yielded  ore  which  sold  at  $4.00  at 
the  mine  or  $5.00  at  tide-water.4 

Maine.  —  A  number  of  mines  were  producing  on  a  small  scale 
during  the  later  seventies  and  early  eighties;  among  the  more  impor- 
tant were  the  Sullivan  and  Waukeag  and  Gouldsborough.  The  latter 
mine  encountered  a  streak  of  antimonial  silver  worth  $4,000  per  ton 
in  1880. 5  The  Sullivan  mine  made  several  shipments  of  bullion 
during  1879  and  1880.  The  first  was  on  March  23,  and  amounted 
to  3750  ounces  of  silver;  the  second  was  on  March  30,  and  was  3033 
ounces.  On  February  23,  1881,  assays  of  stamp  battery  pulp  gave 
an  average  value  of  $35  per  ton  in  silver.  The  Golden  Circle  stamp- 
mill  produced  $294  from  a  run  on  30  tons  of  ore.8 

1  The  Pleistocene  History  of  Northeastern  Iowa,  llth  Ann.  Rept.  Director 
U.  S.  G.  S.,  1891,  p.  486. 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  3,  pp.  442  and  443,  1874. 

Hitchcock,  Geology  of  New  Hampshire,  Vol.  3,  Pt.  5,  p.  35. 

Special  Correspondence,  D.  C.  Reed,  Oct.,  1904. 

The  Portland  Argus,  Mar.  27,  1880. 

Special  Correspondence  to  the  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  March  23,  and  Feb.  23, 1881. 


646  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

The  Mount  Glines  property  is  reported  to  have  yielded  from  $7.50 
to  $49.68  per  ton  in  values,  although  only  a  trace  of  gold  and 
a  few  ounces  of  silver  were  found  by  the  United  States  Geological 
Survey.1 

Michigan.  —  The  native  silver  mines  of  Ontonagon  and  vicinity 
were  responsible  for  an  extensive  mining  excitement  and  the  ex- 
penditure of  considerable  money  in  the  erection  of  stamp-mills,  but 
hardly  more  than  50  tons  were  treated.  Mill  runs  were  reported, 
showing  a  value  of  $33.28  per  ton.  Another  test  on  4J  tons  gave 
163  ounces  of  silver  with  a  coinage  value  of  $50.70  per  ton.2  Silver 
is  a  common  constituent  of  the  copper  ores  of  Keweenaw  Point, 
and  a  number  of  the  copper  mines  have  yielded  quite  large  amounts. 
The  Cliff  mine  is  said  to  have  produced  $5,000  a  year  in  silver  alone.3 
During  later  years,  with  the  greatly  increased  copper  output, 
there  has  resulted  a  correspondingly  greater  production  of  silver 
as  a  by-product.  According  to  the  Director  of  the  mint  the 
output  of  silver  from  this  source  in  1905  amounted  to  253,011  fine 
ounces. 

The  gold  field,  known  as  the  Dead  River  Gold  Range,  situated 
near  Ishpeming,  Michigan,  was  the  scene  of  quite  active  mining 
operations  during  the  late  eighty's  and  early  ninety's.  An  average 
of  11  assays  of  the  ores  mined  here  showed  $20.80  in  gold,  and  $9.50 
in  silver  per  ton.  The  total  production  during  the  period  1883  to 
1897  amounted  to  $664,484.73  —  the  Ropes  mine  alone  yielding 
$1,286.74  in  1883.4  The  average  annual  yield  for  the  few  years 
following  1897  was  $42,000,  but  operations  in  this  region  have 
long  since  been  abandoned. 

Minnesota.  —  Although  there  is  no  recorded  output  of  gold  or 
silver  from  this  state,  yet  in  1894  considerable  development  work 
was  being  done.  The  Little  American  mine,  situated  some  three 
miles  south  of  the  international  boundary,  was  reported  as  operating 
a  five-stamp  mill  on  the  free-milling  ores,  and  a  run  of  30  tons  of 
ore  in  48  hours  yielded  about  $500  in  gold  and  one-half  a  ton  of 
concentrates.5 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No.  225,  pp.  82-84,  1904. 

3  Trans.  Lake  Superior  Inst.  Min.  Eng'rs.,  Vol.  2,  p.  67,  1894,  and  Min.  and 
Sci.  Press,  Vol.  31,  pp.  98  and  130. 

1  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  20,  p.  575. 

4  Annual  Report  Commissioner  of  Mineral  Statistics,  1883,  pp.  98,  99,  and 
Mines  and  Mineral  Statistics  of  Michigan,  Ishpeming,  1897,  p.  172. 

•  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.,  58,  p.  581. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  647 

Missouri.  —  Gold  has  been  obtained  from  the  glacial  drift  in 
several  counties  in  this  state,  but  not  in  sufficient  quantities  to  pay 
for  working.  The  lead  ores  of  southeastern  Missouri  contain  from 
1  to  1}  ounces  of  silver  per  ton,  and  the  yield  from  this  source,  in 
1905,  was  12,900  ounces. 

New  Hampshire.  —  The  Dodge  vein,  near  Lyman,  is  reported  to 
have  produced  $50,000  up  to  the  end  of  1877,  the  ore  running  from 
$3  to  $19  per  ton.1 

The  Milan  mine  produced  matte  from  a  local  smelter  worth  $60 
per  ton.  The  Bedell  mine  yields  ore  assaying  $12  per  ton,  while 
the  quartz  ore  from  the  Hartford  and  Moulton  mine  runs  $30  gold, 
and  $10  silver.  The  Eaton  lead  mine  yields  24  ounces  silver. 
The  Sheburne  lead  mine,  worked  during  1846-49,  had  ore  running 
36  to  84  ounces  silver,  which  was  claimed  to  be  worth  $80  per  ton, 
at  least  a  lot  of  5  tons  produced  that  result.2 

Texas.  —  Although  not  a  producer  of  precious  metals  of  any  great 
importance  in  the  past,  Texas  is  now  forging  to  the  front.  The  pro- 
duction of  gold  and  silver  during  1905  was  387,506  ounces  of  silver, 
valued  at  $234,054  and  12  ounces  of  gold,  with  a  value  of  $248.  The 
corresponding  output  for  1904  was  385,576  ounces  of  silver  and 
9  ounces  of  gold.3 

The  Hazel  mine  of  El  Paso  County,  which  was  closed  in  1902,  is 
said  to  have  produced  up  to  1891  some  $60,000  of  silver  ore.  The 
Presidio  mine,  situated  near  Shafter  in  Presidio  County,  was  opened 
in  1884  and  is  reported  to  have  produced  $300,000  annually  in  silver 
for  a  number  of  years.4 

Vermont.  —  Sluicing  operations  at  Plymouth  Five  Corners  in  this 
state  yielded  returns  which  have  been  variously  reported  at  from 
$9,000  to  $13,000.5 

Following  the  discovery  of  several  gold  nuggets  at  Plymouth 
the  washing  of  gravels  was  begun  and  continued  through  1855-1 86 1.6 

Ore  obtained  from  the  Readsboro  mine  in  1884  is  said  to  have 
yielded  from  $30  to  $40  per  ton,  $25  of  which  was  in  gold.  Ten 
tons  of  ore  taken  from  the  Taggart  mine,  Bridgewater,  yielded 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  16th  Ann.  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  330,  1894-95. 

Hitchcock,  Geol.  Survey  of  New  Hampshire,  Vol.  3,  Pt.  5,  pp.  7-31,  and 
Special  Correspondence  to  the  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mineral  Resources,  1905,  pp.  304  and  305. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  74,  p.  150. 

Rept.  Vermont   State  Geologist,  G.  H.  Perkins,    1903-4,   pp.   56-57,   and 
U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No.  225,  1904,  p.  88. 
•  Ibid.,  Bull.  No.  225,  1904,  p.  88. 


648  GOLD   AND  SILVER. 

374  pennyweights  of  gold.  However,  analysis  of  the  ores  by  the 
United  States  Geological  Survey  gave  no  gold  and  slightly  over  one 
ounce  of  silver,  copper  and  lead  running  about  6  per  cent.1 

The  following  list  of  states,  owing  to  the  extremely  small  amounts 
of  the  precious  metals  found  as  yet  within  their  borders,  is  given 
without  comment,  except  that  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  chap- 
ters on  History  and  Occurrence,  for  what  is  known  regarding 
their  occurrence,  distribution  and  output:  Arkansas,  Connecticut, 
Illinois,  Kansas,  Kentucky,  Mississippi,  Nebraska,  New  Jersey, 
New  York,  Ohio,  Oklahoma,  Panama,  Pennsylvania,  and  Wisconsin. 

It  has  not  been  thought  advisable  to  give  the  production  of  the 
various  mines  and  districts  in  which  they  occur  in  the  previous 
discussion,  owing  to  the  incomplete  and  often  unauthentic  records 
available;  however,  much  information  can  be  obtained  regarding 
the  same  from  the  references  given  in  the  Table  of  Yields. 

NOTE.  —  Apparent  discrepancies  occurring  in  the  above  statistics  result 
largely  from  the  necessity  of  using,  in  their  compilation,  different  authorities. 
A  difference  of  several  thousand  dollars  is  often  noted  for  the  same  year  in  two 
different  reports  by  the  same  authority. 

FINENESS  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

In  the  consideration  of  the  production  of  gold  and  silver  it  is 
necessary  to  know  the  fineness  of  the  metals  in  order  to  ascertain 
their  intrinsic  value.  The  gold  mined  in  certain  localities  of  North 
America  is  remarkably  pure  —  in  the  early  days  the  gold  obtained 
in  a  number  of  mines  in  California  was  considered  the  highest  in 
value,  but  later,  according  to  Mint  reports,  it  was  excelled  by  that 
of  Cripple  Creek.  Placer  gold,  as  formerly  pointed  out,  is  usually 
of  higher  grade  than  that  from  quartz  mines,  due  to  the  refining 
action  of  the  streams.  The  highest  average  fineness  of  California 
gold  was  that  from  the  placers  around  Folsom,  Sacramento  County, 
which  was  worth  over  $20  an  ounce,  running  from  974  fine,  or  $20.13 
to  978  fine,  or  $20.21  per  ounce.  The  lowest  grade  gold  from  this 
state  comes  from  Bodie  and  seldom  exceeds  580£  fine  or  $12  per 
ounce,  often  falling  as  low  as  484  fine,  or  $10  per  ounce. 

The  San  Guiseppe  mine,  near  Sonora,  Tuolumne  County,  Cali- 
fornia, is  a  quartz  mine  which  produces  gold  uniformly  between 
982  and  987  fine,  or  $20.29  and  $20.40  per  ounce.  One  lot  of  90 
tons  of  ore  went  998  fine,  or  $20.6305.2 

1  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No.  225,  1904,  pp.  85,  87. 

1  T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Mines  and  Minerals  of  California,  p.  177,  1899. 


PRODUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.  649 

Records  of  the  United  States  Mint  at  Denver  show  that  on 
several  dates  (Mar.  14,  1893;  May  11,  1893;  Aug.  29  and  March  5, 
1894)  gold  was  deposited  from  the  Cripple  Creek  mines  having  a 
fineness  of  999.  The  average  value  of  the  placer  gold  of  Cripple 
Creek  is  $20  per  ounce.1 

The  gold  of  Nova  Scotia  is  remarkable  for  its  purity,  being  on  an 
average  22  carats  fine.  The  assay  value  is  between  $19.97  and 
$20.25.  A  value  of  $19.50  was  taken  as  a  basis  in  the  calculation 
of  the  gold  production  by  the  Gold  Commissioner  of  Nova  Scotia.2 

The  average  fineness  of  gold  or  silver  of  a  county,  say  nothing  of  a 
state,  cannot  be  relied  upon  in  determining  value,  owing  to  the  wide 
variations  noted  between  localities  of  no  great  distance  apart. 
Averages  are,  however,  usually  assumed  for  convenience  of  cal- 
culation. See  Appendix  of  Tables,  Table  VI. 

1  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  70,  p.  346. 
3  Am.  Jour.  Min.,  Vol.  2,  p.  388. 


APPENDIX   OF  TABLES. 


TABLE      I.  DISCOVERT  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER  MINES  AND  DISTRICTS. 

TABLE     II.  OCCURRENCE   AND  MINERALOGICAL  ASSOCIATION   OP   GOLD   AND 
SILVER. 

TABLE  III.  GEOLOGICAL  DISTRIBUTION  OP  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

TABLE    IV.  YIELD  OP  ORES  BY  DISTRICTS  AND  MINES. 

TABLE      V.  YIELD  OP  GRAVELS  BY  DISTRICTS  AND  MINES. 

TABLE    VI.  FINENESS  AND  VALUE  OP  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


651 


652 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 
TABLE   I.— DISCOVERY   OF   GOLD   AND   SILVER 


Locality. 

State. 

Kind  of  Mine. 

How  Discovered. 

Arbacoochee  district    Cleburne 

Alabama 

Placers 

Prospecting   probably 

County. 
Kaknu   River 

Alaska 

.    .  do        .      ... 

Prospecting  (1st  dis- 

Fraser and  Thompson  rivers 

do      .    . 

do    

covery)  . 
....  do    

Ketchikan  district 

do 

do 

do 

Juneau   Gold  Creek 

do 

do 

do 

Treadwell      mines       Douglas 

do 

.   do 

do    . 

Island. 
Omalak  mine   Yukon  region 

do     . 

Veins  (silver  and  lead) 

do      

do 

.  .  .do  .    . 

...  do  

.  .      do  

Annette  Island        

do  

do  

do  

do 

Veins  (silver  and  lead) 

do 

Ravillagigido  Island 

do 

Veins  (gold) 

do 

Nome  on  Anvil  Creek 

do 

Placers 

.  .  .  .do    .    .    .  . 

Alsek  district 

Yukon  Ter. 

Placers     

do    

Fairbanks  district,  Pedro  Creek 

Alaska     . 

do    

do    

Santa  Rita  district  

Arizona  

Veins  (silver)  

Revealed  by  Indian 

Silver  King  mine  

do  

do  

Prospecting  .  C  fr£v  H 

Tombstone 

do 

Veins     (silver     and 

Hillside  mine              

do      ... 

gold), 
do     

do 

San  Franciscoquito  

California  . 

Placers   

Probably  accidental 

Santa  Clara  River  

do  

do  

Accidental    

North  Fork  Dry  Diggings,  Au- 

  do  

do  

Prospecting  

burn  Ravine. 
Coloma 

do 

do 

Accidental 

Grass  Valley 

do 

do 

Prospect  i  ng 

do 

do      .  . 

Vein  (gold)      

do    .    .    . 

Gold  Hill  Grass  Valley     .... 

do   ...    . 

.  .   do    

do    

Empire  mine,  Grass  Valley 

do  

do    

do    

Gold  Bluff  

do  

Beach  placers  

do    

Althouse  Creek 

S     do 

Placers 

do 

Georgia  Hill   Yankee  Jim's 

do 

do 

Accidental          . 

Indiana  Hill 

do     ... 

...  do      

Prospecting          .  . 

Shaw's  Flat,  Tuolumne  Table 

do    

Ancient  gravels      .  .  . 

Auriferous   Character 

Mt. 
Amargoza  mine,  San  Bernar- 

  do  

Veins  (gold)  

of   ancient  gravels 
first  recognized  here. 
Accidental  

dino  County. 
Bodie                                    "*•• 

do 

Placers  (probably) 

Prospect  i  ng 

Idaho  mine 

...   do 

Veins  (gold)  

.  .  .  .do   

Sulphur  Creek,  Colusa  County  . 
Meadow  Lake   .        

....do  
do  

....do  
do  

....do  
do   

Amargoza  mine,  San  Bernar- 
dino County 

do.  

do  

Rediscovered  by  pros- 
pecting 

Randsburg  region 

do 

do        

Prospecting  

Rico  Mt.  district,  Dolores  River 

Colorado 

Placers  

do  

Gilpin  County 

do 

Veins  (gold) 

do 

Gregory  lode,  Clear  Creek  

do  

do  

do  ... 

DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER  MINES  AND  DISTRICTS.      653 
MINES  AND  DISTRICTS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


By  whom  Discovered. 

Date  of  Discovery. 

Reference. 

1848 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol   55  p   486 

P.  P.  Doroshin         

1848 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  18  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p    82 

Prior  to  1860 

Eng  and  Min  Jour     Vol   76  p   807 

W.  C.  Ralston  and  others  .  . 
R.  T.  Harris  and  Joe  Juneau 

1870-74 
July  9,  1880 
Summer  of  1881 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  83,  p.  98. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  41,  p.  230. 
Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  24,  p.  251. 

In  1894  was  claimed  to  be 
most     northern     mine     in 
Alaska. 
James  Bowden 

1881 
1886 

1891—92 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  58,  p.  610. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  76,  p.  852. 

Min   and  Sci   Press    Vol   83   p    98 

Aug    17    1896 

Eng  and  Min   Jour    Vol    76  p  808 

V 

1897 

Min.  and  Sci    Press    Vol    83   p    98 

Two  Laplanders   . 

1898 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour    Vol  76  p  852' 

Dawson  Charley  (an  Indian)  . 
Pedro  

1902 
July,  1902 

Vol.  69,  p.  105. 
Min   and  Sci   Press    Vol   87   p   370 

Yaqui  Indians  
General  Stoneman's  Soldiers 
TJd.    Schefflin,    his    brother 
and  Richard  Gird. 
J.  Lawler  

1769 
1873 
1878 

1887 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  78,  p.  216. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  40,  p.  296. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  35,  p.  238. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  90,  p.  189. 

Eng  and  Min   Jour     Vol   50  p   163 

Aborigines    

1838 

Min   and  Sci    Press    Vol    47   p    292 

Andres  Castello  

1841 

Ibid  ,  Vol    51    p    322 

Claude  Ghana  

May  16,  1848 

T.  A.  I   M   E     California  Mines  and 

James  Marshall 

Jan    19    1848 

Minerals,  p.  289. 
Min   and  Sci    Press    Vol    47   p    320 

1849 

Min   and  Sci    Press    Vol    81    p    120 

June    1850 

do 

McKnight         

Oct.,  1850 

...do 

G.  D.  Roberts  

Oct.,  1850 

do 

1850 

Ibid     Vol    43   p    104 

1850 

Ibid     Vol    80   p    432 

Prospectors 

Summer    1851 

Ibid     Vol    60   p    394 

J   F.  Talbott     . 

1852 

Ibid     Vol   61   p    50 

Prospectors    

1854 

T   A    I    M    E     California  Mines  and 

Emigrants  

1856 

Minerals,  p.  356. 
Min   and  Sci    Press    Vol    32   p    314 

Bodie  (a  prospector)  

Sept.,  1859 

Ibid.,  Vol   36   p   258 

T   J   Pegg  and  others 

May  8    1863 

Ibid     Vol   34  p   290 

1863 

Eng  and  Min  Jour     Vol    42  p    186 

H.  H.  Hartley  

1863 

Min   and  Sci    Press    Vol    68   p    118 

J.  B.  Osborne  

1876 

Ibid  ,  Vol.  32,  p    314 

Placer  miners 

1895 

T   A    I    M    E     California  Mines  and 

W.  G.  Walton  and  others.  .  . 
Oldest  gold  district  in  Colo- 
rado. 
Party  of  seven  Georgians  on 
way  to  California. 

1833 
May,  1859 

May,  1859 

Minerals,  p.  400. 
U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Rept.,Pt.  2,  p.  238. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  62,  p.  267. 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  26,  p.  835. 

654 


GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


TABLE  I.— 


Locality. 

State. 

Kind  of  Mine. 

How  Discovered. 

Jackson's  Bar   Idaho  Springs 

Colorado 

Placers 

Prospect  ing 

Leadville  district     .  .        .... 

...  do  

do    

do 

Rico  district,  San  Juan  County 

do  

Veins  (silver)  

...  .do 

Caribou  district  

do  

Veins   (gold   and  sil- 

  do    

Mt   McClellan 

do 

ver). 
Veins  (silver) 

do 

Hahns  Peak 

.do 

Placers       

do 

Lamertine  mine  Idaho  Springs 

do  ... 

Veins  (gold  and  sil- 

. .    do 

Little  Giant  vein,  Silverton.  .  . 

do  

ver). 
do  

.    .    do 

Red  Cloud  mine,   Gold   Hill, 

do  

Veins  (gold)  

Telluride  of  gold  was 

Boulder  County. 
La  Plata  district 

do 

Veins  (gold  and  sil- 

first discovered  here 
for  Colorado. 
Prospecting 

Elkton  mine 

do 

ver). 
Veins  (go'ld)    

.  .  .do 

Golden  Fleece  mine        

.  ...  do  

Veins  (gold  and  sil- 

  do    

Sheridan  mine  San  Miguel  dis- 

do 

ver), 
do 

do 

trict. 
Trout   and   Fisherman  mines, 

do  

do.  

Accidental  

San  Juan  County. 
Gold  and  Silver  Chief  claims, 

do  ...  . 

do    

Prospecting 

San  Miguel  County. 
Bassick  mine    Silver  Cliff  dis- 

do 

do 

do 

trict. 
Fryer  Carbonate  and  Iron  Hills 

.do 

Veins  (lead  and  sil- 

do 

Roaring  Fork  district   Aspen 

.  .    .do  ... 

ver). 
Veins  (gold  and  sil- 

.  .  do    

do  

ver). 
Veins  (silver)  

do    

Pitkin,  Gunnison  County   .... 
Mt   Pisgah   Cripple  Creek 

do  
do     . 

Veins  (gold  and  sil- 
ver). 
Veins  (gold)         .  .  . 

do  
do 

Victor  mine   Cripple  Creek 

...  do    .  . 

Veins  (gold  and  sil- 

First    location   on 

Poverty  gulch   Cripple  Creek  .  . 

do  

ver). 
do  

nbrth  side  Bull  Mt. 
Prospecting  

do 

Placers 

do 

do 

Veins  (gold) 

do 

Camp  Bird  mine 

do  .    . 

do 

do 

Leather's  Ford   Dahlonega  .  .  . 

Georgia 

Placers               

(Second  gold  excite- 

Habersham County          

do  

do    

ment  in  States). 
Prospect  i  ng 

Pen  d'Oreille  River    

Idaho  

do    

.do              ... 

do  
Coeur  d'Alene  Mts 

do  
do 

do  

do 

....do  
do 

Florence  district 

do 

do        

do 

Boise  Basin,  Pioneersville  .... 
Silver  City  and  De  Lamar  
Murray  and  Deta  on  Prichard 
Creek,  Coeur  d'Alenes. 
Bunker  Hill  and  Sullivan  mines 

do  
....do  
do  

do 

....do  
....do  
do  

Veins  (lead-silver) 

do  
....do  
do  

Accidental 

DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER  MINES  AND  DISTRICTS.       655 

Continued. 


By  whom  Discovered. 

Date  of  Discovery. 

Reference. 

G.  A.  Jackson 

Jan    21    1859 

Min   and  Sci    Press    Vol    58   p    60 

1860 

Min   Magazine,  Vol    11   p    431 

Baker's  expedition      .    . 

1860 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour  ,  Vol.  31    p    92 

1860-61 

Ibid.,  Vol.  24,  p.  105. 

J.  C.  Huff  and  R.  W.  Steele  . 

Summer  of  1864 
1865 

Am.  Jour.  Min.,  Vol.  1,  p.  186. 
U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  285,  p.  28. 

A  Frenchman 

1867 

Mines  and  Minerals    Vol    20   p    385 

Miles  T.  Johnson 

1871 

Eng  and  Min  Jour     Vol   76  p   230 

Identified  by  Dr.  A.  Eilers.. 

1871 
1873 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  19,  p.  335. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  66,  p.  667. 

About  1874 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  72,  p.  284. 

Captain  E.  T.  Hotchkiss  
John  Fallen   

1874 
1875 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  76,  p.  307. 
Ibid  ,  Vol   30   p    185 

Prospectors  fishing  

Fall,  1875 

Ibid.,  Vol.  27,  p.  239. 

1876 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  29,  p.  286 

E.  G.  Bassick  

1877 

Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  23,  p.  487. 

1879 

Min   Magazine,  Vol    11   p    431 

P.  W.  Pratt  and  Smith  Steel  . 

July  3,  1879 
1879 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  26,  p.  845. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol   39   p   277 

About  1880 

Ibid     Vol    62   p    559 

1884 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  72,  p.  284. 

Aug    23    1891 

Eng  and  Min  Jour     Vol   56  p    193 

Robt  Womack           

Feb.,  1891 

Ibid  ,  Vol    68,  p    67  and  Vol    59   p 

Hugh  Morrison        

1891 

103. 
Ibid.,  Vol   60   p    102 

W    C    Stratton    

July  4,  1891 

Ibid.,  Vol.  68,  p.  67. 

Walsh           

1896 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33   p    501 

1829 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol   52  p   615. 

1829 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25,  p.  679. 

French  Canadian  

1852 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  60,  p.  172. 

1854 

Am.  Jour.  Min.,  Vol.  1,  p.  133. 

Capt  Mullen's  men. 

1858-59 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  60,  p.  172. 

1861 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  233. 

Party  with  Grimes      

Aug.,  1862 

Am.  Jour.  Min.,  Vol.  6,  p.  2. 

Party  led  by  Jordan      

1863 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p.  108. 

Early  '80s 

Min.  Magazine,  Vol.  12,  p.  27. 

Kellogg 

Sept.  17,  1885 

Souvenir   of   Coeur   d'Alene  district, 
1906,  p.  45. 

656 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


TABLE  I.— 


Locality. 

State. 

Kind  of  Mine. 

How  Discovered. 

Big  Buffalo  district 

Idaho 

Veins  (gold) 

Prospect  ing 

Western  part                      .... 

Kansas         .  . 

Placers  

...   do 

Trego  and  Ellis  counties  

do  

Gold  in  shale  

do    . 

Montgomery  County  

Maryland  .... 

Placers  

Newburyport  mines 

Mass 

Veins  (lead-silver) 

Cliff  mine,  Keweenaw  Point  .  . 

Michigan  .... 

Vein  (native  copper 

do  

Marquette 

do    

and  silver). 
Veins  (lead-silver)  . 

...   do 

Huron  Mts    Marquette   . 

do  

Veins  (gold)  

....  do 

Iron  River   Ontonagon  

do  

Veins  (silver)  

do  

Rainy  Lake  district    

Minnesota  .  .  . 

Veins  (gold)  

do  

Oro  Fino  or  Pierce  mine   Bit- 

Montana 

do 

do 

teroot  and  Clearwater  Mts. 
Horse  Prairie  Creek           ...    . 

do... 

Placers         

...   do 

Baboon  Mt  ,  Boulder  Mountain 

do... 

Veins  (gold)  

do    

district. 
Helena 

do 

Placers 

do 

Elkhorn  district 

do 

Vein  (silver) 

do 

Travona  lode   Butte 

.  .   do     . 

.  .     do 

Elkhorn  mine  Elkhorn  district 

...   do     . 

Veins  (gold)  

do 

Gold  Canon      

Nevada.  . 

Placer  .    . 

do      . 

Comstock  lode 

do 

Vein  (gold  and  silver) 

Esmeralda  district 

do 

Veins  (gold  and  sil- 

trict). 
do 

Aurora 

...  do     . 

ver). 
do    

Prospect  ing 

Esmeralda    district,  bononza, 

do 

...  do    

....  do    . 

West  lode. 
Eureka  district    

.  .      do  ...     . 

do    

...   do 

Tonopah 

do 

Veins  (gold) 

do 

Gold  field  and  Bullfrog 

do 

do 

do 

Combination  lode,  Gold  fields 

.    do. 

.  .      do 

do 

The  Eaton  mine  

N.  H  

Vein  (silver)         .... 

do  

Township   of    Franconia   and 

....  do  

Veins  (gold  and  sil- 

  do  

Lisbon. 
Pinos  Altos            

New  Mexico 

ver). 
Veins  (gold  and  sil- 

do 

Lake  Valley      

do    ... 

ver). 
Veins  (silver)  

do  

do  
Reed  mine  Cabarrus  County 

.  ..  .do  

N   C 

....do  
Veins  (gold) 

do  
Nugget    accidentally 

Barringer  mine    Montgomery 

do 

do 

found. 
Prospect  i  ng 

County. 
Portis  mine 

do 

do 

cetc~ft*v*^s— 

r&rr  .      

Josephine  County 

Oregon 

Placers                 .... 

$***$*.«&?•&•:  .  .  . 

Bohemia  district  

do.   . 

do  

do 

do 

Placers 

do   

DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD   AND  SILVER  MINES  AND  DISTRICTS.      657 
Continued. 


By  whom  Discovered. 

Date  of  Discovery. 

Reference. 

Aug     1898 

Min    and  Sci    Press    Vol    82    p    105 

Party  of  seven  Georgians  on 
way  to  California. 
Mr.  Artz  

Fall  of  1849 
1894 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  26,  p.  835. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour     Vol   73  p   891 

1849 

U  S  G  S    20Geol  Rept    Pt  6  p  112 

Oct    10    1874 

T   A    I    M    E     Vol    3    p    442 

Summer    1845 

Foster  and  Whitney's  Rept     1850   p 

1863 

128. 

1864 

1872 

Min.  and  Sci    Press    Vol    26    p    294 

(Were    probably    known    of 
before). 

1893 
1860 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  58,  p.  581. 
U    S   G    S     Bull    213   p    69 

June,  1863 

John     Allen     and     Barney 
Hughes. 

1864 
1865 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  60,  p.  583. 

A.  M   Hoster 

1869 

U.  S   G   S     22  Rept     Pt    2   p    411 

Jan    2    1875 

Ibid     22  Rept     Pt    2   p    411 

1875 

Mines  and  Minerals    Vol    20    p    349 

Kelly  and  Orr  

1850 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  40,  p.  342 

Peter   O'Riley  and   Patrick 
McLaughlin. 
J.  M.  Brady,  J.  C.  Cory  and 
E.  R.  Hicks. 

June  8,  1859 
Aug.  22,  1860 
1862 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  Monograph  No.  4,  p.  37. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  36,  p.  296. 
School  of  Mines  Quarterly    Vol    3   p 

1862-63 

133. 
Min   and  Sci    Press    Vol    36    p    409 

Feb   7    1851 

Min   and  Sci   Press    Vol   35   p   8 

James  Butler  

1864 
Apr.,  1900 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  Monograph  No.  7,  p.  3. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  86,  p.  338. 

Harry  Stimler  and  William 
Marsh. 
A.  D.  Mayers  and  R.  C.  Hart 

1902 

May  24,  1903 
1826 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  303,  p.  8. 
U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  303,  p.  8. 

1831 

and  Min.  Jour. 

1866 

Am   Jour   Min     Vol    2   p    386 

Mr   Everts  

1876 

T.  A   I  ME    Bi-  Monthly  Bull    Jan 

G  W    Lufkin 

Aug     1878 

1908,  p.  3. 
T   A    I    M   E     Vol    24   p    138 

Conrad  Reed  (a  boy) 

1799 

Eng  and  Min  Jour    Vol  80  p  877 

1825 

U    S    G    S     20  Rept     Pt    6   p    116 

1840 

Eng  and  Min  Jour     Vol   77  p    168 

1851 

Ibid.,  Vol    74,  p   582 

1858 

Ibid.,  Vol.  73,  p   889 

W.  W.  Oglesby  and  Frank 
Brass. 

1858 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Rept.,  Pt.  3.  p.  7. 

658 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


TABLE  I.— 


Locality. 

State. 

Kind  of  Mine. 

How  Discovered. 

Griffin  Gulch,  Blue  Mt.  district 

Oregon  

Placers  

Prospecting 

Virtue  mine,  Blue  Mt.  district  . 

do  

Veins  (gold)  

do    

Musick  ledge 

do 

do..  . 

(First    vein    of    im- 

Black Hills                   

S   Dakota 

Placers  

portance  found  here) 
Prospecting 

Homestake  mine             

do   .    ... 

Veins  (gold)  

do    

Coca  Creek        

Tennessee  .... 

Placers  

El  Paso  

Texas  

Veins  (silver)  

Presidio  mine   Shafter  district 

do    ... 

do  

do 

Bingham  and  little  Cottonwood 

Utah        .... 

do  

do 

Canons. 
Bingham                  

do... 

Placers  

do    

do 

Veins  (silver) 

do 

wood  Canon. 
Tintic  district 

do 

Veins    (silver      lead 

do 

Chrisman  and  Mammoth  mine, 

.  .  .  do  .  . 

and  copper) 
do  

.  .  do    

Tintic  district. 
Mercur  mines,  Lewiston  Cafion 

do  

Veins  (gold)  

do  

Ontario  mine  Park  City 

do 

Veins  (gold  and  sil- 

do 

Silver  Reef  Washington  County 

do      ... 

ver). 
Silver  in  sandstone 

Accidental 

Camp   Floyd  district,   Mercur 

do    

Veins  (gold)  

Prospecting 

mines 

Virginia  

Placers  

Tellurium  and  Vaucluse  mines 

do  

Veins  (gold)  

do  

do 

do   

do 

Peshastin  district 

Washington 

Placers   

do 

do                      

do 

Veins  (gold) 

do 

Culver  vein            

do 

do      

do 

Republic  mine           

...  do    

do    

.  .    do    .  . 

Mountain  Lion    

...  do   

do    

...  do    

Douglas  Creek  

Wyoming  .... 

Placers  

do  

Silver  Islet   Ontario 

Canada 

Veins  (silver) 

do 

do 

do 

Second  bonanza 

Mining 

New  Fane 

Vermont 

Nugget  in  gravel 

Accidental  find 

DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER  MINES  AND  DISTRICTS.       659 

Continued. 


By  whom  Discovered. 

Date  of  Discovery. 

Reference. 

Griffin  and  others  

Fall,  1861 
1862 

U.  S.  G.  S.f  22  Rept.,  Pt.  2,  p.  563. 
Ibid.,  22  Rept.,  Pt.  2,  p.  563. 

1891 

Ibid     20  Rept  ,  Pt    3   p    7 

Half-breed  Indian  

1874 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  86,  p.  212 

Manuel  Brothers  

1875-76 

Ibid.,  Vol.  88,  p.  63. 

Monks  of  the  Order  of  St. 
Francis. 
J.  W.  Spencer 

1831 
1680 

1848  (about) 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Rept.,  Pt.  6,  p.  112. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  27,  p.  394. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour     Vol    74   p    150 

General  Connor's  Soldiers.  .  . 
California  Miners  

1863 
1864 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  16,  p.  3. 
U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No    213    p    119 

Woodman  and  Chisholm  .... 

1868 
Dec     1869 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  46,  p.  272. 
U    S.  G    S     19  Rept     Pt    3    p    613 

1871 

Mines  and  Minerals    Vol    19   p    153 

1871 

Ibid     Vol    19   p    81 

Rector  Steen      

June  15    1872 

U    S    G    S     Bull    213    p    34 

John  Barbee  

1873 

Mines  and  Minerals    Vol    20    p    323 

Arie  Pinedo  

Apr    30    1879 

Eng  and  Min  Jour     Vol   63   p    403 

1831 

Min  and  Sci    Press    Vol   31   p   210 

1832 

U    S   G    S     20  Rept     Pt    6   p    116 

George  Fisher 

1845 

1860  or  1862 

U    S    G    S     Bull    213    p    76    Ent? 

1873 

and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  54,  p.  608. 
U    S    G    S     Bull    213   p    76 

Saunders  and  Culver  

1873 

Eng  and  Min   Jour     Vol   54  p   608 

Ryan  and  Creason  

Mar.  5,  1896 

Ibid     Vol    68   p    635 

Arthur  Best 

Mar    20    1896 

Ibid     Vol    69   p    285 

Iram  M.  Moore  

Fall,  1868 

Ibid     Vol    60   p    539 

Thomas  MacFarlane 

July  10    1869 

T   A   I    M    E     Vol    8   p    228 

1878 

Eng  and  Min  Jour     Vol   34   p   322 

Reported  by  Z.  Thompson  .  .  . 

1826 

Appendix    to    Thompson's    Vermont, 
p.  48. 

660 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 
TABLE  II.  — OCCURRENCE  AND  MINERALOGICAL 


Locality. 

State. 

Metalliferous  Minerals  and  Metals 
and  Bearers  of  the  Precious 
Metals. 

Gangue  Minerals. 

General 

Alabama 

Auriferous  ochre,  quartz  reefs  and 

Garnets,  red  ochre, 

Creighton  and  Walker 
mines. 
Moss   back,  Arbacoo- 
chee  district. 

General  

...do..  . 
...  do  ... 

Alaska  .  .  . 

saprolites. 

Lenses  of   auriferous   quartz   in 
graphitic  slate. 
Free  gold  in  quartz,  slates  and 
sandstone. 

Pyrite,  galena,  chalcopyrite,  ar- 

quartz  and  sapro- 
lite. 

Quartz,    slate    and 
schist. 
Quartz,  slate,  sand- 
stone. 

Quartz,  calcite,  bio- 

Yukon 

do.  .  . 

senopyrite,  pyrrhotite,  blende, 
pyrargyrite,  siderite. 
Pyrite,  galena  

tite,  chlorite,  or- 
thoclase. 
Quartz  

Nome 

do 

Mispickel,  blende  antimony  chal- 

Quartz calcite 

Silver  Queen  
Bald     Eagle     mine, 

.  .  .do.  .  . 
do    .  . 

copyrite,  magnetite,  cinnabar. 
Pyrrhotite,  blende,  chalcopyrite, 
galena,  pyrite,  mispickel,  na- 
tive and  ruby  silver. 
Galena,  blende,  mispickel,  pyrite 

Quartz  
Quartz 

Sumdum  Bay. 
Tellurium  and   Fun- 
ter's      Bay,     War 
Horse  mines. 
Apollo     Con      mine, 

..  .do.  .  . 
do    . 

Auriferous  pyrite  and  pyrrhotite. 
Pyrite,      galena,      chalcopyrite, 

Quartz,  calcite  and 
chlorite 

Quartz 

Island  of  Unga. 
Ketchikan  district  .... 

.  .do.  .  . 

blende,  native  copper. 
Mispickel,  galena,  tellurides,  py- 

Quartz 

Berner's  Bay  district, 

.  .  .do.  .  . 

rite,  blende  and  chalcopyrite. 
Pyrite,      galena,      chalcopyrite, 

Quartz  

Comet  mine. 
Kingston  and   John- 

do. 

blende. 
Pyrite,  pyrrhotite,  chalcopyrite 

Quartz  - 

son  veins. 
Alaska  Treadwell 
mines. 
Silver  Bow  Basin 

do.  .  . 
do 

Pyrite,      chalcopyrite,      galena, 
blende,  pyrrhotite,  mispickel. 
Pyrite    galena    blende    siderite 

Quartz,  calcite  
Quartz  calcite 

Sheep  Creek  Basin 

do. 

Pyrrhotite,  galena,  blende,  py- 

Quartz .... 

Cleveland  Peninsula 

do. 

rite,  mispickel,  ruby  silver. 
Gold-quartz  

Quartz  

Gravina  Island  .  . 

do.  .  . 

Pyrite,  blende,  gold-quartz  

Quartz  

Annette  Island 

do 

Argentiferous  and  auriferous  tet- 

Quartz   .    . 

Ketchikan  district. 
Allison  mine,  Ketchi- 

do.   . 

rahedrite  and  free-gold. 

Quartz,  hornblende.  . 

kan    district,    Kas- 
san  Peninsula. 
Mt.     Andrew     mine, 
Ketchikan  district. 
Copper   Queen  mine, 

do... 
do.  .  . 

Chalcopyrite,  magnetite,  pyrite. 
Chalcopyrite,    magnetite,    man- 

  do  
.  .  .do  

Ketchikan  district. 

ganese  oxide. 

MINERALOGICAL  OCCURRENCE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.     661 
ASSOCIATION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


Form  of  De- 
posit. 

Country  Rock. 

Method  of 
Treatment. 

Remarks. 

Reference. 

Veins       and 

Schists,  granites, 

Milling     and 

Gold-bearing  .  .  . 

Fed.  Inst.  M.  E.,  Vol. 

impregna- 
tions. 

gneisses,     crys- 
talline   schists, 

smelting. 

14,  pp.  93  and  96. 

marbles. 

Quartz  lenses. 

Slate  and  schist 

Milling  

do   .... 

T.    A    I    M    E      Vol 

26,  p.  466. 

Veins        and 
impregna- 

Slate  and   sand- 
stone. 

do  

....do  

Eng.  and   Min.   Jour., 
Vol.  47,  p.  458. 

tions  

Quartz  veins 

Metamorphic  and 
igneous  rock. 

Milling     and 
smelting. 

Gold  and   silver- 
bearing. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  213, 
p.  42,  Ibid.,  18  Rept., 

Quartz  veins 
do  

Igneous  and  met- 
amorphic  rocks. 

Smelting  
Milling 

....do  

C*n1rt    KAQvinrv 

Pt.  3,  p.  62. 

Ibid.,  18  Rept.,  Pt.  3, 
p.  292. 

tjoia-Dearing  .... 

Inst.    Min.   and    Met., 
Vol.  9,  p.  181. 

do  

Carbonaceous  and 

Milling     and 

Gold  and  silver- 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  18  Rept., 

micaceous 

smelting. 

bearing  (galena 

Pt.  3,  p.  73. 

do  

schists. 

do 

is  argentiferous) 

vjoia-Deanng  .... 

Ibid.,  18  Rept.,  Pt.  3. 

do  

Schists  

Milling 

do 

p.  73. 

Ibid.,  18  Rept.,  Pt.  3, 

p.  77. 

do  
do  

Andesite  and  da- 
cite. 

Milling     and 
smelting. 
Milling 

...do  
rin 

Ibid.,  18  Rept.,  Pt.  3, 
p.  83. 

Min.    and    Sci.    Press, 
Vol.  83,  p.  98. 

....  do  

Milling     and 

!_ 

Mines    and    Minerals, 

smelting. 

Vol.  21,  p.  435. 

...  .do  

Milling  

Hn 

...  GO  ......... 

Ibid.,  Vol.  21,  p.  435. 

do  

Carbonaceous 
slate. 

...do  

...do  

Ibid.,  Vol.  21,  p.  435. 

....do  
....do  

Carbonaceous  and 

...do  
Milling     and 

...do  
Silver-bearing.  .  . 

Ibid.,  Vol.  21,  p.  435. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  21,  p.  435. 

micaceous 

smelting. 

schists. 

do  

Diabase  altered  to 

Milling  

Gold-bearing  .... 

Min.    and    Sci.    Press, 

do  

serpentine. 
Siliceous        and 

Milling     and 

do  

Vol.  83,  p.  98. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  83,  98. 

chloritic  schists 

smelting. 

and  limestone. 

....do  

do 

r<  u        A     M 

vjoiG  and  silver— 
bearing. 

Ibid.,  Vol.  83,  p.  98. 

....do  

Diorite,     quartz- 

...do  

do.  

Ibid.,  Vol.  83,  p.  99. 

porphyry     and 

serpentine. 

do  

...do  

...do  

....do  

Ibid.,  Vol.  83,  p.  99. 

....do  

...do  

...do  

....do  

Ibid.,  Vol.  83,  p.  99. 

662 


GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


TABLE  II.— 


Locality. 

State. 

Metalliferous  Minerals  and  Metals 
and  Bearers  of  the  Precious 
Metals. 

Gangue  Minerals. 

Dolomi  district,  Kas- 

Alaska  .  .  . 

Argentiferous  tetrahedrite,  pyrite, 

Quartz  

san  Peninsula. 
Niblack  anchorage  .  .  . 

do  ... 

free-gold. 
Chalcopyrite,  magnetite,  pyrite.  . 

Quartz  

Copper  Mountain  .  .  . 

do 

Malachite,    chalcopyrite,    native 

Quartz 

Pearce  mine  

Arizona 

copper,  silver-lead  ores. 
Cerargyrite,    bromyrite,     argen- 

Quartz  

Tombstone:  near  sur- 

.... do  .. 

tite  iodyrite. 
Silver    chlorides,    carbonate    of 

Quartz  

face. 
At  600  feet  depth 

do. 

lead,  oxides  of  manganese  and 
iron. 
Sulphide  of  lead  and  silver  and 

Quartz,  porphyritic 

Lucky    Cuss     mine, 

....  do  ... 

zinc. 
Galena,  blende,  alabandite  

rock. 
Quartz  

Tombstone 
Yavapai  County  .... 

Silver  Bell   Mt.   dis- 

  do.  .. 
.  .do. 

Chalcopyrite,   mispickel,   copper 
glance. 
Cuprite,  malachite,  azurite,  chal- 

Oxides  of  iron  and 
manganese. 
Quartz  

trict,     Big     Bug 
Mountain. 
Portland  mine,  Silver 

do 

cocite,    chalcopyrite,    bornite, 
pyrite. 
Galena  blende  pyrite  chalcopy- 

Quartz 

Bell  district. 
Prescott  district  .... 

..  do 

rite  and  silver  near  the  surface. 
Chlorides  and  sulphides  of  silver, 

Quartz  .  .  . 

Prescott  district,  Tus- 
cumbia  and  Trinity 
Mount  Union 

v    • 
....do... 
do 

galena. 
Chlorides  of  silver,  brittle  silver, 
galena,  blende. 
Galena  pyrites 

Quartz,  barytes  
Quartz 

Crown     King    mine 

do 

Auriferous  and  argentiferous  py- 

Quartz,  clay 

Yavapai  County. 
Oro    mine     Yavapai 

do 

rite. 
Galena  pyrite 

Quartz  (white) 

County. 
Dividend  group,  Cha- 

do 

do 

Quartz  

paral. 
Final   County,  Silver 
King  mine 

Bradshaw  mine 

do.  .. 
do 

Gray  copper,  siderite,  ruby  sil- 
ver,    native     silver,     pyrite, 
blende,  galena,  argentite. 

Malachite   azurite,  black  oxides, 

Quartz,  calcite,  bar- 
ite. 

Schists  

Poland-Lynx      Creek 
mine. 
United  Verde 

do.  .. 
do 

cuprite,     bornite,     chalcocite, 
chalcopyrite. 
Pyrite,  blende,  galena,  bornite, 
chalcopyrite. 
Bornite  melaconite  chalcopyrite, 

Diorite,       siliceous 
matter. 
Quartz  

Harshaw 

do 

cuprite  . 
Horn  silver  (free-milling)  

Porphyritic  rock  .... 

Hillside  vein 

do 

Quartz 

ride;  with  depth  copper  and 
iron   pyrites,   galena,  blende, 
arsenopyrite. 

MINERALOGICAL  ASSOCIATION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.      663 

Continued. 


Form  of  De- 
posit. 

Country  Rock. 

Method  of 
Treatment. 

Remarks. 

Reference. 

Quartz  veins 

Limestone      .  .  . 

Milling     and 

Gold  and  silver- 

Min     and   Sci     Press, 

....  do  

Greenstone  

smelting. 
.  .   do    . 

bearing. 
do    

Vol.  83,  p.  99. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  83,  p.  99. 

do  

do 

do    

Ibid.,  Vol.  83,  p.  99. 

Veins 

do 

Eng    and  Min    Jour 

do  

Porphyry,    slates 

Smelting 

do  

Vol.  63,  p.  571. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  49,  p.  361. 

...  do    ... 

and  limestone. 
do    

Milling 

do 

Ibid.,  Vol    49   p   361 

....  do    ... 

Milling     and 

Gold-bearing 

and    Min.    and    Sci. 
Press,  Vol.  91,  p.  190. 
T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33, 

do    

Granite  and  met- 

smelting.  .  . 
...   do 

Gold  and  silver- 

p.  29. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  45,  p.  435. 

Veins  and  re- 
placements 
of  limestone. 
do  

amorphic  rocks. 
Limestone  • 

Dolomitic    lime- 

....do   
do    

bearing. 
do  

Gold,  silver  and 

Ibid.,  Vol.  77,  p.  639, 
and  Ibid.,  Vol.  78,  p. 
755. 
Eng.  and  Min.   Jour., 

Veins  

stone. 
Slate,  quartz  . 

Milling 

copper-bearing. 
Gold  and  silver- 

Vol.  77,  p.  639. 
T.  A.  I    M    E  ,    Vol 

do    

Granite  

do 

bearing. 
.  .    .do    

11,  p.  289. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  11,  p    289 

do  
do 

do  

do  
Milling     and 

....do  
do 

Ibid.,  Vol.  11,  p.  289. 
Eng    and  Min    Jour 

do  
do 

Granite,       meta- 
morphic  rock. 

Schists 

smelting. 
do  

do 

do  

Gold  silver  lead 

Vol.  78,  p.  832. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  78,  p.  832. 

Ibid     Vol    78   p    832 

Chimney     of 
quartz-bear- 
ing minerals 

do  

Igneous  and  met- 
amorphic  rocks. 

Schists  

do  
do    

Silver,  copper  .  .  . 
Gold,  silver,  cop- 

Colliery  Eng.,  Vol.  12, 
p.  73,  Eng.  and  Min. 
Jour.,   Vol.    35,    pp. 
254,   270. 
Eng.   and    Min.  Jour., 

do  

Granite,       grani- 

do  

per. 
do  

VoL  78,  p.  832. 
Eng.   and   Min.   Jour., 

Veins        and 
massive  de- 
posits. 
Mineral  found 
in  joints  and 
cleavage 
planes. 
Veins 

toid-diorite 
Shales.sandstones 
and  limestones. 

Porphyritic  rock. 

do  
Milling  

Milling     and 

do  
Gold  and  silver  .  . 

do    

Vol.  74,  p.  622. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  86,  p.  70. 

Ibid.,  Vol.  49,  p.  362, 
Ibid.,   Vol.  50,  p.  162. 

smelting. 

664 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


TABLE   II.— 


Locality. 

State. 

Metalliferous  Minerals  and  Metals 
and  Bearers  of  the  Precious 
Metals. 

Gangue  Minerals. 

La  Fortuna  mine 

Arizona 

Oxidized    pyritic    minerals     no 

Quartz 

Harqua  Hala    Mam- 

do 

sulphides. 
(General     exceptions)      Pyrite 

Quartz  .  .    . 

moth   of   gold  field 
and    Mammoth   of 
Final. 
General   .  . 

Arkansas 

blende    practically   free   from 
silver. 

Galena,  gray  copper,  brittle  cop- 

Quartz   

Central  gold  belt 

California 

per,  sulphides  and  carbonates 
of  silver. 
Auriferous  pyrite 

Quartz,  dolomite 

Father  lode 

do 

do 

Greenstone,  quartz 

Mother  lode  

do. 

do. 

Quartz,  calcite,  am- 

Eastern        

do. 

Argentiferous  galena,  sulphides  of 

phibolitic  schists. 
Quartz,  calcite,  ox- 

Baliol  mine,   Mother 

do  ... 

antimony,  arsenic  and  copper, 
Pyrite,  chalcopyrite,  galena  .... 

ides  of  iron. 
Quartz,  calcite  

lode. 
Mariposa  County  —  . 

Black     Hawk     Mts., 

do.  .. 

.  .    do. 

Gold  in  ankerite,  mariposite  and 
quartz. 

Gold-bearing  limestone  

Ankerite,  mariposite, 
quartz. 

Limestone  .... 

San     Bernardino 
County. 
Redding,          French 
gulch    and    Dead- 
wood  districts. 
Randsburg      district  , 

do.  .. 
do 

At  surface  free-gold,  with  depth 
sulphides. 

Gold-bearing  quartz   .  .  . 

Slate  and  porphyry  .  . 
Quartz  

Southern  California. 
Forbestown,       Butte 

do  . 

Free-gold     and    auriferous    sul- 

Quartz  

County. 
Hedges,  Dan  Diego  .  .  . 

do.  .  . 

phurets. 
Gold-bearing  horneblende  schists  . 

Siliceous  hornblende 

Calaveras  county  
Manzanita,Monticello 

do.  .  . 
do. 

Volcanic  tufa   and   mud,   gold- 
bearing. 
Pyrite,  pyrrhotite  

schists. 
Tufa,  mud,  gravel  .  . 

Quartz  

and   Clyde   mines, 
Sulphur  Creek. 
Cerros      or       Cedros 

.do. 

Native  sulphur  and  carbonate  of 

Diorite,    diabase, 

Island. 
Calico  district  

(Lower) 
California 

bismuth,  gold-bearing. 
Hydrosilicate,    carbonate  of  cop- 

quartz, porphyrite. 
Jasper,  barytes  

per   haloid  salts  of  silver 

Carbonate  mine,  Oro 

do 

Galena    carbonate  of  lead,   py- 

Quartz 

Grande  district. 
Mazeppa,         Golden 

do. 

rites. 
Gold  and  auriferous  pyrite 

Quartz,  calcite  .  .  . 

Rule,  and  Juniper 
Mines,  Mother  lode, 
Tuolumne  county. 
Sulphur    Creek    dis- 

do 

Auriferous  sulphurets  and  cinna- 

Quartz,  slate  .  . 

trict,  Colusa  County 
Tiogo  and  Mono  Pass  . 

....do... 

bar. 
Sulphides    of    antimony,    lead, 
zinc,  copper,  iron,  pyrrhotite. 

Quartz  

MINERALOGICAL   ASSOCIATION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.      665 

Continued. 


Form  of  De- 
posit. 

Country  Rock. 

Method  of 
Treatment. 

Remarks. 

Reference. 

Veins     

Metamorphic 

Milling 

Gold-bearing 

Min     and    Sci     Press 

do    

rocks. 

Smelting 

do    

Vol.  84,  p.  34. 
Eng    and   Min    Jour 

do  

Trenton  slates  .  .  . 

Milling  

Silver-bearing  .  .  . 

Vol.  58,  p.  366. 
Ibid.    Vol    29   p    385 

Impregnations 
Veins  

Dolomite,  slates, 
schists. 

do  
.do 

Gold-bearing  .... 
do    . 

Min.    and    Sci.    Press, 
Vol.  80,  p.  644. 
Ibid     Vol    89   p    136 

do  
do  

Slates  and   igne- 
ous rocks. 
Limestone,  gran- 

....do   
do   

....do  
Gold,  silver    .  . 

Ibid.,  Vol.  89,  pp.  210, 
271. 
Ibid  ,  Vol    73    p    480 

...    do    . 

ites. 

Milling     and 

Gold-bearing 

Ibid     Vol    87   p    165 

do    ...    . 

Diabase    . 

smelting. 
Milling  . 

do 

T    A    I    M    E     Cali- 

  do  

Contact      de- 
posit. 

Veins  

Limestone  

Contacts  of  slate 
and  porphyry. 

Diorite     .  .  . 

....do  

Milling     and 
smelting. 

Milling 

do  
do  

do 

fornia    Mines    and 
Minerals,  p.  365. 
Min.    and    Sci.    Press, 
Vol.  80,  p.  148. 

T.  A.  I.   M.  E.,  Cali- 
fornia Mines  and  Min- 
erals, p.  375. 
Ibid     p    400 

do    

Smelting 

do 

Ibid     p    279 

Impregnations 

Siliceous  horn- 

Milling   

do 

Min     and    Sci     Press 

Bedded      de- 
posits. 
Dikes  

blende  schists. 
Volcanic  tufa  and 
mud. 
Metamorphic 

....do  
Milling     and 

....do  
do 

Vol.  80,  p.  148. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  80,  p.  148. 

Breccia  

rocks,      serpen- 
tine and  slates. 
Breccia  of  diorite 

smelting. 
Milling...   . 

do 

Vol.  42,  p.  186. 
Ibid     Vol    51    p    516 

Veins  

quartz,  diabase, 
porphyrite. 
Laparite  and  tu- 

Milling     and 

Silver-bearing 

and  Vol.  51,  p.  627. 
T  A  I  M  E    Vol   15 

Contact    de- 
posit. 
Veins  

fas. 
Slate,  chloritic 

smelting. 
do  

Milling  

Gold,  silver  
Gold-bearing 

p.  720. 
Eng.   and  Min.   Jour., 
Vol.  51,  p.  627. 
T    A    I    M    E     Cali- 

  do    

schists. 
Serpentine      and 

Milling     and 

do  

fornia  Mines  and  Min- 
erals, p.  349. 

Min     and    Sci     Press 

do    .  . 

slates. 
Schists  

smelting. 
Milling  

do 

Vol.  34,  p.  280. 
Ibid     Vol   69  p   36 

666 


GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


TABLE   II.— 


Locality. 

State. 

Metalliferous  Minerals  and  Metals 
and  Bearers  of  the  Precious 
Metals. 

Gangue  Minerals. 

Soulsby  district 

California 

Copper  and  iron  pyrites    pyrrho- 

Quartz 

West  Point  district  .  .  . 

do.  .  . 

tite,  blende. 
Copper  and  iron  pyrites,  pyrrho- 

Quartz  

Coulterville  .  . 

do. 

tite. 
Cinnabar 

Pine  Hill  

.  .   do. 

Gold-bearing  quartz,  barite,  kao- 

Decomposed  kaolin- 

Rathgeb,  San  Andreas 

do.  .  . 

linite. 
Gold-bearing  clay,  quartz,  uran- 

ized  diabase  and 
barite. 
Quartz,  clay,  urani- 

Big  Bend  Mt.,  Butte 

do. 

inite. 
Gold-bearing  barite 

nite. 
Barite 

County. 
Silver     Islet     mine, 
Ontario. 

General 

Canada.  . 
Colorado  . 

Pyrite,  galena,  blende,  argentite, 
chalcopyrite,    niccolite.   smal- 
tine,     stephanite,     cobaltite, 
macfarlanite,  pyrargyrite,  na- 
tive silver. 
Chalcopyrite,    argentiferous    ga- 

Calcite carrying  car- 
bonate of  manga- 
nese, quartz,  rho- 
dochrosite,  plum- 
bago. 
Quartz  . 

Cripple  Creek  

do  .  . 

lena. 
Pyrite,  galena:  blende,  tetrahe- 

Quartz,  fluorite,  dol- 

Pine Creek  

.  .  .do 

drite,    molybdenite,    stibnite, 
tellurides,(gold,  silver  and  lead 
tellurides). 

Hematite,    pyrite,   chalcopyrite 

omite,      roscolite 
rhodochrosite. 

Barite,  calcite 

Leadville  

do.  . 

galena. 
Cerussite,  lead  carbonate,  cerar- 

Gypsum,  heavyspar, 

Good     Hope     mine, 

.  .   do. 

gyrite,  galena,  pyrite,  chalco- 
pyrite, blende 

Telluride  of  copper   petzite,  na- 

iron     carbonate, 
quartz,      hydrous 
silicates     (of    al- 
umina). 

Vulcan. 
•Golden  Fleece  mine, 

do.  .  . 

tive  tellurium. 
Petzite,  hessite.  . 

Quartz  

Lake  Christobol. 
•Clear  Creek 

do 

Pyrite      chalcopyrite      galena 

Quartz  barite,  fluor- 

€rested  Butte,   Gun- 

do.  .  . 

blende,    gray    copper,    brittle 
silver. 

Lead  carbonate,  galena,  blende, 

spar. 

nison  county. 
.Silver  Cliff  

Ix)gan    mine,    Rico, 

do.  .  . 
.  .  .  .do.  .  . 

pyrite. 
Iron  oxide  and  chloride  of  silver  . 

Lead    and     copper    carbonates, 

Porphyry   

Dolores  County. 

galena,  chalcopyrite. 

MINERALOGICAL  ASSOCIATION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.      667 

Continued. 


Form  of 
Deposit. 

Country  Rock. 

Method  of 
Treatment. 

Remarks. 

Reference. 

Granite  veins 

Granite           .... 

Milling  

Gold-bearing.  .  .  . 

Min.    and    Sci.    Press, 

Veins 

do    .  . 

.  .    do    

Vol.  69,  p.  36. 
Ibid     Vol    69   p    36 

do 

Diabase 

do      

Ibid     Vol    69   p    36 

Impregnated 

Decomposed  and 

do  

....  do  

Ibid.,  Vol.  69   p   36 

zones. 
Veins  

kaolized       dia- 
base. 
Augite  schist  and 

do  

Gold  and   urani- 

Ibid.,  Vol.  67,  p.  180 

do 

diabase. 

do 

nite  (rather  un- 
common). 
Gold-bearing 

Min     and    Sci     Press 

do  

Siliceous  slate  .  .  . 

Milling     and 

Silver-bearing  .  .  . 

Vol.  70,  p.  344. 
Eng.   and   Min.   Jour., 

do    

smelting. 
do  .  . 

Gold,  silver  

Vol.  23,  p.  54. 
Am.  Jour    Min      Vol 

....  do    

Andesite,  breccia, 

do  

do  

1,  p.  397. 
U.    S.    G.    S      Profes- 

. .  do    .  . 

granite,  phono- 
lite. 

do    

do  

sional  Paper  No.  54, 
p.     122,     Min.     Sci. 
Press,     Vol.     72,    p. 
285,  Min.  Sci.  Press, 
Vol.  91,  p.  36. 
Min     and    Sci     Press 

do    

Limestone  

do  

Gold  and  Silver- 

Vol.  73,  p.  173. 
U.    S.    G     S      Mono- 

do 

Smelting 

bearing. 
Gold   and   silver 

graph  No.  12,  p.  376, 
Ibid.,  Vol.  57,  p.  106. 

Eng    and   Min    Jour 

Contact  veins. 
Veins  

Coarse    and    fine 
breccia  and  tu- 
fas. 
Gneiss  composed 

Milling     and 
smelting. 

do  

with  tellurium. 
Gold,  silver  

Silver-bearing.  .  . 

Vol.  76,  p.  386. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  76,  p.  346. 

Ibid  ,  Vol    13   p    260 

of  quartz,  felds- 
par  and   black 
mica. 

do    

S  i  1  ver-bear  i  ng 

and   Ibid.,    Vol.    27, 
p.  73. 

Ibid     Vol    63    p    597 

Breccia         . 

Agglomerate      of 

Smelting  .... 

Gold,  silver  

Ibid     Vol    27   p    57 

Contact  vein. 

boulders        and 
breccia. 
Iron  capping  and 
lime  bottom. 

Milling     and 
smelting. 

Silver,  gold,  lead. 

Min.    and    Sci.    Press, 
Vol.  81,  p.  341. 

668 


GOLD    AND    SILVER 


TABLE   II.— 


Locality. 

State. 

Metalliferous  Minerals  and  Metals 
and  Bearers  of  the  Precious 
Metals. 

Gangue  Minerals. 

Battle     Mt.      mines, 

Colorado 

Pyrite,  galena,  silver  and  black 

Quartzite,   ferrugin- 

Eagle County. 

manganese  ores. 

ous  earth. 

Newman  Hill  

....do... 

Pyrite,      chalcopyrite,      galena, 

Rhodochrosite, 

blende,  tetrahedrite,  argentite, 

quartz. 

stephanite,  polybasite,  pyrar- 

gyrite,  proustite. 

San  Juan  region  

do.  .. 

Hiibnerite,  galena,  chalcopyrite, 

Manganese  and  oxide 

blende,  pyrite. 

calcium,     quartz, 

iron  oxide. 

Grand     View    mine, 

do.  .  . 

Blue    and    white    carbonate    of 

Quartz  

Ouray. 

copper,    pyrite,    chalcopyrite, 

galena. 

Summit  County  

do.  .. 

Iron  and  copper  oxides  and  sul- 

Calcite, quartz  

phides,  galena. 

Ouray  County  

.  .  .do.  . 

Iron  oxide,  green  copper  carbon- 

Quartz, lustrous  coal 

ate. 

California  mine,  Gil- 

do.  .. 

Mispickel,  galena,  pyrite,  chalco- 

Quartz,   feldspathic 

pin  County. 

pyrite,  tetrahedrite,  blende. 

material. 

Bassick  mine,  Rossita  . 

....  do  ... 

Gold  and  silver  in  quartz,  occur- 

Quartz . 

ring  partly  as  tellurides. 

Richmond    and    Eu- 

  do.  .  . 

Auriferous  and  argentiferous  car- 

Limestone. 

reka  Consolidated, 

bonate  of  lead. 

Leadville. 

Smuggler-Union 

....do... 

Antimonial  silver,  pyrite,  galena, 

Quartz,    rhodochro- 

mine,  Telluride. 

chalcopyrite,  blende. 

site,  calcite,  barite. 

Aspen  Mt.  mines,  Pit- 

do  ... 

Blende,  lead  sulphate,  polybasite, 

Dolomite,     barite, 

kin  County. 

stephanite,  galena. 

heavyspar,    por- 

phyry. 

Standley  mine,  Idaho 

....  do  ... 

Pyrite,     chalcopyrite,     bornite, 

Quartz 

Springs. 

peacock  copper. 

Bassick  mine,  Silver 

do.  .  . 

Sulphide,  carbonate  and  hydrous 

Igneous    rock     and 

Cliff. 

silicate  of  zinc;  pyrite,  galena, 

granite. 

gray  copper,  tellurium. 

Camp  Bird  mine,  Im- 

do.  .. 

Pyrite,      galena,      chalcopyrite, 

Quartz,  calcite,  rho- 

ogene basin,  Ouray 

blende,     magnetite,     blende, 

donite,  chlorite. 

County. 

rhodonite,  arsenic. 

Globe    Hill,    Cripple 

...   do  . 

Pyrite. 

Quartz    .... 

Creek 

Red  Cloud  mine,  San 

....  do  ... 

Chalcopyrite,  tellurium,  blende, 

Quartz             

Juan  County. 

galena,  pyrite,  bornite. 

Leadville  gold  belt  .  .  . 

do  ... 

Gold-bearing  quartz      

Quartz  

Handies     Peak     dis- 

.... do  ... 

Galena,  pyrite,  bornite,  chalco- 

Quartz        

trict. 

pyrite,  blende. 

MINERALOGICAL  ASSOCIATION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.     669 

Continued. 


Form  of 
Deposit. 

Country  Rock. 

Method  of 
Treatment. 

Remarks. 

Reference. 

Bedded      de- 
posits, pock- 
ets in  lime- 
stone   and 
quartzite. 
Veins  

Limestone,  quart- 
zite. 

Shale,  sandstone 

Milling     and 
smelting. 

do    

Gold,  silver  
do  

Eng.   and   Min.   Jour., 
Vol.  53,  p.  545. 

Ibid.,  Vol.  54,  p.  175. 

do  
do  
....  do    

Igneous    rocks, 
shales,       and 
quartzite. 
Igneous  rocks  .  .  . 

Slates  

do  
Smelting  .... 
do    

Gold,  lead,  silver 
ores. 

Gold,  silver  
Gold  does  not  oc- 

Ibid., Vol.  67,  p.  499, 
Ibid.,  Vol.  26,  p.  115. 

Ibid.,  Vol.  26,  p.  405. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  51,  p.  516. 

....  do  

Coal  

cur    in    quartz, 
gold  and  silver. 
Silver   occurs   in 

Ibid.,  Vol.  33,  p.  90. 

do 

Gneiss      granite 

Milling     and 

coal. 
Gold  silver    .  . 

Ibid     Vol    54    p    245 

Deposit       in 
duct  of  ex- 
tinct      hot 
spring. 
Chamber    de- 

schists. 
Andesite,  granite. 

smelting. 
....do  

do  

....do  
do  

Colliery  Engineer,  Vol. 
12,  p.  73. 

Ibid.,  Vol.  12,  p.  73. 

posits. 
Veins 

Igneous  rock  and 

.    do 

Most  common  sil- 

T A  I  M  E     Vol   26 

Contact  veins. 
Veins  

conglomerate. 

Limestone      and 
dolomite. 

Archaen      gneiss 

...do  
do  

ver    and    lead, 
gold  also  occurs. 
Lead  and  silver- 
bearing. 

Gold,  silver  

pp.  453-455. 

Ibid.,  Vol.  17,  p.  156, 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 
Vol.  39,  p.  277. 
Colliery  Engineer,  Vol. 

Volcanic  duct. 
Veins  
Massive  de- 

and schists. 
Andesite,  granite. 

San  Juan  breccia 
and  andesites. 

Granite,   phono- 

do  
....do  
do  

do  
....do  
do  

14,  p.  283. 
Mines    and     Minerals, 
Vol.  23,  p.  489. 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33, 
pp.  499-511. 

Eng.   and   Min.   Jour  , 

posits. 
Veins 

lite,      andesitic 
breccia. 

do 

.     do 

Vol.  59,  p.  151. 
Eng    and   Min    Jour 

Contact       de- 

Limestone     and 

Smelting 

do  

Vol.  38,  p.  209. 
Eng    and  Min    Jour 

posits. 
Veins 

eruptives. 

Milling     and 

Gold-bearing  .... 

Vol.  59,  p.  77. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  38,  p.  245. 

smelting. 

670 


GOLD   AND  SILVER. 


TABLE  II.  — 


Locality. 

State. 

Metalliferous  Minerals  and  Metals 
and  Bearers  of  the  Precious 
Metals. 

Gangue  Minerals. 

Continental      Divide 

Colorado 

Tetrahedrite,      galena,      pyrite, 

Quartz  

zone. 

do 

blende. 
Bornite  anthnonial  copper  glance 

Quartz 

Glacier  Peak  zone 

do 

Freibergite,  galena,  hornsilver    .  . 

Quartz   . 

American  Nettie  mine, 
Ouray. 

Smuggler  lode  

do... 
.do 

Pyrite,  chalcopyrite,  blende,  ga- 
lena, gray  copper,  petzite,  bis- 
muth, copperas. 
Rhodochrosite,  argentite,  siderite  . 

Sandstone,  gypsum, 
ocherous  iron  stone 

Quartz,  calcite  . 

Vulcan  mine 

do 

Sulphur  pyrite  and  gold  .....    . 

Quartz   jasper    iron 

La  Plata  mines 

do 

Sylvanite  

oxide. 
Quartz 

Bear  Creek,  Silverton  . 
Yellow  Rose  mine  Mt. 

do... 
do 

Tellurides  of  gold  and  silver,  py- 
rite,   tetrahedrite,     chalcopy- 
ite,    bornite,    galena,    blende, 
gray  copper,  marcasite,  azur- 
ite,    arsenopyrite,    malachite, 
hematite,  limonite. 
Gray    copper,    blende     galena 

Quartz,  calcite,  ba- 
rite,  kaolinite. 

Quartz 

Sneffels       district. 
Kokoma  mine,  Ten- 
mile  district. 
Rico  district  

....do... 
do.  .  . 

iron  and  copper  pyrites. 
Carbonate  of  lead  stained  by  hy- 
drate of  iron. 
Galena,  gray  copper,  polybasite, 

Quartz,  calcite,  ba- 
rite. 
Quartz  and  andesite 

do  

do.  .  . 

pyrite,  argentite,  chalcopyrite, 
blende. 
Pyrite,  galena,  blende,  gray  cop- 

.... do    

Sylvanite  mine  
Lamartine          mine, 

do..  . 
do    . 

per. 
Pyrite,   ruby  silver,   silver  sul- 
phide. 
Galena,  blende,  gray  copper  

Quartz,  barite. 
Gneiss              . 

Idaho  Springs. 
Geyser   mine,    Silver 
Cliff  district. 

Golden     Age     mine, 

do... 
do 

Galena,  blende,  chalcopyrite,  ar- 
gentite, gray  copper,  ruby  sil- 
ver, polybasite. 
Pyrite  galena  blende  chalcopy- 

Gneiss, igneous  rocks 
Quartz 

Boulder. 
Boulder  County  

do    . 

rite,  free-gold. 
Free-milling:      galena,     blende, 

Quartz  

Sheridan   mine,    San 
Miguel. 

Virginius  mine   Ouray 

.  .  ..do.  .. 
do 

copper  and  iron  pyrites,  tellu- 
ride  ores    (calaverite,  sylvan- 
ite,  petzite). 
Free-gold,  galena,  pyrite,  chalco- 
pyrite, blende. 

Galena  gray  copper 

Quartz,      horse-por- 
phyry. 

Quartz 

County. 
Topeka  mine,  Central 

do 

Blende  pyrite           .  . 

Quartz  

City. 
Lumpkin  County  

Blue  Ridge    

Georgia.  . 
.   do 

Auriferous  pyrite,  and  quartz  and 
schists. 
Auriferous  quartz  and  slate    .    .  . 

Quartz  and  schists. 
Quartz,  slate,  itaclu- 

myte. 

MINERALOGICAL  ASSOCIATION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.     671 

Continued, 


Form  of  De- 
posit. 

Country  Rock. 

Method  of 
Treatment. 

Remarks. 

Reference. 

Veins  

Milling     and 

Gold,  silver  

Eng.  and   Min.   Jour., 

do    

smelting. 
Smelting  .... 

Gold-bearing  .... 

Vol.  38,  p.  245. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  38,  p.  315. 

do 

Milling     and 

Gold  silver    .... 

Ibid  ,  Vol   38   p   315 

Bedded    con- 
tact. 

Veins 

Sandstone      and 
shale. 

Augite-andesite 

smelting. 
do  

do    

Gold,  silver,  na- 
tive copper. 

Gold,  silver    .... 

Ibid.,    Vol.    76,   p.    7, 
Mines  and  Minerals, 
Vol.  21,  p.  243. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  76,  p.  119. 

Quartz    brec- 

Quartzite 

Milling  

Gold-bearing  .... 

Mines    and     Minerals, 

cia. 
Veins  

Sedimentary  rock 

do  

Vol.  18,  p.  562. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 

....do  
do 

above,     diorite 
below. 
Quartzites,    lava 
flows,     schists, 
slates. 

Milling     and 
smelting. 

Smelting 

Lead,  zinc,  cop- 
per, gold,  silver. 

Silver-bearing   . 

Vol.  66,  p.  667. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  285, 
pp.  25-26. 

Eng    and  Min    Jour 

do 

Limestone 

Milling     and 

Gold    in    earthy 

Vol.  32,  p.  200. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  31,  p    430. 

Impregnation 

....do  

smelting. 
Smelting. 

do 

lead  carbonate. 
Native,     brittle 
and  hornsilver. 

Silver  lead  zinc 

Colliery  Engineer,  Vol. 
17,  p.  360. 

Ibid     Vol    17   p    360 

posits. 

diorite 

do 

copper. 

Native  silver  sil- 

Eng   and  Min    Jour 

do  
do 

Gneiss,  granite  .  .  . 

Milling     and 
smelting. 
do    

ver-bearing. 
Lead,  copper,  sil- 
ver. 
Silver-bearing  .  . 

Vol.  46,  p.  499. 
Mines    and     Minerals, 
Vol.  20,  p.  386. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  18,  p.  296. 

Contact  veins 

Quartz-porphyry  , 

do  

Gold-bearing  .... 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  19, 

Veins  

granite  and  gneiss. 
Granite,  gneiss    .  . 

do  

do  

p.  323. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  19,  p.  323. 

do 

Porphyritic    and 

do  

Gold,  silver  

Eng.  and   Min.   Jour  , 

do 

dioritic  in  char- 
acter. 

do  

do  

Vol.  30,  p.  185. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  76,  p.  268. 

Mineralized 

do  

Gold-bearing  .... 

Mines    and     Minerals, 

zones,  veins 
Veins     

Hornblende  and 

Milling  

do  

Vol.  20,  p.  82. 
Eng.  and  Min.   Jour., 

....do  

gneissoid-schists 
Slate. 

do  

do  

Vol.  58,  p.  559. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  24,  p.  258. 

672 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


TABLE  II.— 


Locality. 

State. 

Metalliferous  Minerals  and  Metals 
and  Bearers  of  the  Precious  , 
Metals. 

Gangue  Minerals. 

Western  Central: 
(1)  Silver  veins 

Idaho 

Blende    galena    pyrargyrite    ar- 

Quartz 

(2)  Gold-silver   .... 

do 

gent  ite,  tetrahedrite. 
Galena      blende,      pyrargyrite 

.   do 

(3)  Gold-  veins  

do 

stephanite,  argentite,  pyrite. 
Pyrite,  galena  

.  .  .do  

(4)   Silver-lead  

....  do 

Argentiferous  galena,  blende  

Actinolite,     quartz 

Pearl  district 

do 

Pyrite  galena  blende  antimony 

calcite,  ilvaite. 
Quartz 

Gibbsonville  district  .  . 
De  Lamar  mine,  Sil- 

  do... 
do 

(in  depth). 
Auriferous    pyrite,     silver    sul- 
phide (T) 
At  surface:    sulphides  of  silver 

.  ...do  
do  

ver  city  district. 
Ramshorn  mine,  Bay 

do    .  . 

hornsilver  with  depth:    gold- 
quartz 
Siderite,  chloride  of  silver,  gray 

.  .  do  

horse,       C  u  s  t  e  r 
County. 
Wood  River  district  .  . 

do..  . 

copper. 
Wood  River  type:   galena,  sider- 

Siderite  

Florence  gold  district 

do 

ite.     Croesus  type:   chalcopy- 
rite,  pyrrhotite. 

Quartz  and  siderite  .  . 

Warren  district    

...do    . 

Pyrite  arsenopyrite,  tetrahedrite, 

.  .  .  .do  

Little  Giant  vein  

do    .. 

gold-quartz,  galena,  blende. 
Pyrite,  argentite,  tellurides,  bro- 

. ..  .do  

Red  Cloud                  .  . 

do 

mide   of   silver,    tetrahedrite, 
galena,  blende,  arsenopyrite. 
Iron  and  copper  pyrites        .  . 

do                ... 

Gold  Star  mine 

do 

Auriferous  pyrite   

do        

Jumbo  mines          .  .  . 

.  .do 

Pyrite,  galena  

do                ... 

Coeur    d'Atene     dis- 
trict. 
Atlantic    lode.    Saw- 

....do... 
do  ... 

Galena,  blende,  pyrite,  siderite  .  . 
Native  silver,  stephanite,  argen- 

Quartz, iron  oxide, 
manganese. 
Quartz  

tooth  Range. 
Boise  Basin   

do 

tite,  pyrargyrite. 
Pyrite  arsenopyrite  blende  free- 

Granite  porphyry 

Thunder  Mt.,  Mackay  . 

do..  . 

gold. 
Native  gold  in  rhyoiite  and  pyrite 

Rhyoiite  

White    Knob    mine 

..  .do 

Pyrite  chalcopyrite        .    .    . 

Mackay. 

Seven  Devils,  Wash- 
ington and  South- 
ern counties. 
Mt.     Caribou,     gold 

do. 
do    . 

Green  copper  carbonate,  bornite, 
chalcopyrite,  specular  iron. 

Iron    garnets,    alu- 
mina silicates  of 
iron  and  lime. 
Quartzite  iron  oxide, 

deposits. 

calcite. 

MINERALOGICAL  ASSOCIATION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.     673 

Continued. 


Form  of 
Deposit. 

Country  Rock. 

Method  of 
Treatment. 

Remarks. 

Reference. 

Veins  .  .  . 

Granite       meta- 

Alilling     and 

A  little  gold    sil- 

U   S   G   S     20  Rept., 

.     do    

morphic  rocks. 
.  .  do    

smelting, 
do 

ver-bearing. 
Gold  silver    .  .  . 

Pt.  3,  p.  75. 
Ibid     20  Rept  ,  Pi.  3, 

....do  
....  do  

....do  
do    

...  do  
do    ... 

A     little    silver, 
gold-bearing. 
Silver,  lead  

p.  75. 
Ibid.,  20  Rept.,  Pt.  3, 
p.  75. 
Ibid.,  20,  Rept.,  Pt.  3, 

....  do  

.do    

Gold,  silver,  lead. 

p.  75. 

Eng.  and  Min.   Jour., 

....  do  

Siliceous  schists  .  . 

Milling  

Gold,  silver  

Vol.  77,  p.  1042. 
Mines    and    Minerals, 

do  
do  
....do  
do  

Basalt,    granite, 
rhyolite. 

Metamorphic 
schists. 

Sedimetary 
rocks;      slates 
and  limestones. 
Granite  

.  ..do  

Milling     and 
smelting. 

do  
do  

...do  

Gold,  silver,  cop- 
per. 

Silver  and  lead, 
gold. 

Gold,  silver  

Vol.  19,  p.  277. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 
Vol.  77,  p.  885. 

Mines    and    Minerals, 
Vol.  21,  p.  174. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Rept.. 
Pt.  3,  p.  127. 

Ibid.,  20  Rept.,  Pt.  3, 

do  
....do  

.  .  do    

do  

do  
do  

do 

Gold-bearing  .... 
Gold,  silver  

Gold-bearing 

p.  232. 
Ibid.,  20  Rept.,  Pt.  3, 
pp.  237-245. 
Ibid.,  20  Rept.,  Pt.  3, 
p.  246. 

Min    and    Sci.    Press, 

...  do    

do 

do    

Vol.  82,  p.  293. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  82,  p.  293. 

do  

do    ...    . 

.     do    

Ibid.,  Vol.  82,  p.  293. 

...  do  

Quartzites     and 

.    do  

Silver-bearing  .  .  . 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  33, 

do 

schists. 
Archaean  granite 

Milling 

Gold   silver 

p.  241. 
Eng    and  Min    Jour., 

Zones          of 
granite  and 
porphyry 
with  quartz 
stains. 
Lodes  masses 

Micaceous     gray 
granite. 

Rhyolite-por- 

Smelting  .... 
Milling 

Gold-bearing  .... 
Gold  silver 

Vol.  59,  p.  128. 
Min.    and    Sci.    Press, 
Vol.  81,  p.  400. 

Ibid     Vol   84   p   62 

Contact  vein  . 
....do  
Veins  

phyry. 
Hanging-wall 
limestone,  foot- 
wall  porphyry. 
Diorite  and  por- 
phyry. 

Smelting  .  .  . 
....do  
Milling     and 

do  
do  
Gold-bearing  .... 

Ibid.,  Vol.  84,  p.  62. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  83,  p.  4. 
Mines    and     Minerals, 

smelting. 

Vol.  19,  p.  56. 

674 


GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


TABLE  II.— 


Locality. 

State. 

Metalliferous  Minerals  and  Metals 
and  Bearers  of  the  Precious 
Metals. 

Gangue  Minerals. 

Washington        mine, 

Idaho 

One    vein    yields    gold-bearing 

Quartz,  iron  oxide.  .  . 

Boise  Basin. 

quartz,   the  other  silver   ore, 

native,  ruby   and  antimonial 

silver. 

Emperador      . 

Isthmuso 

Cinnabar,  native  mercury,  gold 

Fcrrusinous  nmirtz 

Panama 

amalgam. 

Gove  and  Trego  coun- 

Kansas 

Auriferous      and      argentiferous 

Shales  

ties. 

shales. 

Montgomery  County 

Marylanc 

Gold-quartz       

Quartz 

Beaver    mine,    Dead 

Michigan 

Galena,  blende,  chalcopyrite,  an- 

....do   

River. 

timonial  silver. 

Iron  River,   Ontona- 

....do.. 

Argentiferous,    quartzless    sand- 

Sandstone and  shale  . 

gon. 

stone  and  shale. 

Little  American  mine, 

Minnesota 

Marcasite,  pyrite,  native  silver  .  . 

Quartz,  calcite  

Rainy    Lake    dis- 

trict. 

Bitterroot  Range  and 

Montana  . 

Lead  and  copper  minerals  ,  . 

Clear  water    moun- 

tains. 

Marysville  district  

.  .  .do.  .  . 

Sulphides  and  sulphantimonides 

of  silver. 

Elkhorn  district  

...  do    . 

Galena,  bornite,  tetrahedrite,  py- 

Quartz,     dolomite, 

rite,  blende,  silver  sulphides. 

garnet,  pyroxene, 

fragments      of 

country-rock. 

Butte  (silver  belt).  .  . 

...do... 

Enargite,  chalcopyrite,  bornite, 

Gypsum,  sericite,  rho- 

chalcocite,  blende. 

dochrosite. 

Drumlummon  mine  . 

...  do  ... 

Sulphides  and  sulphantimonides 

Quartz    

of  silver. 

Fisher  district  

.  .  .do 

Pyrite,  galena  

.  .   do  

Ammon   mines,    Fer- 

...do.. . 

Auriferous    limestone    and    por- 

Limestone and  por- 

gus County. 

phyry. 

phyry. 

Big     Indian      mine, 

...do... 

Auriferous  quartz  and  granite  .... 

Quartz,  hornblende, 

Helena. 

granite. 

Judith  Mt.  district... 

...do... 

Free-gold,  tellurides,  pyrite,  and 

Quartz  and  fluorite  . 

silver  mineral  in  small  quan- 

tities. 

Black   Pine,   Granite 

do 

Malachite  tetrahedrite 

Quartz  

Mt.  lode. 

General  

N.  H.  .  .  . 

Pyrite  chalcopyrite   magnetite 

Quartz 

Bridge  water      copper 

N.  J  

IJarbonate  and  green  phosphate 

mine. 

of  copper,  red  oxide  of  copper, 

native  copper. 

MINERALOGICAL  ASSOCIATION  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.     675 

Continued. 


Form  of  De- 
posit. 

Country  Rock. 

Method  of 
Treatment. 

Remarks. 

Reference. 

Veins  

Granite  and  dio- 

Milling     and 

Gold,  silver    . 

Eng    and  Min    Jour 

do    

rite. 
Decomposed  por- 

smelting. 
Milling  

Gold-bearing 

Vol.  78,  p.  297. 
Eng    and  Min    Jour 

Bedded      de- 

phyry. 
Shales  

Gold  and  silver    . 

Vol.  34,  p.  173. 
U.  S.  G.  S     Bull    202 

posits. 
Veins. 

Micaceous  schists 

do 

Go  Id-bear  i  ng 

1902. 
T  A  I  M  E     Vol   18 

do  

Bedded      de- 
posits. 

Bedded  veins  . 
Veins    

Hanging-wall 
granite,       foot- 
wall         talcose 
slate. 
Slate,   shale  and 
sandstone. 

Gneiss,      schists, 
eruptive  granite. 

do  

....do  
do  
Smelting 

Gold,  silver  

Silver-bearing.  .  . 

Gold  and  silver- 
bearing. 

Gold,  silver  

p.  391. 
Eng.   and  Min.   Jour., 
Vol.  46,  p.  238,  Eng. 
and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol. 
52,  p.  119. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  20,  p.  575, 
and  T.  A.  I.  M.  E., 
Vol.  8,  p.  488. 
Eng.   and  Min.   Jour., 
Vol.  58,  p.  509. 

U.  S.  G.  S  ,  Bull   No 

do  

Granite,      slates, 

Milling     and 

Gold-bearing  .... 

213,  p.  67. 
Ibid.,   Bull.   No    213 

do  

do  
do  
do 

sandstones. 
Marbles,    quartz- 
ites,  hornstones, 
igneous  rocks. 

Granite,  aplite 
and  porphyry. 
Sedimentary  rock. 

smelting. 
Smelting  

do  
do  

Milling 

Silver-bearing.  .  . 

do  
do  

Gold-bearing 

p.  89. 
Ibid.,  22  Rept.,  Pt.  2, 
p.  459. 

Mines    and     Minerals, 
Vol.  20,  p.  350. 
U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  No. 
213,  p.  89. 
Min     and    Sci     Press 

Jointed  lami- 
nated struc- 
ture. 
More    like    a 

Limestone      and 
porphyry. 

....do  
.  .  .do    

do  
do  

Vol.  83,  p.  78. 
Eng.  and   Min.   Jour., 
Vol.  59,  p.  416. 

Ibid.,  Vol    78   p    225 

bed  than  a 
lode. 

Milling     and 

Gold  silver 

U    S   G    S     18  Rept 

limestone 
next      por- 
phyry  con- 
tact. 
Blanket  vein 

phyry. 
Quartzite     .  . 

smelting. 
Milling./  

Silver-bearing  .  .  . 

Pt.  3,  p.  589. 
Mines    and    Minerals 

Veins  
do 

Talcose  slates  

...do  
Smelting  .... 

Gold,  silver  
Silver-bearing.  .  . 

Vol.  26,  p.  492. 
Am.  Jour.   Min.,    Vol. 
2,  p.  390. 
Eng.  and   Min.   Jour., 

Vol.  33,  p.  90. 

676 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


TABLE  II. 


Locality. 

State. 

Metalliferous  Minerals  and  Metals 
and  Bearers  of  the  Precious 
Metals. 

Gangue  Minerals. 

Lake  Valley  mine 

N   Mex 

Galena   pyrolusite,  cerargyrite  .  • 

Quartz  (flint).  .    . 

Hopewell    and    Bro- 
mide districts,  Rio 
Arriba  County. 
Mogollon  Range  

do..  . 
....  do  ... 

Copper,  gold  and  silver  in  quartz 
and  wall  rock. 

Argentiferous  and  auriferous  sul- 

Quartz and  wallVock 
(altered      amphi- 
bolite). 

Montezuma  district 

Nevada 

phides. 
Galena  chloride  and  sulphide  of 

Quartz  

Silver   Peak,   Esmer- 

do..  . 

silver. 
Gold-quartz  

do  

alda  County. 
Tonopah    

do 

Pyrite    galena    iron  and  silver 

Quartz,  calcite  .  .  . 

White  Pine 

do 

sulphates,  oxides,  carbonates, 
chlorides,  with  depth  silver  sul- 
phides, argentite,  ruby  silver. 

Green  and  gray  chlorides    with 

Quartz         .  . 

Gold   Mt     State  line 

do 

hornsilver,  lead  and  copper. 
Pyrite  phosphate  of  lead  

Oxide  of  manganese 

lode. 
Bullfrog  mine    Bull- 

do 

Silver  chloride   native  silver   au- 

oxide    of      iron, 
quartz. 
Talcose  quartz 

frog  district. 
Goldfield     

do 

riferous  talcose  quartz. 
Pyrite  tetrahedrite  and  probably 

Quartz         

Comstock  mines  
Ophir     mine      Com- 

  do... 
do 

tellurides  of  gold. 
Blende,  chalcopyrite,  antimony, 
pyrite,  stephanite,  argentifer- 
ous fahlore,  manganese,  silver 
chloride  and  sulphide. 
Pyrite       chalcopyrite       galena 

Quartz,    clay,    por- 
phyry. 

Quartz  calcite 

stock  lode. 
Candelaria       Esmer- 

do 

blende,    tetrahedrite,    molyb- 
denite. 
Galena   tetrahedrite  hornsilver 

Quartz         

alda  district. 
Pioche  

.  .  .  .'do    .  . 

Oxides     carbonates     and    phos- 

Hydrous   oxides    of 

General  .... 

N  C 

phates     of     lead     (originally 
galena),     blende,     hornsilver, 
sulphide  of  silver. 
Brown  iron  ore  pyrite  chalcopy- 

iron and  mangan- 
ese. 

Quartz  

Carolina  Gold  Belt.  .  . 
King's  Mountain  

...  .do... 
do... 

rite. 
Auriferous   sulphides,    fine   free- 
gold   (pyrite,   blende,   chalco- 
pyrite, galena,  mispickel). 

Pyrrhotite,  pyrite,  chalcopyrite, 
blende,    tetrahedrite,    galena, 
mispickel,  altaite. 

Quartz,      slates, 
schists. 

Dolomite,      calcite, 
fluorite,  quartz.' 

MINERALOGICAL  ASSOCIATION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.     677 

Continued. 


Form  of 
Deposit. 

Country  Rock. 

Method  of 
Treatment. 

Remarks. 

Reference. 

Contact    de- 

Shales, quartzites 

Milling    and 

Silver-bearing.  .  . 

T.A.I.M.E.,  Vol.  24, 

posits. 

limestone    and 

smelting. 

p.  148. 

porphyry. 

Veins  .    ... 

Altered    amphi- 

Milling  

Gold,  silver,  cop- 

U. S.  G.  S.t  Bull.  No. 

bolite. 

per. 

285,  p.  81. 

....  do  

.  do 

Gold,  silver 

Ibid.,  Bull.  No.  285, 

p.  85. 

do  

Complex  of  gran- 

Milling   and 

Silver-bearing  .  .  . 

Min.   and    Sci.    Press, 

ite,  gneiss,  schist 

smelting. 

Vol.  82,  pp.  75-78. 

on    which    lie 

dolomite,  lime- 

stone, slate. 

do  

do  

Milling  

Gold-bearing  

Ibid.,  Vol.  82,  p.  73. 

do  

Porphyry  

Smelting.  .  .  . 

Gold,  silver  

Min.   and    Sci.    Press, 

Vol.  88,  p.  364;  Ibid.! 

Vol.     82,     p.     231; 

Ibid.,     Vol.     91,     p. 

361. 

.  .  .  .do  

Hornblende,  an- 

Milling  

Silver-bearing  .  .  . 

Min.   and   Sci.    Press, 

desite. 

Vol.  18,  p.  18. 

do  

Slate,  granite  .  .  . 

.  .  .  .do  

Gold-bearing.  .  .  . 

Ibid.,  Vol.  18,  p.  62. 

do  

Rhyolite,      por- 

Milling   and 

Gold,  silver 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 

phyry,       lime- 

smelting. 

Vol.  80,  p.  12;  Min! 

stone,  andesite. 

and  Sci.  Press,   Vol. 

90,  p.  273. 

do  

Basalt  and  rhyo- 

do  

Gold-bearing  

Min.   and    Sci.    Press, 

lite. 

Vol.  90,  p.  394. 

do  

Proplite  or  por- 

Milling   

Gold,  silver  

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 

phyry  and  sye- 

Vol.     18,     p.     404; 

nite. 

Mines  and  Minerals, 

Vol.  26,  p.  3. 

....  do  

do  

do  

do  

Min.   and   Sci.    Press, 

Vol.  71,  p.  233. 

do    ... 

Milling   and 

Silver-bearing. 

Ibid.,  Vol.  82,  p.  78. 

smelting. 

....  do  

Quartz,  porphyry 

do  

...do  

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 

Vol.  51,  p.  171. 

do  

Slates  and  schists. 

Milling  

Gold,  silver  

Am.  Jour.  Min.,   Vol. 

1,  p.  313. 

Dissemina- 

Schists, slates  .  .  . 

do  

Gold-bearing.  .  .  . 

T.A.I.  ME.,  Vol.  25, 

tions   and 

p.    667;     Eng.    and 

veins. 

Min.  Jour.,   Vol.  31, 

p.  397. 

Veins  

Limestone,  schists 

do  

Gold,  silver  

Ibid.,  Vol.  31,  p.  39. 

678 


GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


TABLE  II.— 


Locality. 

State. 

Metalliferous  Minerals  and  Metals 
and  Bearers  of  the  Precious 
Metals. 

Gangue  Minerals. 

Southern  

Oregon  .  . 

Pyrite,  chalcopyrite    

Quartz 

Silver  Springs,  Wasco 

....do... 

Silver  chloride  

County. 
Elkhorn    and    Rock 

do    . 

At  the  surface  chloride  of  silver* 

Creek  district. 
Bohemia         district, 

do.. 

in  depth,  argentiferous  galena 
and  blende. 
Auriferous  and  argentiferous  sul- 

gouge. 
Quartz  

Lane  and  Douglas 
counties. 
Blue  Mountains  

Carolina  gold  belt  .... 

do... 
S.  C  

phides. 

Pyrite,  arsenopyrite,  blende,  ga- 
lena,  chalcopyrite,   cinnabar, 
tellurides,  st  ibnite,  pyrargyrite. 
Auriferous  sulphides,  fine-gold.  .  . 

....do  
...  .do  

Homestake  mine  
Deadwood    and    Ga- 

S. Dak.   . 
do    .  . 

Pyrite,    arsenopyrite,    lead    car- 
bonate. 

Galena  lead  carbonate  free-gold 

Quartz,          calcite, 
dolomite. 

lena,  Black  Hills. 
Black  Hills  

do  ... 

Coal,  bearing  gold    

Coal 

Presidio  mine,  Shafter 

De     Lamar     Mercur 
mines. 
Mercur  mines  

Texas  .  .  . 
Utah  
...do  

Argentiferous  galena,  chloride  of 
silver. 
Orpiment,  cinnabar,  realgar  .... 

(1)  Silver   ledge    carries,   stib- 
nite,  gold  and  silver 

Dolomitic  limestone. 

Quartzite,        shale, 
limestone. 
Quartz,  calcite,  ba- 
rite 

Tintic  mines  

do.  .  . 

(2)  Gold  ledge   carries,  realgar, 
cinnabar,  pyrite. 
Native  gold,  tellurium    galena 

Quartz 

Chloride  Point,  Mer- 
cur district. 

Bingham    canon 
mines. 

Silver  Reef  

....do... 
....do... 

...do... 

blende,   cerargyrite,   enargite, 
chalcopyrite,  tennanite. 
Galena,  cerussite,  stibnite,  mala- 
chite,   azurite,    red   oxide   of 
copper,  chloride  of  silver. 
Galena,      cerussite        anglesite 
blende,  calamine,  cerargyrite, 
pyrargyrite,    pyrite,     realgar, 
chalcopyrite,  enargite,  lead  car- 
bonate, black  copper  sulphide. 

Sulphide  and  chloride  of  silver, 

Calcite,  barite,  gyp- 
sum. 

Quartz,  calcite,  ba- 
rite,     rhodochro- 
site. 

Quartz  

Horn    Silver    mine, 

.  ...do.  .  . 

native  silver,  hornsilver. 
Hornsilver,  sulphate  of  lead 

do 

Frisco. 
State  Line  district  .  .  . 

..do  

Pyrite,  oxides  of  iron  and  man- 
ganese' 

do  

MINERALOGICAL  ASSOCIATION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.      679 

Continued. 


Form  of 
Deposit. 

Country  Rock. 

Method  of 
Treatment. 

Remarks. 

Reference. 

Veins 

Milling     and 

Gold,  silver 

Min.    and    Sci.    Press, 

smelting. 

Vol.  87,  p.  391. 

Sinter        de- 

Saline sinter  de- 

Silver-bearing .  .  . 

Ibid.,  Vol.  34,  p.  415. 

posits. 

posits. 

Veins  

Granit-3,    schists, 

do  

Gold,  silver  

Eng.  and   Min.   Jour., 

gneiss,    quartz- 

jfpq 

Vol.  62,  p.  128. 

Lodes        and 

ites, 
Andesite 

do 

do 

Ibid.,  Vol.  73,  p.  889. 

breccia. 

Veins  .  .  . 

Granite,    schists, 

do  

do  

U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Rept., 

gneiss,    quartz- 
ites. 

Pt.  2,  p.  604. 

Veins     and 

Slates,  schists  .  .  . 

Milling  

Gold-bearing  .... 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  25, 

dissemina- 

p. 667. 

tions. 

Veins      and 

Mica  schists  

do  

Gold,  silver  

Min.    and    Sci.    Press, 

bedded  de- 

Vol. 87,  p.  187. 

posits. 

Veins  

Porphyry  

do    

Gold,  silver,  lead. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour. 

Vol.  30,  p.  57. 

Bedded      de- 

Coal   

do    

Gold-bearing  .... 

T.  A.  I.   M.  E.,   Vol. 

posit. 

29,  p.  227. 

I  m  pregnations 

Limestone 

do 

Silver-bearing  . 

Encr,   jiihl   J^Iin    Jour 

Vol.  74,  p.  150. 

Bedded      de- 

Shale, limestone  . 

Milling     and 

Gold  and  silver- 

Ibid.,  Vol.  68,  p.  754. 

posits. 

smelting. 

bearing. 

do  

do  

do  

do  

Ibid.,  Vol.  63,  p.  404; 

U.  S.G.  S.,  16  Rept., 

Pt.  2,  p.  368. 

Bedded      de- 

Sedimentary 

do  

Gold,  silver  

U.  S.  G.  S.,  19  Rept.. 

posits     and 

rocks. 

Pt.  3,  p.  685. 

veins. 

Bedded      de^ 

Altered  and  shat- 

  do  

Silver-bearing  .  .  . 

Min.    and    Sci.    Press, 

posits. 

tered  limestone. 

Vol.  77,  p.  451. 

Veins      and 

Carbonaceous 

Smelting  

Gold,  silver,  cop- 

U. S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  213, 

dissemina- 

quartzites, lime- 

per, lead,  zinc. 

p.    118,    Mines    and 

tions. 

stones,  calcare- 

Minerals, Vol.  19,  p. 

ous  shale. 

378,  Eng.  and  Min. 

Jour.,    Vol.    79,   pp. 

1176-1178. 

Bedded      de- 

Sandstone   

....do  

Silver-bearing  .  .  . 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 

posits. 

Vol.  29,  p.  25. 

Contact  veins. 

Hanging-  wall, 

....do  

....do  

Colliery  Engineer,  Vol. 

trachyte,    foot- 

12,  p.  50. 

wall,  limestone 

and  quartzite. 

Veins 

Porphyry. 

Milling    and 

Gold,  silver  

Min.    and    Sci.    Press, 

smelting. 

Vol.  84,  p.  101. 

680 


GOLD   AND   SILVER. 


TABLE  II.  — 


Locality. 

State. 

Metalliferous  Minerals  and  Metals 
and  Bearers  of  the  Precious 
Metals. 

Gangue  Minerals. 

Ontario  mine 

Utah 

At  surface   chloride  of  silver;  in 

Quartz 

Deep  Creek  region 

do 

depth,  polybasite,  blende,  py- 
rite. 
Gold  in  tremolite  with  a  little 

Tremolite 

Leeds   

.   do    . 

pyrite. 
Green  carbonate  of  copper,  nod- 

Carbon, clay,  shale  .  . 

Annie   Laurie    mine 

do 

ules  of  iron,  carbon  and  chlo- 
ride of  silver. 
Gold  and  silver,  bearing  Quartz 

Quartz  calcite 

Piute  County. 
Old  Telegraph  mine    . 

do 

and  calcite. 
Galena  blende,  pyrite,  carbonate 

Quartz,  ochres  

Maude  mine,  Toquer- 

do 

of  lead. 
Silver  chloride  in  mineral  sinter  .  . 

Sinter  deposits  

ville. 
Daly-West  mine 

do 

Silver-lead    carbonates  and  sul- 

Quartz  

General 

Virginia 

phides. 
Pyrite  chalcopyrite 

do 

Orange  County 

do 

Pyrite  chalcopyrite 

do 

Stafford  County        . 

do 

.  .  do                                  

.do    

Fluvanna  County 

do 

Pyrite,  tellurium,  iron  oxide.  . 

Sandy  quartz 

Louisa  County  

do    . 

Oxide  of  iron  and  free-gold  

Quartz,  slate  

Monte  Christo  mine 
Silverton        district 

Wash  
do 

Chalcopyrite,  galena,  blende,  py- 
rite, arsenopyrite. 
Chalcopyrite,  galena,  ruby  silver, 

Tonalite,  andesite  .  .  . 
Quartz  

Snohomish  County 
Independent       mine, 

do 

mispickel,  pyrrhotite,  pyrite, 
bornite. 
Realgar,  pyrite,  arsenopyrite,  ga- 

. .do  

Silverton  district. 
Republic  mine 

do 

lena,  blende. 
Pyrite  marcasite  pyrrhotite  ga- 

.do   

Monte  Cristo  district 
;Stevens  County.  . 

do... 
...    do 

lena,  arsenopyrite,  magnetite, 
chalcopyrite,  bornite,  cuprite, 
blende,  millerite,  stibnite,  ar- 
gentite. 
Blende,  argentiferous  galena,  mis- 
pickel. 

Galena  sulphide  of  silver  

Largely        arsenical 
pyrite. 

"Weston  County  
Montreal  River 

Wyoming 
Wisconsin 

Pyrite  and  gold  in  coal  
Argentiferous     quartzless     sand- 

Coal   

Sandstone  and  shale. 

stone  and  shale. 

MINERALOGICAL  ASSOCIATION  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER.     681 

Continued. 


Form  of 
Deposit. 

Country  Rock. 

Method  of 
Treatment. 

Remarks. 

Reference. 

Veins       con- 

Limestone 

Milling     and 

S  i  1  ver-bear  ing 

Colliery  Engineer   Vol. 

tacts      and 
replacements 

do      ..... 

smelting. 
Milling  .  .   . 

Gold-bearing  .    .  . 

12,  p.  49. 
Eng.  and  Min.   Jour., 

Bedded      de- 

Sandstone 

Smelting  .  .  . 

Silver-bearing  .  . 

Vol.  53,  p.  253. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  23,  p.  317. 

posits. 

Veins  .  . 

Dactite  

Milling  

Gold,  silver  

U.  S.  G.  S.t  Bull.  No. 

Bedded 

Limestones     and 

Milling     and 

do  

285,  p.  87. 
T.A.I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  16, 

Mineral  spring 

shales  with  in- 
trusives. 
Sinter  

smelting. 

Silver-bearing  (?) 

p.  26. 
Min.    and    Sci.    Press, 

sinter. 
Veins 

.  .do 

Silver,  gold,  lead 

Vol.  34,  p.  415. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  82,  p.  242. 

.   do 

Milling 

Gold-bearing  .... 

Am.  Jour.  Min.,  Vol.  2, 

do  

.  .^.do  
do 

Talcose  slate  .... 

Milling     and 
smelting. 
do  
Milling 

Gold-bearing  .... 

Gold,  silver  
Gold-bearing 

p.  389. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 
Vol.  6,  p.  377. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  6,  p.  377. 
Ibid  ,  Vol.  6   p   393 

Veins         of 

Slates  

do  

do  

Ibid.,  Vol.  6,  p.  393. 

quartz    and 
impregna- 
tions in  state 
Breccia  

Veins 

Tonalite,      ande- 
site. 
Slates 

Milling     and 
smelting. 
do 

Gold,  silver  
Silver 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Rept., 
Pt.  2,  p.  865. 
Eng    and  Min    Jour 

do    

Schists,  granite 

do  

Gold,  silver  

Vol.  72,  p.  105. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  73,  p.  832. 

do 

Foot-wall     ande- 

do. 

Gold,  silver  

Ibid.,  Vol.  68,  p.  636 

do  
Bedded      de- 

site-porphyry, 
hanging-  wall, 
porphyritic  con- 
glomerate. 
Back  slate  over- 
lying        meta- 
morphic  granite. 
Limestone  

....do  
Milling  

...do  
Silver-bearing  .  .  . 

Ibid.,  Vol.  55,  p.  343. 
Mines    and     Minerals, 

posits. 
.  ...do  

do 

Coal  

Sandstone   shale 

Gold  
Silver-bearing.  .  . 

Vol.  18,  p.  313. 
Min.    and    Sci.    Press, 
Vol.  90,  p.  184. 
T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol    8, 

p.  488. 

682 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


& 


% 


8      £ 
•Mall 

o  N  o 

O       O 


'S3        '3 
2      2" 

S    3 


6* 


11*1131  1 

*  £  -s  -a  S  «  x>      « 


222      2  £2 
o  o  o       o  ~  o 

a  o  o     o  02  o 


o  o  s  ri 

O  O  02  CQ 


O          000          000          O 


•8  -8  -8  -8         -8 


1    P 


!•§ 


<E5 


-Pi 


:  s 


3  :l  ^ 

o  «  i  | 

111  I 

3s3  ,2 


°  & 
sS 

II 


f^-8-8    *-8j 

q  :  :  :      :  :5 


•8     -8-8-8 


•8-81    •§ 


•    •  -a 
c    '  § 


^^  CQ    ^?  r< 

I.ISJ     | 


j« 


1 
2i 


"3  * 

£6 


III 


:§     | 
S^      ,   •   -H     S 

^    3         -C      :  -S    g 

I*  S1  ill i^l 

P  !*  Illi1!1 

OQQQ         QQ  SOoQ         — 


GEOLOGICAL  DISTRIBUTION  OF   GOLD  AND   SILVER.        683 


X        •».     .        '3  '3 

•^00.  00 

•o      -u  -o      -  -,      -d      -a 

5         -          "o  "3 

C  O  CJ 


ll  fl  ! 


ill 

<  h-3  O 


rS   o 
05  O 


£^22      2 
S        o  o        o 

QQ         O  O         U 


3          | 

o-       § 


5 


1  I 

I  I 


E      a 


I    a 


&    § 

o      02 


Is 

mo 
II 


I  11:1  1 


•  .2 


ir 


£  S 


«      .-s 

o     < 


o  o  CQ  3 


"O      *o      13      13      *3 


I  J 

I  !> 


J  P 


&  I 


S    1 
t   1 

f   f 

s   'i 

I  a 
6s.i 


e  t ;  a 


i 


£00000000 


O    .       ^ 


8  1  -4  8 
i  'i  H.  1 
&  -2  a 


I, 

•8 


a    s 


684 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


o  o  s 

a  a  02 


Is 


2 


III 


a  a  a 


la 

02  <  a 


s     -8 


•§ 


:fl| 


Ij 

I  1 

i  | 
1  1 


s   s 


&  >>£       ft 

|*!|1  | 


3-2 


<N          £ 

il 


-- 


2  <D 

£     £ 


£•! 


8  b 

«l 

-I 


II 


•8     -8 


% 


k^  K^  QJ     ^J 

^^    §    ^s 


laS       S       ffl       OH^ 


GEOLOGICAL  DISTRIBUTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.        685 


4   4 


.1 .  •  3  a  fc 

i  >?i  s^ 

S  =:  o  8  3-3 

•9  «p  to  -9  7  . 

2  "2  o  2  2  "5 

o  B      ja  "o  S 

O  n5       O  O  ^ 


.  9 

1  I 

2  > 

O  S 


3  ^    3  S 


g  5 


-3         JQ 

3    fi    S 
^    Si* 

S  pi 

I  1*1 


g> 

w  w  X 


S  a  tf 


686 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

TABLE  IV.— YIELD  OF  ORES 


Locality. 


Kind  of  Ore. 


Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Range. 


Alabama. 
Pinetucky,  Randolph  County 


Mossback  mine,  Arbacoochee 

district. 
Turkey  Heaven  district 


Gold-bearing , 


.do 


.do 


General 


.do 


Alaska. 

Annette  Island,  Ketchikan 
district. 

Berners  Bay,  Comet  and  Bear 

mines. 
Bald  Eagle  mine,  Sumdum 

Bay. 
Sheep    Creek    Basin,    Silver 

Queen  mine. 

Tellurium  and  War  Horse 
mines,  Punter's  Bay. 

Apollo  Consolidated  mine, 
Unga  Island. 

Gravina  Island,  Ketchikan 
district. 


Near  Sitka .  . 


Niblack  Anchorage,  Ketchi- 
kan district. 

Ketchikan  district,  general . . 


Cleveland  Peninsula,  Ketchi- 
kan district. 
The  Tundra 


Nome 


Quartz  carrying  silver-bear- 
ing tetrahedrite  and  free 
gold. 

Chalcopyrite,  galena,  gold 
and  mispickel. 

Galena,  blende,  mispickel, 
gold. 

Galena,  blende,  chalcopy- 
rite,  mispickel,  pyrrho- 
tite,  gold,  silver. 

Pyrrhotite,  chlorite,  bearing 
gold,  also  pyrite. 

Galena,  blende,  chalcopy- 
rite,  pyrite,  gold-bearing. 

Free  gold  in  quartz  and  py- 
rite in  schists,  gold,  cop- 
per, silver,  lead. 


Pyrite,  chalcopyrite,  mis- 
pickel, gold-bearing. 

Pyrite,  chalcopyrite,  mag- 
netite and  quartz,  gold 
and  silver-bearing. 

Gold  and  silver-bearing .  .  . 


Gold-quartz , 


Auriferous  gravel,  depth  37 
feet. 


Gold-bearing 


As  high  as  40  to  150  dollars 


Assays  from  25  to  30  dollars. 

Mill  returns,  6  dollars,  assay 
value,  6  to  12  dollars. 

Quartz  carries  3  to  4  ounces 
up  to  2,000  dollars;  the 
decomposed  schists  yield 
from  1  to  2.5  dollars. 

Silver,  600  to  2000  ounces; 
gold,  runs  in  the  hundreds. 


50  to  60  dollars 
40  to  50  dollars 


10  to  15  up  to  150  dollars. 


1.5  to  5  dollars  gold,  1  to  5 
ounces  silver. 


2  to  4  dollars  in  gold;  3 
ounces  silver. 

(1)  Gold,  1  to  5  dollars;  sil- 
ver, 1  to  5  ounces.  (2) 
Gold,  6  dollars;  silver,  7 
ounces.  (3)  Gold,  2  to  4 
dollars;  silver,  3  ounces, 
etc. 

1  to  2.5  dollars,  gold 


126,  to  433  dollars  per  ton  — 
or  15  cents  to  5.5  dollars 
per  pan. 

20  to  40  dollars 


YIELD  OF  ORES  BY  DISTRICTS  AND  MINES. 
BY  DISTRICTS  AND  MINES. 


687 


Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Average. 

Percentage 
Total 
Content. 

Value  of  Concen- 
trates per  Ton 
and  Degree  of 
Concentration. 

Reference. 

Average  assay  returns 

Assay  of  concen- 

Eng. and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  63,  p. 

100  dollars 

trates  300  to 

256,   Ibid.,  55,  p.  486,  T.A.I. 

400  dollars. 

M.  E.f  Vol.  25,  p.  726. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour,  Vol.  47,  p. 

3  dollars    

458. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  55,  p.  486. 

Fed    Inst.  Min    Engrs     Vol    14 

p.  93. 
Min.  and  Sci    Press    Vol    83    p 

98. 
U.  S.  G  S     18  Kept    Pt   3  p   76 

Ibid     18  Rept     Pt   3   p    76 

40  dollars 

Ibid     18  Rept     Pt   3   p   73 

10  dollars  

Ibid     18  Rept     Pt    3   p    77 

8  dollars  

Four-  fifths  caught 

Ibid.    18  Rept     Pt    3   p   83 

4  to  6  dollars  

on  plates. 
Sulphurets'    py- 

Min    and  Sci    Press    Vol    83    p 

5  dollars    

rite  and  blende, 
chalcopyrite, 
2  to  5  per  cent 
in  high-grade 
ore. 

98. 
U  S  G   S    18  Rept    Pt  3  p  77 

Min    and  Sci    Press    Vol    83    p 

99. 
Ibid     Vol    83   p   98 

Ibid.,  Vol   83   p   98 

Int  Min  and  Met    Vol   9  p    181 

Ibid     Vol   9   p    181 

688 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


TABLE  IV. 


Locality. 


Kind  of  Ore. 


Range. 
Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 


Arkansas. 
Silver  City 


General 


Galena,  gray  copper,  brittle 
copper,  chlorides  and  sul- 
phides. 

Gold  and  silver 


Arizona. 
Hillside  mine .  . 


Congress  mine,  Prescott 


Gold  and  silver 
..do.. 


Assays  range  from  a  few  up  to 
500  dollars. 

9  to  12  gold,  216.77  ounces 
silver,  or  70  to  1200  dol- 
lars. 

Running  as  high  as  1000 
dollars. 


Silver     King     mine,     Final 

County. 
Tombstone 


Silver  ores 

Gold  and  silver 


Contention  and  Grand  Central 
mines. 

Henry     Clay    and     Harqua 

Halla  districts. 
Yavapai  County 


.do, 


.do 
.do 


Mills  as  high  as  200  dollars. . 

Gold,  f  to  1  ounce;  silver,  60 
to  400  ounces. 


Gold,  1  ounce;  silver,  80 
ounces;  gold,  20  ounces; 
silver,  80  ounces. 

10  to  150  dollars .  . 


Lucky  Cuss,  Tombstone 

California. 

Carbonate  mine,  San  Bernar- 
dino County. 
Clear  Creek 


Gold  in  alabandite 


Galena,     carbonate,     etc., 

bearing  gold  and  silver. 
High-grade  gold  ore 


Gold,  10  to  20  dollars;  silver, 
12  to  60  ounces. 


Runs  as  high  as  12  dollars. . 


From    a    few    hundred    to 

25,000  dollars. 
50  to  400  dollars  .  . 


Empire  mine,  Grass  Valley .  . 
Yellow  Aster,  Randsburg  .  . . 
Panamint,  Death  Valley 


Gold-bearing  quartz . 

...do 

Free-milling  gold  ore 


Less  than  1  up  to  60  and  even 
200  dollars. 


Coso  district,  2  to  9.60  dol- 
lars; Wild  Rose  district, 
81  to  193  dollars. 


Cedros  Island .  . 


Gold  in  native  sulphur , 


Manzanita,    Monticello    and 
Clyde  mines,  ColusaCounty . 


Sulphurets    and     cinnabar 
gold-bearing. 


Calico  mines. 


Forbestown    district,    Butte 
County. 


Silver-bearing 

Gold-quartz,  little  free  gold 


In  1877  ore  ran  as  high  as  42 
dollars,  since  then  less  than 
10  up  to  100  dollars. 

Variable,  but  seldom  below  20 
and  up  into  the  hundreds. 


YIELD  OF  ORES  BY   DISTRICTS  AND  MINES. 


689 


—  Continued. 


Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Average. 

Percentage 
Total 
Content. 

Value  of  Concen- 
trates per  Ton 
and  Degree  of 
Concentration. 

Reference. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  29,  p. 

Average  of  five  veins 

385. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  30,  pp    186    187 

2  16.  7  7  ounces  sil- 
ver. 

Ibid.,  Vol.  50,  p.  162. 

Vanner  sulphurets 

Ibid.,  Vol.  51,  p.  629. 

yield    $140    to 
$250  gold  and  a 
few  ounces  silver. 

Colliery  Engineer,  Vol.  12,  p.  73. 

70  dollars 

Gold    20  to 

Percentage  saved 

T.  A.  I.  M    E     Vol    33    p    34- 

25  per  cent. 

by  milling,  85 
silver,  and  45 
gold. 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  91.  p. 
190;  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol. 
49,  p.  361. 
T.  A.  I.  M.  E.t  Vol.  33,  p.  34 

20  to  25  dollars 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour     Vol   73   p 

Milling  ore  averages 
20-25  dollars. 

Copper,  3  to 
6  per  cent. 

Concentration  8 
to  1.     15  per 
cent,    smelter 
ore. 

796. 
Ibid..  Vol.  78.  p.  833,  and  Ibid., 
Vol.  63,  p.  212. 

T  A.  I.  M  E     Vol   33   p   31 

Eng  and  Min.  Jour     Vol   51   p 

627. 
T.  A.  I.  M.  E    California  Mines 

Sulphurets:     2^ 

and  Minerals,  p.  375. 
Min   and  Sci    Press    Vol    81    p 

40  dollars  

to  3^  per  cent. 

184. 
T   A   I    M    E     California  Mines 

Average    for    Pana- 

and  Minerals,  p.  399. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour    Vol  80  pp 

mint,  18  dollars. 
Average    of    assays 

916.  917. 
Ibid     Vol   51   p   627 

100  dollars. 

Ibid     Vol   42  p    186   Min  and 

Sci.  Press.  Vol.  34,  p.  280. 
T  A   I   M   E     Vol    15   p    731 

Sulphurets    run 

Ibid     California  Mines  and  Min- 

from   100  to 
200  dollars. 

erals,  p.  284. 

690 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


TABLE  IV. 


Locality. 

Kind  of  Ore. 

Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Range. 

California.  —  Continued. 
Randsburg                    ... 

Gold-quartz       

Runs  as  high  as  100  dollars 

Golden  West   mine,   Blue 

.   do        

5  to  100  dollars.  .  . 

Canon. 
Sierra  Nevada  

Auriferous  slates  often  cut 

50  cents  to  50  dollars  

Mother  lode 

by  dikes. 
Gold-bearing         .    . 

1  to  25  dollars  free  gold 

Enterprise  district 

Nashville    Eldorado  County  . 

Gold-quartz       

3  to  15  dollars      

Calaveras   County  

Gold  in  volcanic  tufa,  mud 

Golden   Cross   mines,    Cargo 

and  gravel. 
Gold-bearing  

Muchacho  district. 

Canada. 
Silver  Islet,  Thunder  Bay  .... 

Silver-bearing  

Hand  specimens  ran  as  high 

Colorado. 
Bassic  mine,  Rosita  

Robert  E.  Lee  on  Fryer  Hill  .  . 

Ore  occurs  partly  as  the  tel- 
luride  of  gold  and  silver. 
Silver  and  lead  

as  2000  to  2500  dollars. 

Ore  assays  from  200  to  5000 
dollars. 
Chloride  ores  range  from  2000 

Newman  Hill                  .    .    . 

Gold  and  silver 

to$20,000on  150-foot  level. 
Horizontal  ore-bodies*    gold 

Cripple  Creek        

Ores  contain  but  little  silver 

2  to  9  ounces;   silver,  300 
to  800  ounces,  cross-veins. 
At  contact:    gold,  2  to    9 
ounces;  silver,  200  to  500 
ounces. 
35  to  40  dollars  and  50  to  85 

Victor  mine,  Cripple  Creek  .  .  . 

as  a  rule. 
Gold-bearing  

dollars. 

Wild    Horse    mine,    Cripple 

Gold  and  silver  

Creek. 
Independence  mine,  Cripple 

Gold-bearing  

Creek. 
Aspen  

Galena,  blende,  copper,  sil- 

Smelting ore  ranges  from  125 

ver. 

to  150  ounces. 

YIELD  OF  ORES  BY  DISTRICTS  AND  MINES. 


691 


—  Continued. 


Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Average. 

Percentage 
Total 
Content. 

Value  of  Concen- 
trates per  Ton 
and  Degree  of 
Concentration. 

Reference. 

40  dollars          

T.  A.  I.  M.  E  ,  California  Mines 

and  Minerals,  p.  401. 
Ibid.,  p.  298. 

Colliery  Engineer  Vol   11  p  274 

Low-grade  less  than 

Value  of  sulphur- 

Min.  and  Sci    Press    Vol    76    p 

7  dollars;medium- 
grade,  7  to  12  dol- 
lars;    high-grade, 
above  12  dollars. 
Average   pay  ore 
carries  1  to  2  per 
cent  sulphides,  75 
to  100  dollars. 
9  dollars  free  gold  .  .  . 

ets,  40  to  125 
dollars. 

105. 
T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  California  Mines 

and  Minerals,  p.  284. 
Ibid  ,  p    310  (1868) 

3  dollars            

Min.  and  Sci.  Press    Vol    80    p 

148. 
T.  A.  I.  M    E  ,  California  Mines 

Tens  of  tons  ran  as 

and  Minerals,  p.  403. 
Eng   and  Min   Jour     Vol    26   p 

high  as  10,000  dol- 
lars. 

388  (1878). 
Colliery  Engineer    Vol    12   p   73 

Min.  Magazine,  Vol    lip    433 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  54,  p. 

Silver,  1  ounce,  gold 
10  ounces. 
Average  shipping  ore 





175. 

U.  8.  G.   S.,  Professional  Paper 
No.  54,  p.  171. 
Eng   and  Min   Jour     Vol    56    p 

250  dollars. 

Below  8th  level, 

193. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  87,  p.  87 

Gold   4i  ounces 

smelting     ore 
90  dollars. 

Ibid  ,  Vol    68   p    68  (1899) 

Zinc,  15  per 

Lead    abundant 

Ibid.,  Vol.  39,  p.  277  (1885) 

cent;  cop- 
per 5  per 
cent. 

enough     for 
smelting. 

692 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


TABLE  IV. 


Locality. 

Kind  of  Ore. 

Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Range. 

Colorado.  —  Continued. 
Grand  View  mine,  Ouray  

Sylvanite  mine       

Gold  and  silver,  galena,  cop- 
per carbonate. 

Assays  run   as   high   as    25 
ounces    gold,    43    ounces 
silver.      Mill  runs  100  to 
150  dollars,  14  to  20  dol- 
lars being  silver. 

Rico  district      

Gold  and  silver  

Gold,  2  to  9  ounces;  silver, 

Tom  Thumb  mine,   Hahn's 
Peak. 

Emma  mine  Aspen        .    . 

Gold,  silver,  lead  
Lead,  silver  

300  to  800  ounces. 
Assays  show  that  there  are 
from  30  to  50  cents  per  ton 
gold  in  rock. 
Always  assayed  over  $200  per 

Enterprise  mine,  Rico  

Gold  and  silver  

ounce  silver  and  not  less 
than  20  per  cent  lead. 

COD    Cripple  Creek 

Gold,  silver,  gray  copper  .  .  . 

* 

Golden  Ring,  Cripple  Creek    . 

Rocky   Point  group    Battle 

Gold  and  silver 

One-half-product  gold 

Mt.,  Cripple  Creek. 
Eagles,  Cripple  Creek  

do  

Fryer    Carbonate   and   Iron 

Silver  and  lead  ....... 

Ran  as  high  as  120  dollars 

hills,  Leadville. 
Portland  mine  . 

Gold-bearing  

silver  and  30  per  cent  lead. 
23  60  to  71  dollars 

Standley  mine  Idaho  Springs 

Gold  and  silver     ... 

Gold    1  50  to  1  75  dollars* 

Leadville  

Gold,  silver  and  carbonate 

silver,  70  to  100  ounces. 
Assays  show  gold  and  silver 

Vindicator     mine,     Cripple 

of  lead. 
Gold  and  silver  

values  40  to  70  dollars. 

Creek. 
Topek&  mine  Central  City 

Gold-bearing     .... 

Two  classes   rich   quartz  ore* 

milling,  40  and  60  dollars; 
smelting,  655  to  1589  dol- 
lars. 

YIELD  OF  ORES  BY  DISTRICTS  AND  MINES. 


693 


—  Continued. 


Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Average. 

j 
Percentage 
Total 
Content. 

Value  of  Concen- 
trates per  Ton 
and  Degree  of 
Concentration. 

Reference. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour      Vc 

1    26 

142  21  ounces     .... 

p.  405. 
Ibid  ,  Vol    46   p    499 

Colliery  Engineer   Vol   17 

age  12  dollars. 
Gold,  2  ounces;  sil- 

U.   S.   G.    S.,    Bull.    285, 

p     32 

ver,     52    ounces; 
lead,  51.  8  per  cent. 

(1905). 
Eng   and  Min   Jour     Vol 

39    p 

Gold,   5  to  3  ounces; 

Lead,  0  to  10 

277  (1885). 
U  S  G.  S  ,  22  Rept    Pt  2 

p  327 

silver,  100  to  200 
ounces. 

On    10th  level,  ore 

per       cent; 
zinc,    0   to 
15  per  cent. 

Eng.  and  Min   Jour  ,  Vol 

87    p 

80  dollars,  average. 
Below  8th  level,  80 

87. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  76,  p.  87. 

dollars,  average. 
60  36  dollars 

Ibid     Vol   53   p   545 

60  dollars    

Ibid     Vol    76   p    86 

Mining  Magazine   Vol   1  1 

p    433 

10th  level  of  Hid- 

76   p 

Gold,     2$     to     4^ 

High   values 

den  Treasure, 
35      dollars; 
sorted  ore  in- 
creased        in 
value  twice. 

86  (1903);   U.   S.  G.   S 
fessional  Paper  No.  54, 
(1905). 

Colliery  Engineer   Vol   14 

.,   Pro- 
p.  171 

p    283 

ounces;  silver,  30 
to  40  ounces. 

of  silver  and 
low     gold 
values    in 
upper  lev- 
els, the  sil- 
ver decreases 
and    gold 
increases 
with  depth. 
Lead    15   to 

(1894). 
Ibid     Vol    12   p    73 

Smelting  ore  50  dol- 

30 per  cent 

Eng   and  Min    Jour     Vol 

76    D 

lars  on  10th  level. 
Hanging-wall     vein 

86. 

Mines  and  Minerals  Vol  20 

p  82 

(free-milling),   20 
dollars;   foot-wall 
vein,  milling  ore 
9.38,        smelting 
51.30  dollars. 

694 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


TABLE  IV. 


Locality. 

Kind  of  Ore. 

Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Range. 

Colorado.  —  Continued. 
Hull  City,  Cripple  Creek  .... 

Gold,  silver,  gray  copper  .  .  . 

Doctor  Jackpot  Cripple  Creek 

Gold  and  silver     

Findley   Cripple  Creek   .  .  . 

do  

Gold  Coin   Cripple  Creek  .  .  . 

do    

Below  12  dollars,  low-grade 

Camp  Bird,  Ouray  

Gold-bearing  

Pharmacist    Bull  Hill    Crip- 

Gold and  silver 

20  to  30  dollars 

ple  Creek. 
Virginius  mine  Ouray 

Gold     silver,   galena,   gray 

Shurtloff  mine,  Cripple  Creek 

copper. 

Golden  Cycle  mine    Cripple 

do 

Creek. 
La  Plata  mines    Silver  Lake 

Basin. 
Vulcan  mine 

Auriferous  pyrite 

4  to  14  dollars 

Rico     Dolores   County,    En- 

Gold, silver,  lead  . 

4  75  to  7  50  dollars 

terprise  Hill. 
Hibernia  tunnel  cutting  En- 

Gold-bearing  shale 

terprise  Hill. 
Lamartine       mine,       Idaho 

Gold  and  silver  

Springs. 
Smuggler-Union   Telluride 

c'o 

Georgia. 

Pinley  mine 

do 

General 

Gold-bearing     

1  25  to  1  50               

Idaho. 
Blaine  County 

Gold  and  silver 

Silver  values  range  from  96 

to  204  dollars. 

YIELD  OF  ORES  BY  DISTRICTS  AND  MINES. 


695 


—  Continued. 


Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton 
Average. 

Percentage 
Total 
Content. 

Value  of  Concen- 
trates per  Ton 
and  Degree  of 
Concentration. 

Reference. 

Low-grade,    11  -dol- 

Eng. and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  87,  p. 

lars;     40    dollars 
average. 
40  dollars 

87. 
Ibid     Vol   76   p   86 

1  2th     level     yields 

Ibid     Vol    76   p   87 

smelting    ore    35 
dollars. 
22  to  34  50  dollars 

Ibid     Vol    76   p   86 

33  41  dollars  

T   A    I    M    E     Vol    33    p    528 

Mining  Magazine,  Vol    11   p   417 

Galena    when    free 

No    gold     at 

(1904). 
Eng.  and  Min   Jour     Vol    76   p 

from  copper  assays 
50  ounces  silver. 

8th  level  yields  smelt- 

surface, but 
increases  to 
2  ounces  in 
depth. 

268. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  76,  p.  87 

ing  ore,  45  dollars. 
10th  level  smelting 

Ibid     Vol   76   p   86 

ore,  35  dollars. 
15  dollars  

Ibid     Vol    66   p    667  (1898) 

Mines  and  Minerals    Vol    18    p 

33i  per  cent 

562. 
Min  and  Sci  Press   Vol   81  p 

6  dollars  

gold;  66  § 
per     cent 
lead     and 
^ilver. 

341. 
U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Kept  ,  Ft    2    p 

Smelting    ore     100 

327. 
Mines  and  Minerals    Vol    20    p 

dollars;       milling 
ore,  8  to  10  dol- 
lars. 
Milling  ore  average 
content     slightly 
over:      gold,      \ 
ounce,  silver,   12 
ounces. 
5  to  6  dollars  





386  (1900). 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  26,  p.  459 
(1896). 

Eng   and  Min   Jour     Vol    26   D 

2  dollars  

97  (1848-49). 
Ibid     Vol    26   p    243 

School  of  Mines  Quarterly  Vol  3 

Average  of   various 

p.  208. 
Min   and  Sci    Press    Vol    82    p 

mines:    96,    105, 
113,     121,     135, 
166,     200,     204 
dollars. 

293. 

696 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


TABLE  IV. 


Locality. 


Kind  of  Ore. 


Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Range. 


Idaho.  —  Continued. 
Thunder  Mountain,  Mackay . 

Dewey  Butte,  Thunder  Mt. . 
Ramshorn    mine,    Bayhorse, 
Custer  County. 

Little  Giant  mines,  Warren 
district. 


Elkhorn  and  Parker  mines . .  . 
St.  Louis  mine . . 


Free-milling  gold  in  rhyo- 
lite,  silver  also  occurs. 

Gold-bearing 

Gold,  silver  and  copper  .  .  . 


Tetrahedrite,  galena,  blende, 
arsenopyrite*  gold  and 
silver. 


Gold,  silver,  lead 
Gold  and  silver  . . 


Gold  carries  considerable  sil- 
ver. 

6  to  20  dollars 

25  to  500  up  to  1000  dollars. 


Gold,  60  to  90  dollars;    sil- 
ver, 8  to  25  dollars. 


Gold,  2  to  5  dollars;    silver, 
50  to  100  ounces. 


Warren  district 


Gold  and  silver 


Free-milling  gold-quartz,  20 
to  100  dollars. 


Mayflower  vein,  Warren  dis- 
trict. 


Gibbsonville 


Minnie  Moore,  Wood  River 
district. 


Gold  and  silver-bearing  ga- 
lena, blende,  tetrahedrite. 

Gold-quartz,  pyrite,  silver . 


Lead  and  silver. 


Pyrite  yields  30  to  130  dol- 
lars; one-third  free-milling. 


Compensation  group 
The  Delia  mine . . 


.do 
.do. 


Hercules  mine,  Coeur  d'Al&ie 
district. 

Washington      mine,      Boise 

Basin. 
Florence  district . . 


60  to  240  ounces  silver;  50 
to  70  per  cent  lead. 

60^0  80  per  cent  lead;  120 
to  166  ounces,  silver. 

Probably  the  richest  ore 
mined  in  district. 


Gold  and  silver 
Gold-bearing . .  . 


Jumbo    mine,    Bitter    Root 

Range. 
Blue  Jacket  mines,  Seven 

Devils. 
De  Lamar  mining  district . . . 


Galena,    pyrite,    gold    and 

silver. 
Bornite  carrying  gold  and 

silver. 

. .do.. 


Coeur  d'Alene  district 


Lead  and  silver 


Assay  value,  18  to  50  dollars, 

Gold,  about  10  dollars;   sil- 
ver, 3  to  4  ounces. 


12  to  20  dollars. 


Silver,  15  to  20  ounces; 
55  to  75  per  cent. 


YIELD   OF  ORES  BY  DISTRICTS  AND   MINES. 


697 


—  Continued. 


Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton 
Average. 

Percentage 
Total 
Content. 

Value  of  Concen- 
trates per  Ton 
and  Degree  of 
Concentration. 

Reference. 

8  dollars,  gold  

Min  and  Sci.  Press    Vol   84   p 

62. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour  ,Vol.74,p  274 

Average  of  all  ores 

Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  21,  p 

milled   give    100 
ounces  silver. 
Gold,    107    dollars; 
silver,  9.85  dollars. 

Ratio  of  gold 
to    silver: 
60    to     8 
dollars  and 
90  to  25. 
Lead,  50  per 



174. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p. 
246. 

Ibid      20  Rept      Pt    3    pp    210 

Five  foot  vein  aver- 

cent. 

211. 
Min    and  Sci    Press,   Vol    82    p 

age  of  ore,  75  dol- 
lars. 
Probably  above   50 

105  (1901). 
U    S    G    S     20  Rept     Pt   3   pp 

dollars. 
First  class  ore  yields 

First      class 

237,  245. 
Ibid      20   Rept      Pt     3    p     202 

100  ounces  of  sil- 
ver. 
Gold,  14  to  18  dol- 

ore,   lead, 
60  per  cent. 

Sulphurets  30  to 

(1898-99). 
Mines  and  Minerals    Vol    19    p 

lars;    remainder 
silver. 
First  grade  ore,  sil- 

First grade 

130  dollars. 

277. 
Eng   and  Min   Jour     Vol    77,  p 

ver,  110  ounces. 
Silver     120  ounces* 

ore,     lead 
70  percent. 
Lead    50  to 

1006. 
Ibid     Vol    77   p    1006 

lead,  60  per  cent. 
Smelting  ore;  silver, 

70  per  cent. 
Lead    60  to 

Ibid     Vol    77   p    1006 

10  ounces;   lead, 
60  per  cent. 
Silver,    45    ounces; 
lead,  50  per  cent. 

20.40  dollars.  .  . 

80  per  cent. 

Lead,  50  per 
cent. 

Mills  concentrate 
to  50  and  60 
per  cent  lead. 

Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  12,  p.  32 
(1905). 

297  (1904). 
U    S    G    S     20  Rept     Pt   3    p 

5-foot  vein  yields  ore 

235. 
Min   and  Sci    Press    Vol    82   pp 

worth  20  dollars. 
Gold,  15  dollars;   sil- 

105 and  293  (1901). 
Ibid     Vol    83   p    4 

ver,  8  ounces. 
40,000    tons    aver- 

Percentage    ex- 

Eng  and  Min   Jour     Vol    77   p 

aged    by    milling 
1  1  dollars. 
Silver,    37    ounces; 
lead,  57  per  cent. 

Lead,   55  to 
75  per  cent. 

traction  85. 

Concentrates  from 
Mace     mill; 
lead,  50  to  60 
per  cent;  sil- 
ver, 25  to  40 
ounces. 

885,  and  U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Rept., 
Pt.  3,  p.  127  (1898-99). 
Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  20,  p. 
304  (1899). 

698 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


TABLE  IV. 


Locality.. 

Kind  of  Ore. 

Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Range. 

Idaho.  —  Continued. 
Buffalo       Hump,       Buffalo 

Free-milling  gold  ore  

From  a  few  dollars  up  to  20 

Hump  ledge. 
Mother    lode     Bitter    Root 

do 

Range. 
Poor  man  mine        .        • 

do        

Boise  Basin      

do    

12  dollars    

Slide. 
Hattie      Golden    Star     Tip 

(In  gold  belt)  gold  and  silver 

Top,  Black  Cinder,  etc. 
Silver  City  district 

Silver   sulphide   and   horn- 

Lucky  Boy  and  Mt    Queen 

silver,     becoming    gold- 
bearing  quartz  in  depth.' 
Gold  and  silver  

5  to  8  dollars  

mines,  Boise  Basin. 
Sullivan  mine,  Coeur  D'Alene 

Silver,    3.6   to    6.8   ounces; 

district. 
Henrietta  mine  

lead,  8  to  16  per  cent. 

Indiana. 
General  

Gold  and  silver  (?)  

Kansas. 
Gove  and  Trego  Counties.  .  .  . 

Argentiferous  shale  ...... 

.007  to  .097  ounces  or  .004 

Maryland. 
Montgomery  County  

to  .06  dollars  silver. 
12  to  30  dollars  

Montana. 
Elkhorn  district 

Gold  silver  lead 

67  78  to  90  85  dollars    .... 

Butte  

Granite,  quartz-porphyry.  .  . 

1  ounce  silver  to  20  pounds 

copper. 
16  to  40  dollars 

YIELD   OF  ORES  BY  DISTRICTS  AND  MINES. 


699 


—  Continued. 


Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Average. 

Percentage 
Total 
Content. 

Value  of  Concen- 
trates per  Ton 
and  Degree  of 
Concentration. 

Reference. 

8  5  dollars 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  82,  p. 

Vein    15  feet    wide 

105. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  82,  p.   105  (1901). 

12.60  dollars. 
13  dollars  in  1872* 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Kept.,  Pt.  3,  p. 

27  dollars  in  1870. 
12  dollars 

127  (1870-72). 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  78,  p. 

10  to  12  dollars 

80  and    92  per 

297  (1904). 
Ibid.,  Vol.  78,  p.  392. 

10  dollars   gold 

cent  extraction 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  82,  p. 

Mill  yield  11  dollars 

Percentage     ex- 

293. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  77,  p. 

traction  85. 

885  (1904). 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  79,  p. 

Silver,    3.9  ounces; 
Lead,  8.  8  per  cent. 

Smelting  ore*   gold 

Lead,  8  to  16 
per  cent. 

Degree    of    con- 
centration:   7 
to  1  up  to  12 
to  1. 

149. 
Mining  Magazine,  Vol.  12,  p.  32 
(1905.) 

t 
U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Kept..  Pt.  3.  p.  133. 

3  to  4  dollars;  sil- 
ver, 100  ounces. 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  56,  p. 

ounces;  silver,  58 
ounces. 

102  (1888). 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  74.  p.  112 

(1902). 
T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  18,  p.  391 

Average  selling,  price 
67.78  dollars. 

Lead,      12.5 
per  cent. 

Gold,   3  per 

Mill  yield:  gold, 
.0031,  silver, 
36.3    ounces. 
Smelting: 
135.4   ounces 
gold;    .152 
ounces,  silver; 
12.5  per  cent 
lead. 

(1888). 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Kept.,  Pt.  2,  pp. 
418,  474  (1896-97). 

Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  20,  p. 

cent;  silver, 
23  per  cent; 
copper,  74 
per  cent. 

348  (1900). 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  59,  p. 

416. 

700 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


TABLE  IV. 


Locality. 


Kind  of  Ore. 


Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Range. 


Montana.  —  Continued. 
Marysville  district 


Black  Pine,  Granite  Moun- 
tain. 


Fisher  district 


Judith  district . . 
Boulder  district , 


Big  Indian  mine 


Massachusetts. 
Newburyport  mines 

Michigan. 
Beaver,  Dead  River  Range . . 

Ishpeming,  Dead  River,  Gold 
Range. 

Ontonagon,    Collins    mines, 
Scranton,  Iron  River. 


Nevada. 


White  Pine 
Goldfields  . 


Tonopah . 


Richmond  and  Eureka  Con- 
solidated. 

Esmeralda  county 


Pioche. 


Sulphides    and    sulphanti- 

monides,  gold. 
Argentiferous  malachite  and 

tetrahedrite. 


Free  gold  and  sulphides 


Gold  and  silver 

Gold  and  silver,  free-milling 
above,  refractory  below. 

Gold-bearing  quartz,  gran- 
ite, hornblende  (bedded 
deposit). 

Gold,  silver,  lead  .  . 


Galena,  chalcopyrite,  blende 

and  quartz. 
Galena,    black    antimonial 

silver    carrying    gold    in 

quartz. 
Silver-bearing 


From  a  few  to  1000  dollars  . 
Assays  show  4  to  20  dollars 

gold. 
2  to  2.5  dollars.. 


Two  veins;  30  to  502  dollars 
10  to  300  dollars  .  . 


Silver-bearing. . 
Gold  and  silver 


Gold  and  silver 


Gold,  silver,  lead 
Gold  and  silver . . 


Gold,  silver  and  copper 


Kendall  and  Sandstorm  claims 
Comstock  lode  mines .  . 


Gold  and  silver 
Gold  and  silver , 


120  to  10,000  dollars 

200  to  300  up  to  the  thou- 
sands of  dollars. 

1st  class  ore  runs  as  high  as 
600  dollars.  2d  class, 
gold,  12  to  15  dollars;  sil- 
ver, 50  to  80  ounces. 

Gold  and  silver,  4  to  70  dol- 
lars; lead,  -15  to  30  per 
cent. 

5  to  60  up  to  280  dollars 


Gold,  up  to  7.60  dollars,  sil- 
ver, 50  to  100  ounces. 


Usual  run  of  ore :    1 2  to  7  5  up 

to  250  dollars. 
Bonanza  ore  30  to  50  up  to 

1000  dollars. 


YIELD  OF  ORES  BY  DISTRICTS  AND   MINES. 


701 


—  Continued. 


Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Average. 

Percentage 
Total 
Content. 

Value  of  Concen- 
trates per  Ton 
and  Degree  of 
Concentration. 

Reference. 

60  dollars  gold 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  213,  p.  89. 

Average  of  ore 

Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  26,  p. 

12  dollars 

milled,     25 
ounces  silver. 

492. 
Mih.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  83,  p. 

10  dollars 

78. 
U.  S.  G.  S.,18Rept.,Pt.  3,  p.  592. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  60,  p. 

584. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  78,  p.  225. 

Gold    11  43*   silver 

T   A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  3,  p    442 

72.  87;  lead,  69.84 
dollars. 
12  dollars  silver      .  . 

Eng.  and    Min.  Jour  ,  Vol    52,  p 

119. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  46,  p.  238  (1888) 

4^  tons  yielded  45.27 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol    31,  p 

dollars. 
600  dollars  

130. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  18,  p.  18. 

Milling  ore  worth  40 

Min    and  Sci    Press    Vol    90    p 

to  50  dollars. 
Gold,    1  ounce;  sil- 

Ore shipped  runs 

394  and  U.  S.  G.  S.(<Bull.  303, 
p.  38  (1907). 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press    Vol    83    p 

ver,    100    ounces 
(average    of    out- 
crop.) 

400      to      500 
ounces     silver; 
100  dollars  gold. 

192-193;  Min.  and  Sci.  Press, 
Vol.  82,  pp.  230,  231  (1901) 

Colliery  Engineer    Vol    12   p    73 

Average   of   various 

(1891) 
Min    and  Sci    Press,  Vol    82    p 

mines:  10,  20,  40 
and  60  dollars. 

Lead     30  to 

78  (1901). 
Ibid     Vol   83   p    164 

50  per  cent, 
copper  5  to 
10  per  cent. 

Ibid  ,  Vol   90  p    151 

Average        between 

Eng   and  Min   Jour     Vol    18   p 

1859-1874,42.89 
dollars.      Average 
of  12  mines  19.60 
dollars. 

404  (1872),  Colliery  Engineer, 
Vol.  12,  p.  50,  and  The  Corn- 
stock  Lode,  Church,  1879,  p.  7. 

702 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


TABLE  IV. 


Locality. 

Kind  of  Ore. 

Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Range. 

Nevada.  —  Continued. 
Bullfrog,  Montgomery—  Sho- 
shone  mine. 

Great  gulch  vein,  Esmeralda 

Ruby  silver,  chloride  of  sil- 
ver,  gold  and   silver   in 
talc-quartz. 

Gold  and  silver  (free  gold)  .  . 

Values  run  as  high  as  200  to 
500  dollars. 

County. 
Baliol  mine  Mother  lode 

Galena  chalcopyrite  pyrite 

8  to  10  dollars 

Gold  mountain 

Auriferous  quartz  pyrite 

5  to  15  dollars 

Combination  mine.Goldfield. 

New  Mexico. 
Bankhouse    workings,    Lake 
Valley  mines. 

Oregon. 
Blue  Mountain    

Auriferous  tetrahedrite  and 
bornite,  most  important. 

Basic  ore  containing  cerar- 
gyrite,   and  manganifer- 
ous  ore. 

Chiefly  gold  

10  dollars  to  4  and  5  hundred. 

Cerargyrite  ore  200  to  500 
ounces;  manganiferous  ore 
20  to  30  ounces  silver. 

8  to  40  dollars  

Green  back  Grave  Creek  dis- 

Gold-bearing           .  . 

trict. 
Bohemia  district,  Lane  and 

Gold  and  silver  

From  below  10  up  to  20  dol- 

Douglas counties. 

Musick  mine,  Bohemia  dis- 
trict. 

Waldo  district  

Gold,  silver,  lead,  zinc,  cop- 
per. 

lars. 
Gold,  2.5  to  10  dollars;  cop- 

New Hampshire. 
Waterford      

Magnetic  iron,  chalcopyrite, 

per,  10  to  16  per  cent. 
From  four  localities:    values 

Dodge  vein 

pyrite,  gold. 
Pyrite  galena  gold 

run,  30  to  40  up  to  312.42 
to  867  dollars. 
3  to  19  dollars      

Pennsylvania. 
Philadelphia  

Auriferous  clay    

Panama. 
Isthmus                   . 

Gold-quartz 

Assays  run,  40  to  120  dollars. 

YIELD  OF  ORES  BY  DISTRICTS  AND  MINES. 


703 


—  Continued. 


Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Average. 

Percentage 
Total 
Content. 

Value  of  Concen- 
trates per  Ton 
and  Degree  of 
Concentration. 

Reference. 

33  33     per 

Eng   and  Min   Jour     Vol    80   p 

and  50  dollars. 
20  dollars 

cent  silver, 
66.66  per 
cent  gold. 

12. 

Min    and  Sci    Press    Vol    82    p 

73. 
Ibid.,  Vol    87   p    165 

Ibid.,  Vol.  18,  p    62 

Original  ore  assayed 

Battery  recovery 

Ibid.,  Vol.  95,  pp.  397-398 

48     ounces     and 
sacked     tailings 
18.3  ounces. 

62  per  cent. 

T   A    I    M    E     Vol    24   p    148 

Average   between   8 

Concentrat  i  ng 

U.   S    G    S     22  Kept      Pt     2 

and  20  dollars. 
Free  gold  16  dollars 

and   smelting 
ores        range 
from  30  to  the 
hundreds. 

p.  567. 
Min    and  Sci    Press    Vol    87    p 

16  dollars 

Smelting     ore 

391. 
Eng   and  Min   Jour     Vol    73   p 

Gold,     .10    ounces; 
silver,   .80  ounces. 

Zinc,  3.84  per 
cent;  lead, 
.49     per 
cent;  cop- 
per,   1.23 
per  cent. 

Copper  1  0  to 

Musick    vein, 
70  dollars; 
smelting   ore, 
Helena    vein, 
125  dollars. 
Concentrates  as- 
sayed: gold,  .8 
ounce;     lead, 
10.48  per  cent; 
copper,     .79 
per  cent;  sil- 
ver, 5.  6  ounce; 
zinc,  6.44  per 
cent. 

889. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  20  Rept.,  Pt.  3,  p. 
23  (1898-99). 

Min    and  Sci    Press    Vol    87    p 

16  per  cent. 

391. 
American  Jour    of  Min      Vol    2 

p.  390. 
U  S  G  S    16  Rept    Pt  3  p  330 

Gold    Its  Occurrence  and  Extrac- 

Sulphurets   120 

tion,  p.  181. 
En£T  and  Min   Jnnr    Vnl    fi   n  377 

to  160  dollars. 

704 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


TABLE  IV. 


Locality. 

Kind  of  Ore. 

Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Range. 

Panama.  —  Continued. 
Emperador 

Ferruginous    quartz     gold- 

5  to  10  dollars 

Pacific  side 

bearing. 
Gold-quartz  and  porphyry 

30  to  60  dollars 

South  Carolina. 
Haile  mine  

North  Carolina. 
Jones  and  Keystone  mine  .  .   . 

| 

Gold-bearing 

Portis  mine  

do    

2  to  20  dollars      

King  Mountain  

do  

Lenses    and    stringers    yield 

Gold  belt    Southern  States  .  .  . 

do 

4.15  to  7.66  dollars. 
Gold    values  5  to  20  dollars; 

South  Dakota. 
Trojan  group  of  mines 

Total  value  20  to  40  dollars. 
40  to  60  dollars 

Bald  Mt     Black  Hills 

amounts. 
Gold-bearing 

3  to  100  dollars       35  dollar 

Homestake  mine     

Gold  and  silver       

ore  considered  high-grade. 

Black  Hills  

Gold-bearing  

2  to  10  and  10  to  100  dol- 

Texas. 
Bonanza  and  Alice  Ray  Mines 

Utah. 
Leeds 

Gold  and  silver-bearing  —  . 
Argentiferous        sandstone 

lars,  mill  runs,  3  to  3.25 
up  to  4  dollars. 

20  to  30  ounces  silver,  trace 
of  gold,  60  to  65  dollars.  .  . 

Ore  runs  as  high  as  20  to 

Bingham                    .  . 

blue  carbonates  of  copper 
and  native  silver. 
Gold    silver    lead,  copper 

1,200  dollars. 
Fissure  ore'    gold  in  pyrite 

zinc. 
Gold-bearing  

.80  to  2.20  dollars.     Lode 
ore:    gold  in  copper  ores, 
.50  to  2.50  dollars. 
40  to  140  dollars  and  up  to 

Tintic  district 

Gold  and  silver 

1000  dollars  in  outcrops. 

YIELD   OF   ORES  BY  DISTRICTS  AND  MINES. 


705 


—  Continued. 


Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 

Average. 

Percentage 
Total 
Content. 

Value  of  Concen- 
trates per  Ton 
and  Degree  of 
Concentration. 

Preference. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  34,  p. 

Sulphurets     less 

173  (1882). 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,   Vol.  6,  p. 

7  dollars        

in  value  here 
than  at    Em- 
perador. 

377. 
School  of  Mines  Quarterly,  Vol.  3, 

2  5  dollars 

p.  208. 
School  of  Mines  Quarterly    Vol 

2  5  dollars 

3,  p.  208. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  77,  p 

200  ton  poorest  ore 

168. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  54,  p.  34. 

yielded  1.70  dol- 
lars per  ton. 

Ibid.,  Vol.  58,  p.  411. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  30,  p. 

10  to  20  dollars 

107. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press    Vol   87    p 

Gold     3  68    dollars 

187. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol    75   p 

(3.60,  1902);  sil- 
ver, 0.03  dollars. 
10  to  15  dollars;  sil- 

82; T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  17,  p. 

577  (1888). 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour  ,  Vol    69   p 

iceous  ore   12  to 
18  dollars;  2  to  5 

227  (1900)  and  Eng.  and  Min. 
Jour.,  Vol.  30,  p.  57;  Colliery 

dollar  ore  worked. 
Probably  60  dollars  . 

30  per  cent 

Engineer,     Vol.     11,    p.     274 
(1891). 

Geol    Surv   Texas,  1  Ann   Rept 

20  to  50  dollars 

lead;      25 
to  30  per 
cent  zinc. 

1889,  p.  223. 
Eng   and  Min    Jour     Vol    23    p 

Silver,    65    ounces; 

Lead,  45  per 

317. 
Ibid  ,  Vol    79   p    1178 

lead,  45  per  cent; 
gold,    2    to    2.50 
dollars. 

cent. 

Colliery  Engineer    Vol    12   p   50 

Gold     and     silver, 
0.1  356  and  52.  44 
ounces;     copper 
and  lead  11.  2  and 
270  pounds. 

40  dollars  .  .  . 

Milling  ores,   10 
to  25  dollars; 
smelting  ores, 
over    25   dol- 
lars. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,   19  Kept.,  Pt.  3,  p. 
687(1898). 

706 


GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


TABLE  IV. 


Locality. 


Kind  of  Ore. 


Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Range. 


Utah.  —  Continued. 
Chloride  Point  mine,  Tooele 
County. 


Horn  Silver  mine,  Frisco, 


Gold  and  silver 


Lead  and  silver 


Park  City 


Silver-bearing 


Gold,  .50  to  1.50  dollars;  sil- 
ver, 15  to  40  ounces. 


Silver,  30  to  90  ounces;  lead, 
5  to  45  per  cent.  Sul- 
phate of  lead  ore  carries 
silver,  40  to  50  ounces; 
lead,  30  to  40  per  cent. 

High-grade  ore-bodies  run 
from  40  to  700  dollars. 


Daly  West  mine,  Park  City. . 


Lead  and  silver 


Eldorado  mine,   Box   Elder 

County. 
Mercer  mines,  Camp  Floyd 

district. 


Gold,  silver,  lead 


De  Lamar  Mercur  mines 
Old  Telegraph  mine 


Cinnabar  carrying  gold,  au- 
riferous quartz  and  lime- 
stone. 
..do.. 


Pyrite,  galena,  blende,  lead 
carbonate. 


Annie  Laurie  mine 


Gold  and  silver , 


An  immense  area  that  would 
yield  from    1.20  to   1.70 
dollars,  gold. 

Base  ore,  2  to  60  dollars;  or- 
dinary ore,  3  to  12  dollars. 

Pyrite  ore:  gold,  1  dollar; 
silver,  5  to  6  ounces;  car- 
bonate ore:  gold,  1  dollar; 
silver,  10  to  12  ounces. 

Ore  runs  up  into  hundreds  of 
dollars  per  ton. 


Silver  Reef 


Virginia. 
Fauquier  County . . . 


Hornsilver  changing  to  sul- 
phides below. 


5  to  30  dollars  .  . 


Gold-bearing 


From  a  few  to  30  dollars 


YIELD   OF   ORES  BY  DISTRICTS  AND   MINES. 


707 


—  Continued. 


Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Average. 

Percentage 
Total 
Content. 

Value  of  Concen- 
trates per  Ton 
and  Degree  of 
Concentration. 

Reference. 

Shipping      ores: 
silver,  100  to 
250      ounces; 
gold,  1  to  2.  50 
dollars. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  66,  p. 
605  (1897). 

Colliery  Engineer,  Vol.  12,  p.  50. 

U.   S.  G.   S.,   Bull.   213,  p.    120 
(1902). 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  68,  p. 
455. 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  82,  p. 
93. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.   19,  p. 
82,  and    Mines   and    Minerals, 
Vol.  19,  p.  130. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  68,  p. 
754. 
T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol.  16,  p.  26. 

28  to  29  dollars 

Milling  ores  run 
54.32  ounces; 
smelting   ores 
(the     best) 
94.82  dollars. 
Concentrates  run: 
lead,     35.63 
per  cent;  sil- 
ver,   52.64 
ounces;    gold, 
1.05    dollars; 
copper,     1.74 
per  cent;  zinc, 
13.3  per  cent; 
andiron,  13.5 
per  cent. 

Gold,    1.20   dollars; 
silver,         62/95 
ounces. 

Gold,  2  to  6  dwt.; 
silver,  30  ounces. 
Cinnabar  yields  gold 
averaging  between 
10  and  50  dollars. 

Lead,   23.65 
per    cent; 
copper,    3 
per    cent; 
zinc,  25.24 
per    cent; 
iron,  13.5 
per  cent. 

Lead,   20  to 
85  per  cent 

E.  vein:  gold,  5.60 
to  12  dollars;  sil- 
ver, 2.05  to  2.30 
ounces;   W.  vein: 
gold,    4.8   to    11 
dollars;  silver,  32 
to  68  cents. 

U.    S.   G.    S.,    Bull.    285, 
(1905). 

Colliery  Engineer;  Vol.  12, 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,   Vol 
377. 

p.    89 

p.  73. 

6,  p. 

6  dollars 

708 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 


TABLE  IV. 


Locality. 


Kind  of  Ore. 


Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Range. 


Washington. 
Republic  mine , 


Gold-bearing  (3  grades) 


Louise  mine,  Monte  Cristo . .  . 


Gold  and  silver , 


Republic  district 


.do 


Night      Hawk,      Okanogan 
County. 


Mountain  Lion  mine 


Gold,  silver,  copper 


Stevens  County 

Coville  Reservation 
Monte  Cristo . . , 


Wyoming. 

Grand    Encampment,     Cox 
mine,  Saratoga  district. 


Gold  and  silver 


Galena  and  silver  sulphide 
in  limestone. 
..do 


Galena,  blende,  pyrite,  chal- 
copyrite,  gold,  silver. 


Gold,  silver,  copper 


(1)  100  to  360  dollars;  (2) 
30  to  100  dollars;  (3)  5  to 
30  dollars;  range  in  values, 
20  to  1000  dollars. 


High-grade  chalcopyrite  ore, 
28  to  30  dollars. 


6  to  50  dollars 


20  to  100  dollars;  main  vein 
100  dollars. 

Silver,  25  to  100  ounces  .... 

Silver,  25  to  125  ounces;  gold 

3  dollars. 
Maximum  gold  contents,  1.4 

ounces;    maximum  silver 

contents,  18  ounces. 


YIELD   OF  ORES  BY  DISTRICTS  AND  MINES. 


709 


—  Continued. 


Yield  of  Ore  per  Ton. 
Average. 

Percentage 
Total 
Content. 

Value  of  Concen- 
trates per  Ton 
and  Degree  of 
Concentration. 

Reference. 

Average   of   No.    1, 
1  7  5to  200  dollars; 
average  of  No.  2, 
65  dollars;    aver- 
age of  No.  3,  20 
dollars. 
Gold,  15  ounces  rich 

Silica,  93  per 
cent. 

Ratio  gold  to 

Smelting     ore: 
gold,    8.75 
ounces;  silver, 
7  ounces. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  66,  p. 
545,    and    Vol.    68,    p.     725 
(1898). 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Rept.,  Pi.  2,  pp. 

bunches;    silver, 
49  ounces,  average 
20  to  25  dollars. 
50  ounces  silver  and 

silver  2  to 
1;  copper, 
13  per  cent. 

851-852;  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 
Vol.  55,  p.  343. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  74,  p. 

1  ounce  gold;  gen- 
eral  average,    12 
to  16  dollars. 
Gold,  72  dollars;  sil- 

74 (1902). 
Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  22,  p. 

ver,     19    dollars; 
copper,  105.6  dol- 
lars. 

Ratio  of  gold 

310  (1902). 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  69,  p. 

to    silver, 
1  :  2. 
Lead,   40  to 

286  (1900). 
Mines  and  Minerals,   Vol.   18,  p. 

70  per  cent. 
Lead   30  per 

313  (1898). 
Ibid  ,  Vol.  18,  p.  313. 

Gold,     0.6    ounces; 

cent. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  22  Rept.,  Pt.  2,  p. 

silver,  7  ounces. 
Assays   yield:   gold, 

Copper,  48.8 

803. 
Mines  and  Minerals,  Vol.  20,  p. 

17.16,  and  silver, 
3.87  dollars. 

per  cent. 

28  (1899). 

710  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

TABLE  V.  — YIELD  OF  GRAVEL  BY  DISTRICTS  AND  MINES. 


T,nf»a.litv 

Yield  per  ( 

M>ic  Yard. 

Range. 

Average. 

Alaska. 
Tundra  

From    shaft    37 

Inst    Min.  and  Met  ,   Vol    9 

Klondike 

feet  deep,    126 
to  433  dollars. 
9  to  50  dollars 

p.  181. 
Eng     and    Min     Jour       Vol 

California. 
Big    Lagoon,    beach 

20  to  50  dollars 

76,  p.  808  (1903). 
Min   and  Sci    Press    Vol    69 

gravel. 
Bald  Mountain  

per  ton 

5.85  dollars 

p.  230. 
Auriferous    Gravels     of     the 

Polar     Star     Mine 

5  22  dollars  .  .  . 

Sierra     Nevada     of     Cali- 
fornia, p.  437. 
Ibid  ,  p.  425. 

Indiana  Hill. 
Excelsior            mine, 

34  cents  

Min.   and    Sci     Press,      Vol 

Smartsville. 
Wisconsin  Hill 

34  cents    •  •  . 

78,  p.  589. 
Auriferous    Gravels     of     the 

Sebastopol  Hill  
Bloom  field  mine 

30  to  35  cents  .  . 

Average     depth 
of  40  ft.  yielded 
25  to  30  cents. 
Top  gravel  3.37 

Sierra    Nevada   of    Califor- 
nia, p.  117. 
Eng.    and    Min.    Jour.,    Vol. 
11,  p.  120. 

T     A     I     M     E      California 

Nevada  County  
Malakoff  
Harmony  mine,  Ne- 

2.5 to  13  dolls.  . 
Cemented  gravel, 

cents,     bottom 
gravel,  32.9cts. 

2.9  cents.  

Mines  and  Minerals,  p.  25 
(1876-77). 
Ibid.,  p.  276. 
Ibid.,  p.  25  (1870-74). 
Ibid.,  p.  276  (1899). 

vada  City  channel. 
Gold  Run      

when     crushed 
yielded    10   to 
13  dollars. 

4  75  cents 

Auriferous  Gravels    of    Sierra 

North  Fork  

4.2  cents   

Nevada    of    California,    p. 
152. 
Min   and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  23, 

General 

Laur's  estimate 

p.  24. 
Ibid     Vol    23   p    24 

Colorado. 
Four  Mile  placer 

20  cents  and  up- 

16 cents,   Sill- 
iman's  esti- 
mate, 30  cts. 

Enc     and    Min     Jour      Vol 

Lake,    Douglas    and 

wards. 
1  to  2  dollars 

1  dollar 

60,  p.  102. 
Eng     and    Min     Jour  ,    Vol. 

Spring  creeks  

60,  p.  539. 

Idaho. 
Snake  River      .    .    . 

75  to  2  50  dolls 

Probably     aver- 

Min  and  Sci    Press  ,  Vol    81, 

Sheep  Creek  

15  to  70  cents  .  . 

age  30  cents  for 
10  foot  depth. 

p.  610. 
Eng.    and    Min.    Jour.    Vol. 

68,  p.  395., 

YIELD  OF  GRAVELS  BY  DISTRICTS  AND  MINES. 
TABLE  V.  —  Continued. 


711 


Locality. 

Yield  per  Cubic  Yard. 

Reference. 

Range. 

Average. 

Idaho.  —  Continued, 
Boise    Basin,     Idaho 
City. 

Montana, 
Drummond,        Flint 
Creek. 
Cedar  Creek 

6  cents  

Min.  and  Sci.  Press*  Vol.  81, 
p,  400  (1898). 

Eng.    and    Min.    Jour.,    VoL 
68,  p.  575» 
Ibid.,  Vol.  67,  p.  143. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  44,  p.  167  (1887)* 

Eng.    and    Min.    Jour.,    VoL 
67,  p.  408  (1896-97). 

Min.  and  ScK  Press,  Vol.  81» 
p.  280. 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  71, 
p.  121. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  80,  p.  432. 

U.  S.  G.  S.f  22  Rept.,  Pt.  2, 
p.  637. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  87, 
p.  216. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  81,  p.  610. 

Lake  bed  gravel 
yields  2  cents. 
50  cents  

Helena 

20  to  50  cents  .  . 

13  assays  showed 
62  cents  to  5.  50 
dollars. 

.50  to  1.25  dolls. 

50  to   75  cents 
per  ton. 

Nebraska, 
Milford  

8   to  10  dollars 
per  ton. 

New  Mexico, 
Santa  Rita 

Oregon. 
Gold  beaches,  Coquille 
River. 
Thoss    Flat,    Galice. 

Blue  Mountain. 
Southern  . 

15  cents  ........ 

For  whole  bank 
10  to  35  cents. 

6  to  8  cents  ,  . 

Snake  River  

.75  to  2.  50  dolls. 

18  to  20  cents... 

6  to  15  cents.  .  .  . 

Utah. 
Bingham  CaSon  

West  Mountain  

Washington- 
Snake  River 

Argonaut  cut,  18 
cents      lowest, 
ffft.,  6  cents  for 
30ft. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  213,  p. 
(1902). 

Ibid.,  Bull.  213,  p.  120. 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol. 
p.  610. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.,  Vol. 
p.  539. 

lid 

81, 
60, 

75  to  2  50  dolls 

Wyoming* 
Lake,     Douglas    and 
Spring  creeks. 

1  to  2  dollars  .  . 

1  dollar.      .  .    . 

712  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 

TABLE  VI.  — FINENESS  AND  VALUE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 


Locality. 

Fineness. 

Value. 

Source. 

Reference. 

Units,  or  per  Mill. 

Dollars, 
per  ounce. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Alabama. 
Arabacoochee 

964 
890 
740 
767 

Placers  . 
Veins  .  .  . 
Placers  .  . 
Veins  

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 
Vol.  55,  p.  486. 

Ibid.,     Vol.     63,     p. 
664. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,18Rept., 
Pt.  3,  p.  82. 

Ibid.,  ISRept.,  Pt.3, 
p.  84. 

Ibid.,   Bull.   213,  p. 

74. 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Cali- 
fornia   Mines   and 
Minerals,  p.     76. 
Ibid.,  p.  88. 
Ibid.,  p.  177. 

Ibid.,  p.  177. 

do. 
do. 

do. 
do. 
do. 

do. 
do. 

do. 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Cali- 
fornia   Mines    and 
Minerals,  p.  176. 
do. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press, 
Vol.  89,  p.  20. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press, 
Vol.  44,  p.  345. 
Ibid.,     Vol.     37,-    p. 
210. 

Arizona. 

Alaska. 
Turnagain       Arm, 
Resurrection  and 
Bear  creeks. 
Apollo  Consolidated 
mine,      Unga 
Island. 

18- 
18.72 

California. 
Sacramento     and 
Stanislaus  counties  . 

Butte  County 

f  running 
900 

922 

982-987 

950.5 

950 

987 

955.5 
974-978 

411.5- 
580.5 
130.5 
627-987 

985 
898 

817.8 

883.6 
950-953 

Placers  .  . 

San   Guiseppe   mine, 
Tuolumne  County  . 
Neale  mine  near  San 
Guiseppe. 
Table  and  Bald  Mts.  .  . 
Spanish  Hill,  El  Do- 
rado County. 
Newhall,  Los  Angeles 
County. 
Folsom,    Sacramento 
County. 
Bodie,  Mono  County  . 

Do 



20.29- 
20.40 
19.64 

19.63 
20.40 

19.75 
20.00 
12.00 

2.69 
12.96- 
20.42 
20.36 

18.56 

16.90 
20.00 

Veins  .  .  . 
Veins  .  .  . 

Placers  .  . 
do  ... 

.  .    do    .  . 



do  ... 
do  ... 
do..  . 

Calaveras  County  .... 

Johnsville,    Plumas 
County. 
Sacramento  County  .  . 

Average  of  all  counties 
Juarez  district,  Lower 
California. 
Average   fineness,   80 
localities. 
Between  Ocean  Beach 
and      Point      San 

T>orlrr» 



Placers  .  . 
do... 

do... 
do... 





112.4 

Beach 
gravel. 

FINENESS  AND   VALUE   OF  GOLD   AND   SILVER. 
TABLE  VI.  — Continued. 


713 


Locality. 

Fineness. 

Value. 

Source. 

Reference. 

Units,  or  per  Mill. 

Dollars, 
per  ounce. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Colorado. 
Gilpin  County       .... 

Mill  bul- 
lion 
700-850 
993-999. 

740 

Bul- 
lion 
16.65 

Veins  .  .  . 
do 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 
Vol.   54,  pp.  223, 
245. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press, 
Vol.  70,  p.  346. 
T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol. 
33,  p.  511. 
U.   S.  G.   S.,  Mono- 
graph, 12  p.  515. 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press, 
Vol.  44,  p.  345. 

U.  S.  G.S.,  16  Kept., 
Pt.  3,  p.  258. 

Ibid.,   16  Rept.,  Pt. 
3,  p.  258. 
Ibid.,    16  Rept.,  Pt. 
3,  p.  258. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press, 
Vol.  44,  p.  345. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 
Vol.  42.  p.  201. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  18  Rept., 
Pt.  3,  p.  696. 
do. 

do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
Ibid.,  20  Rept.  ,  Pt.3, 
p.  163. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press, 
Vol.  44,  p.  345. 
Mines  and  Minerals, 
Vol.  19,  p.  277. 
U.  S.G.  S.,  20  Rept., 
Pt.3,  pp.  234,  235. 
Ibid.,  20  Rept.,  Pt. 
3,  p.  241. 

Cripple  Creek 

Camp    Bird,    Ouray 
County. 
Leadville 

...   do 

17—19 

Placers 
and 
veins. 

Average  fineness  of  9 
localities. 

Georgia. 

820.5 

800-880 

825 
950 

922.8 

950-975 
900-960 
900-925 
950-975 

680-718 
700 

175.5 

&  15 

Veins  .  .  . 
do    . 

South  Mountain 

Throughout  state  .... 

Average  fineness  of  10 
samples. 
Raburn,  White,  Daw- 
son   and   Cherokee 
counties. 

Idaho. 
Idaho    Basin,    Gam- 
brinus  mine. 
Boulder  

...  do 

73.32 

Veins  .  .  . 

do... 
do... 
...   do 



15.50 

15.50 
16.00 



Forest  King  

Washington  
Illinois  



15.00 
15.00 



....do... 
do    .  . 

Ebenezer  

16.50 

do... 

Gold  Hill  

800-900 



17.50 
10 



do... 
Placers  .  . 

Placers  .  . 
Veins  .  .  . 

Placers 
&  veins 
Placers  .  . 

DeLamar  

Average  fineness,  413 
localities. 
Gibsonville  

780.6 

213.4 

14-18 

Florence  district  
Warren  district    

660-705 
&  650 
710-720 

15 

...... 

714 


GOLD  AND   SILVER. 
TABLE   VI.  —  Continued. 


Locality. 

Fineness. 

Value. 

Source. 

Reference. 

Units,  or  per  Mill. 

Dollars, 
per  ounce. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Idaho.  —  Continued. 
Little       Giant     mine, 
Warren  district. 
Turner's  Claim,  Idaho 
City. 
East  Hill   Idaho  City 

Bullion 
580-641 

Veins  .  .  . 

Bench 
.  gravel. 
.   do 

U.  S.  G.  S.,20Rept., 
Pt.  3,  p.  246. 
Ibid.,  18Rept.,Pt.  3, 
p.  676. 
do. 

do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour, 
Vol.  68,  p.  396. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press, 
Vol.  84,  p.  62. 
Ibid.,     Vol.     81,    p. 
610. 
do. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  ISRept., 
Pt.  3,  p.  676. 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press, 
Vol.  31,  p.   130. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 
Vol.  68,  p.  575. 
Ibid.,  Vol.  67,  p.  143. 
U.  S.G.  S.,22Rept., 
Pt.  2,  p.  475. 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press, 
Vol.  44,  p.  345. 

Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 
Vol.  51,  p.  232. 
Am.  Jour.  Min.,  Vol. 
2,  p.  388. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  16Rept., 
Pt.  3,  p.  258. 
do. 

16  75 

16   50— 

Barker's  claim 

850 
770-912 
850 
775 
910 
840-912 

16.75 

...    do 

Pioneersville 



15.35 

do.  .  . 
.  .  .  .do.  .  . 

Granite  Creek    

Fall  Creek  

Ophir  Creek  

Placer  County  

Placers  .  . 
Veins 
Placers  .  . 
do  ... 

Thunder   Mountain, 
Mackay. 
Snake   River,    above 
Boise  River. 
Boise    River,    below 
mouth    of     Snake 
River. 
General 

12.00 
17-19 

14-16 

Prob- 
ably 
15- 
16.75 

770-912 

....do... 

Veins  .  .  . 

Placers  .  . 
do  ... 

Michigan. 
Iron  River    

950 

Montana. 

900 
934 

Cedar  Creek 

Elkhorn  mine    

400- 
850  & 
900 
100.9 

Veins  .  .  . 
Placers  .  . 

Veins  .  .  . 

Average  fineness  of  14 
samples. 

Nevada. 
Comstock  lode  

895.1 

Bullion 
150-250 

11-12 

2V  ova  Scotia  

Placers 
19.75 

North  Carolina. 
Carolina  Gold  Belt  .  .  . 

Davis  mine,  Union  Co. 
King's  Mountain  

900 

450 
929 

20.25 
19.5 

stand- 
ard 

Veins  .  .  . 
do    .  . 

71 

FINENESS  AND   VALUE  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER. 
TABLE   VI.  —  Continued. 


715 


Locality. 

Fineness. 

Value. 

Source. 

Reference. 

Units,  or  per  Mill. 

Dollars, 
per  ounce. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

New  Hampshire. 

917 

Veins  .  .  . 
Placers  .  . 

Placers  .  . 
do    . 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  16Rept., 
Pt.  3,  p.  330. 

Min.  and  Sci.  Press, 
Vol.  81,  p.  280. 

U.  S.  G.  S.,  22Rept., 
Pt.  2,  p.  636. 
do. 

do. 

do. 
do. 

do. 
U.  S.G.  S.,22Rept., 
Pt.  2,  p.  637. 
Eng.  and  Min.  Jour., 
Vol.  74,  p.  582. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press, 
Vol.  44,  p.  345. 

T.  A.  I.  M.  E.,  Vol. 
17,  p.  573. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press. 
Vol.  89,  p.  20. 

do. 
Ibid.,     Vol.     44,    p. 
345. 

Mines  and   Minerals, 
Vol.  19,  p.  82. 
U.    S.    G.    S.,    Bull. 
213,  p.  120. 
Mines  and   Minerals. 
Vol.  20,  p.  323. 
do. 

New  Mexico. 

Santa  Rita 

18   25- 

Oregon. 
Canyon   Creek,    Blue 
Mts. 
Susan  vi  lie  and  Dixie 
Creek. 
Rye  Valley  and  Mor- 
mon Basin. 
Nelson 

900-990 
860 
650-800 

700-740 
970 

922 
680-800 

18.60 

do    . 

do 

Burnt    River,    bench 
gravels. 
Burnt  River  streams  .  . 
Olive      Creek      and 
Granite. 
Josephine  County    .  . 

do 

do 

.    do 

18-19 



....do... 

Average  fineness  of  77 
samples. 

South  Dakota. 
Homestake 

872.7 

820 

830 
825 
850 
820 
904 

123.3 

170 

155 
160 
140 
170 
96 

Veins  .  .  . 
do 

Highland         

Terra         

do 

Deadwood  
De  Smet  
Black  Hills  

do 

do 

....  do  ... 

Do 

18   50 

Placers  .  . 

....do... 
do  ... 

Lead  and  Central  City. 
Average  of  7  samples 
showing  fineness. 

Utah. 

Mercur  mines 

18 

923.5 

72.5 

20 

Veins  .  .  . 

850-875 

Silver  Reef,  east  work- 
ings. 
Silver      Reef      west 
workings. 

985 
850 

Bedded 
deposits 
do 

BIBLIOGRAPHY. 


Mining  Magazine.     New  York. 

Engineering  and  Mining  Journal.     New  York. 

Gold,  Its  Occurrence  and  Extraction.     A.  G.  Lock,  1882,  London. 

Mining  and  Scientific  Press.     San  Francisco. 

Ore  Deposits  of  the  United  States  and  Canada.     J.  F.  Kemp,  1905,  New 
York. 

Reports  of  the  United  States  Geological  Survey,  also  Bulletins  and  Mono- 
graphs. 

Transactions  of  the  American  Institute  of  Mining  Engineers.     New  York. 

Doelter,  Chemische  Mineralogie.     Leipzig. 

Tschermaks  Mineral  Mitteil,  1889. 

Allgemeine  Chemie.     Ostwald. 

American  Journal  of  Mining.     New  York. 

Federated  Institute  of  Mining  Engineers. 

Transactions  Institute  of  Mining  and  Metallury,  London. 

Colliery  Engineer  and  Metal  Miner.     Scranton,  Pa. 

Mines  and  Minerals.     Scranton,  Pa. 

The  Mines  and  Minerals  of  California.     Special  Volume  of  the  American 
Institute  of  Mining  Engineers,  1889. 

Mineral  Resources  of  the  United  States.     Washington. 

Journal  of  Geology. 

Reports  on  the  Geology  of  Connecticut. 

Metallic  Wealth  of  the  United  States.     Whitney,  1854. 

Transactions  of  the  Institution  of  Mining  Engineers.     London. 

Geology  of  New  Hampshire.     Hitchcock. 

Geological  Survey  of  Kentucky.     Reports. 

Transactions  Lake  Superior  Institute  of  Mining  Engineers. 

Reports  Commissioner  of  Mineral  Statistics. 

Geology  and  Natural  History  Survey  of  Minnesota. 

Report  State  Board  of  Geological  Survey  of  Michigan.     Lansing. 

Mineral  Industry.     Published  by  Engineering  and  Mining  Journal.     New 
York  City. 

The  Comstock  Lode,  Its  Formation  and  History.     John  A.  Church,  1879. 

Mineral  Industry  of  the  United  States. 

Census  Reports  of  the  United  States. 

Memoir  of  a  Tour  to  Northern  Mexico,  1846-7.     Dr.  Wislizenus. 

717 


718  BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

Reports  Director  of  Mint  of  the  United  States. 

Annual  Report  American  Institute.     City  of  New  York. 

Mineralogy  of  New  York. 

Scientific  American. 

Annual  Report  Mining  Bureau  of  the  Philippines. 

Second  Annual  Report  of  Governor  of  Porto  Rico  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States. 

Resources  of  Tennessee.     J.  B.  Killebrew,  1874. 

Geology  of  Tennessee,  Reports  of. 

Reports  of  the  Geological  Survey  of  Texas. 

School  of  Mines  Quarterly,  Columbia  University.     New  York  City. 

American  Journal  of  Mining.     New  York  City. 

Reports  Vermont  Geological  Survey. 

Transactions  Wisconsin  Academy  of  Science,  Arts  and  Letters. 

Reports  Geological  Survey  of  Wisconsin. 

Barcia,  Ensaio  Cronologico  Aiio.    MDXVI  Fol.  2. 

Navarrette.     Vol.  3. 

Relation  d'  Alvar  Nunez  Cabeca  de  Vaca;  Ternaux-Compans. 

Report  of  the  Geology  and  Topography  of  a  portion  of  the  Lake  Superior 
Land  District  in  the  State  of  Michigan.  J.  W.  Foster  and  J.  D.  Whitney, 
Doc.  69,  1850. 

Smithsonian  Contributions  to  Knowledge.     Vol.  XIII. 

Herrera,  Dec.  1,  Book  IX,  Chap.  5. 

Harris's  Collection  of  Voyages  and  Travels.     Vol.  2,  1705.     Appendix. 

Notes  on  Virginia.     Jefferson,  1782. 

American  Anthropologist,  1904. 

Alaska  and  Its  Resources.     Boston,  1870. 

Geology  of  Canada,  1862. 

Reports  and  Bulletins  of  Geological  Survey  of  Alabama. 

House  of  Representatives  Executive  Document  177,  Pt.  2.  Fortieth  Con- 
gress, Second  Session. 

Alaska  Coast  Pilot,  1883. 

Shores  and  Alps  of  Alaska.     H.  W.  Seton  Karr,  London,  1887. 

Senate  Ex.  Doc.  No.  59,  Forty-fifth  Congress,  Third  Session. 

Along  Alaska's  Great  River. 

Cruise  of  the  United  States  Revenue  Steamer  Corwin,  1884. 

Hiitten-  und  Salienenwesen  im  preuss,  Statte,  Vol.  34,  1886. 

The  Witwatersrand  Gold  Fields,  Banket  and  Mining  Practice,  1902. 

Annual  Reports  of  the  Arkansas  Geological  Survey. 

Geology  of  Indiana,  1873. 

Geology  of  Iowa,  1870. 

The  Pleistocene  History  of  Northeastern  Iowa.  Eleventh  Annual  Report 
United  States  Geological  Survey,  1891. 

Geology  of  Illinois,  1870. 

Kansas  Semi-weekly  Capital,  1902. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY.  719 

Mineral  Resources  of  Kansas,  1899. 

Reports  Kentucky  Geological  Survey. 

Geological  Reports  of  Maine.     (Holmes  and  Hitchcock,  2d  Ann.   Rept., 
1862.) 

Annual  Reports  Missouri  Geological  Survey. 

State  Mine  Inspectors'  Reports  of  Missouri,  1902,  etc. 

Annals  of  the  West.     J.  H.  Perkins,  1850. 

Agricultural  and  Geological  Reports  of  Mississippi,  1854,  etc. 

The  Mines  of  the  West.     R.  W.  Raymond,  1869. 

Sketches  of  the  Physical  Geography  and  Geology  of  Nebraska,  1880. 

Twelve  Years  in  the  Mines  of  California,  1862,  L.  B.  Patterson. 

Reports  Geological  Survey  of  Ohio,  1874,  etc. 

American  Journal  of  Science  and  Arts. 

Sanford's  Geology  of  Tennessee,  1869. 

History  of  Porto  Rico,  Fray  Inigo,  1788. 

Cuba  and  Porto  Rico,  United  States  Geological  Survey.     Robert  Hill. 

Appendix  to  Thompson's  Vermont. 

Reports  of  Geological  Survey  of  Vermont. 

King's  Handbook  of  the  United  States. 

Siluria.     Sir  Roderick  Murchison. 

Index  to,  and  the  Mineral  Resources  of  Alabama. 

Auriferous  Gravels  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  of    California,  Contributions    to 

American  Geology,  Vol.  I,  1880. 

California  Miners'  Association,  Annual.     San  Francisco. 
New  York  Times,  1907. 
Die  Zukunft  des  Goldes.     Wien,  1887. 
History  of  the  Precious  Metals.     Alexander  Del  Mar,  1880. 
Special  Report  of  the  Department  of  Commerce  and  Labor  Bureau  of  the 

Census,  Mines  arid  Quarries,  1902. 
Materials  Toward  the  Elucidation  of  the  Economic  Conditions  Affecting  the 

Precious  Metals,  for  years  1793  to  1850.     Dr.  Adolph  Soetbeer. 
Coeur  d'Alene  Souvenir,  1906. 
Report  of  the  President  and  Directors  of  the  Walton  Mining  Company, 

1836 

Annual  Report.     Chief  of  Engineers,  U.  S.  A.,  1882. 
Mining  Commissioners'  Report,  1872. 
Proceedings  Society  Civil  Engineers. 
Forbe's  History  of  California. 
Gibbon's  Rome. 

The  History  of  Gold  and  Silver.     Comstock. 
The  Central  Gold  Region.     William  Gilpin,  1860. 
Chemical  Essays.     Bishop JWatson,  1781. 
Natural  History  of  Staffordshire.     Plot. 
Annual  Reports  of  the  Mining  Industry  of  Idaho. 
The  Economist.     London. 


720  BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

Harper's  Magazine. 

Bulletins  California  State  Mining  Bureau.     San  Francisco. 

Silver  and  Gold  Report  for  1872.     R.  W.  Raymond. 

Mining  Industry.     Hague,  1870. 

Hydraulic  and  Placer  Mining.     Wilson,  1903. 

Placer  Mining,  a  Handbook  for  Klondike  and  Other  Miners  and  Prospec- 
tors, 1897.  Scranton,  Pa. 

Prospecting,  Locating  and  Valuing  Mines.     Stretch,  1903. 

Mine  Timbering.     New  York,  1907. 

Report  of  the  Director  Mint  on  the  Production  of  the  Precious  Metals,  1900. 

Comstock  Mining  and  Miners,  Monograph,  No.  4,  U.  S.  G.  S.,  1883. 

Nevada  Directory,  1863. 

The  Big  Bonanza. 

Plan  and  Description  of  the  Vaucluse  Mine,  Orange  County,  Virginia.  Phil- 
adelphia. 

Gold  Amalgamation  and  Concentration.  By  McDermott  and  Duffield, 
1890. 

The  Portland  (Maine)  Argus,  1880. 

Annual  Reports  Commissioner  of  Mineral  Statistics. 

Mines  and  Mineral  Statistics  of  Michigan.     Ishpeming,  1897. 

Roasting  of  Gold  and  Silver  Ores.     G.  Kiistel,  1880. 

History  of  the  Pacific  States. 

Antiquities  of  the  Southern  Indians.     C.  C.  Jones,  1873. 

Journal  and  Proceedings,  Royal  Society  of  New  South  Wales,  1875. 

Proceedings  of  the  American  Mining  Congress. 

California  Gold  Mill  Practice.     Preston,  1895. 

California  Academy  of  Sciences,  1897,  etc. 

Journal  Canadian  Mining  Institute.     Ottawa,  Canada. 

History  of  California,  N.  H.  Bancroft. 


INDEX. 


Agriculture  and  mining,  5,  6. 
Alabama,  41,  171,  296. 
Alabandite,  182. 
Alaska,  34,  46,  47,  174,  297,  583. 

beach  gravels,  46. 

Berner's  Bay,  177. 

Gold  Run,  23. 

Nome,  23,  46,  178,  301. 

quartz  mining,  47. 
Alaska-Treadwell  mine,  165,  175,  176, 

354,  434,  512,  586. 
Altar,  Sonora,  Mexico,  30. 
Amalgamation,  499. 

Freiberg,  477,  522. 

pan,  520,  521. 

Patio  process,  Mexico,  476,  503. 

plate  and  barrel,  509. 

raw,  486. 

Washoe  pan  process,  477,  479. 
American  Nettie  mine,  Colo.,  215. 
Ammonoosuc  gold  field,  N.  H.,  253. 
Amargoza  mine,  CaL,  60. 
Ancient  river  gravels,  347. 
Angels'  Camp,  Cal.,  186,  193. 
Annette  Island,  Alaska,  178. 
Appalachian  Mountains,  21. 
Appendix  of  tables,  651. 
Arbacoochee  district,  Ala.,  173. 
Argentite,  167. 
Arizona,  49,  50,  51,  52,  179,  301,  589. 

Congress  mine,  180,  184,  213. 

Crown  King  mine,  183. 

Fortuna  mine,  182. 

mills,  485. 

Tombstone,  50,  179,  181. 
Arkansas,  25,  53,  644. 
Arrastra,  472. 
Aspen,  Colo.,  67,  68,  219. 
Association   of  gold  and  silver,    151, 

164,  167,  186,  248. 
Aurora,  Nev.,  249,  252. 
Australia,  Ballarat,  287. 

Ballarat,  Australia,  287. 

Bank  blasting,  368,  396. 

Bannack  placers,  82. 

Baranof,  35. 

Basement   formation,    South   Dakota, 

262. 

Bassick  mine,  Colo.,  219. 
Beale,  Gen.  E.  F.,  57. 


Beach  gravels,  295. 

Beach-mining,  300. 

Becker,  G.  F.,  155,  156,  158,  341. 

Bechtler,  Christian,  coin,  62. 

Berner's  Bay,  Alaska,  175. 

Bidwell,  John,  58. 

Bingham  canon,  Utah,  106,  267. 

Bitterroot  Range,  Mont.,  242. 

Black  Hills,  South  Dakota,  102,  163, 

262. 

Blake,  W.  P.,  42. 
Blake  crusher,  12,  475. 
Blue-lead,  Cal.,  306. 
Blue  Mountains,  Oregon,  97,  258. 
Bohemia  district,  Oregon,  257. 
Boise  Basin,  Idaho,  230. 
Boly  Fields  vein,  Ga.,  161. 
Bonanzas  in  Comstock  lode,  245,  286. 
Booming,  357. 
Boone,  Daniel,  22. 
Borron,  E.  B.,  37. 
Breakers,  rock,  497. 
Briton,  Dr.  D.  C.,  21. 
Buffalo  Hump,  Idaho,  232. 
Bullfrog  district,  Nev.,  251. 
Butler,  J.  L.,  91. 
Butte,  Mont.,  169,  240. 
Burnt  River,  Oregon,  163. 

California,  54,  155,  162,  164,  169,  184, 
192,  282,  302,  592,  648. 

Lower,  23. 

Calico  district,  60,  193. 
Caminetti  Act,  410. 
Camp  Bird  mine,  Colo.,  214,  429. 
Campbell,  Robert,  34,  35. 
Canada,  36,  80,  194,  596. 
Capacity  of  giants,  368. 
Capital  and  mining,  18. 
Carolina  gold  belt,  196,  311,  312. 
Carolinas,  North  and  South,  196,  312. 

gravels,  312. 
Cassiar,  B.  C.,  46. 
Castillo,  Senior,  55. 
Caving  system,  354,  441. 
Cement  gravels,  294,  325. 
Cerargyrite,  167. 
Character  of  gravels,  312. 
Chippeway,  24. 
Chlorination,  63,  71,  522. 

at  Cripple  Creek,  Colo.,  491,  538. 


721 


722 


INDEX. 


Chlorination,   development  in   United 
States,  532. 

in  Mexico,  490. 

in  the  United  States,  490. 

Plattner  process,  489,  535. 

Russell  process,  536. 
Chronology  of  gold  and  silver  for  years 

1513-1906,  115. 
Cinnabar  with  gold,  193. 
Civilization  and  mining,  1,  5,  11. 

Early  California,  3. 
Clean-up  of  stamp  battery,  518. 
Clearwater  Mountain,  Mont.,  242. 
Cleveland  Peninsula,  Alaska,  177. 
Cliff  mine,  Michigan,  39,  79,  237. 
Coca  Creek,  Term.,  264. 
Cocopahs,  23. 
Coeur  d'Alene,  Idaho,  72,  73,  74,  75, 

226,  227,  421,  439. 
Collection  of  gold  in  river  beds,  290. 
Coloma,  CaL,  55. 
Colombia,  Central  America,  295. 
Colorado  mills,  485. 
Colorado  River,  gold  discovery,  22,  32. 
Colorado,  64,  166,  201,  281,  310,  597. 

Cripple  Creek,  68,  166,  202,  203,  204, 
223,  285,  312,  425,  466,  485,  523 
604,  649. 

Independence  mine,  69,  209. 

Portland  mine,  209. 
Combination  mine,  Nev.,  354. 
Comstock  mills,  483. 
Comstock,  H.  T.  P.,  86,  88,  350,  353. 
Comstock  lode,  Nev.,   169,  244,  352, 

421,  446,  615,  620. 
Concentration,  on  tables,  480. 

blankets,  482. 

buddies,  482. 

Coeur  d'Alene,  Idaho,  523,  525. 

Cripple  Creek,  Colo.,  523. 

Frue  vanners,  481. 

Congress  mine,  Arizona,  180,  184,  213. 
Connecticut,  70,  223. 
Connor,  General,  106. 
Conorado,  28,  201. 
Contact  deposits,   White  Pine,   Nev., 

248. 

Copper,  first  discovery  of,  25. 
Coronatus,  Vasquirus,  28. 
Coso  district,  Nev.,  89. 
Coulterville,  CaL,  187. 
Coyote  claims,  188. 
Cross  mine,  S.  C.,  423. 
Crown  King  mine,  Arizona,  183. 
Crusher,  Blake,  12. 
Curie,  J.  H.,  574. 

Cyanidation,    development   in   U.    S., 
492,  540. 

at  Mercer  mine,  Utah,  541. 

at  Republic  mine,  Wash.,  544. 

historical  sketch,  493. 


Cyanidation,  precipitation,  547. 
MacArthur  process,  547. 
Homestake  mill,  550. 
Siemens-Halske  process,  548. 

Dahlonega,  Ga.,  71,  224,  315. 

method  of  mining,  349,  378. 
Daly  West  mines,  Utah,  109. 
Death  Valley,  Cal.,  58. 
Debris  controversy,  405. 
Deep  gravels,  294,  306. 
De  Lamar  district,  Nev.,  92,  93,  317. 
De  Lamar  district,  Idaho,  74,  75,  229. 
Delhi  mine,  Minn.,  238. 
Depth  of  fissures,  152,  281. 
Depth  of  mines,  CaL,  285. 

of  mines,  Colo.,  287. 
De  Soto,  Hernando,  26,  27. 
Development  of  mining,  16,  418. 
Development  on  Comstock  lode,  251. 
Dissemination  of  values,  170,  282. 
Distribution,  329. 
Discovery  of  copper,  25. 
Discovery  of  gold,  Douglas  Island,  48. 

at  Aspen,  Colo.,  67. 

at  Cripple  Creek,  Colo.,  68. 

at  Grass  Valley,  CaL,  59. 

at/Nome,  Alaska,  23,  46. 
I  at  Rappahannock,  Va.,  27. 
t/at  Santa  Rita,  New  Mexico,  30. 

at  the  Silver  King  mine,  Ariz.,  57. 

first  made,  20. 

in  Alabama,  41. 

in7  Alaska,  42. 

i/in  Appalachian  states,  26. 
/  in  Arkansas,  25,  53. 

in  Arizona,  49. 

in  California,  28,  54,  58. 

in  Canada,  36,  37,  38. 

in  Colorado,  64. 

in  Connecticut,  70. 

in  Death  Valley,  CaL,  58. 
n  Florida,  22. 

in  Georgia,  71. 

in  Idaho,  72. 

in  Illinois,  75. 

in  Indiana,  75. 

in  Michigan,  36,  39,  40. 

in  Nevada,  85. 

in  New  Hampshire,  93. 

in  Oregon,  97. 

in  Plumas  and  Sierra  counties,  CaL, 
59. 

in  South  Dakota,  102. 

in  Texas,  22. 

in  Texas,  New  Mexico,  Arizona  and 
California,  27,  29. 

in  the  Carolinas,  62. 

in  the  Calico  district,  CaL,  60. 

in  the  New  World,  2. 

in  the  Randsburg  district,  CaL,  61. 


INDEX. 


723 


Discovery  of  gold  in  Utah,  109. 

in  Washington,  111. 

in  Wyoming,  114. 

Northwest  Territory,  34. 

of  gold  and  silver,  652. 

of  the  Comstock  lode,  Nev.,  86. 

of  Tonopah,  Nev.,  91. 

on  Colorado  River,  22. 
Ditches  and  flumes,  347,  361. 
Douglas  Island,  Alaska,  176. 
Drag-stone  mills,  470. 
Drainage,  461. 
Drake,  Sir  Francis,  28. 
Dredging,  74,  98,  389. 

capacity  of  buckets,  400. 

interior  work,  397. 

tailing  disposal,  399. 
Dredgers,  348,  393,  400,  401. 
Drift-mining,  383. 
Drilling  in  drift  mines,  388. 
Drills,  power,  356. 
Drumlummon  mine,  Mont.,  241. 
Duncan  mine,  Canada,  195. 
Dutch  FJat,  Cal.,  309. 
Duty  of  miner's  inch  of  water,  365. 
Dynamite,  356. 

East  lode,  Cal.,  191. 

Effect   of  temperature   on   solubility, 

157,  158. 

Elevator,  hydraulic  gravel,  355. 
Electricity  and  mining,  15,  61,  354. 
Elkhorn  district,  Mont.,  259. 
Elkhorn  mine,  83,  242,  259. 
Emma  mine,  Utah,  107. 
Esmeralda  district,  Nev.,  89,  90. 
Esquimaux,  Alaska,  23. 
Eureka  district,  Nev.,  89,  90,  247. 
Explosives,  introduction  in  mines,  352. 
Extraction  of  values,  469. 

historical  sketch,  470. 

methods  of,  496. 

Fair  play  placers,  Colo.,  311. 
Fallacies  in  mining,  169,  170. 
Feeders,  automatic  for  stamps,  475. 
Filter  press,  548. 

Moore,  549. 

Finance  and  mining,  12. 
Fineness  of  gold  and  silver,   162,  163, 

648,  712. 
First  gold  excitement  in  the  United 

States,  110. 
Fisher,  F.  H.,  346. 

Florence  Basin,  Idaho,  317,  231,  317. 
Florence  district,  Idaho,  231. 
Flumes,  361. 
Formation  of  gold,  163. 
Fortuna  mine,  Arizona,  182. 
Foster  and  Whitney's  report,  40. 
Four-mile  placers,  Colo.,  311. 


Franklin  mine,  Ga.,  423. 
Eraser,  John,  59 
Fraser  River,  B.  C.,  36. 
Frozen  gravels,  375. 
Frue  Vanner,  481. 
Fuller  placers,  Colo.,  311. 
Furnace,  O'Hara,  489. 

Bruckner,  489. 

Pardee,  489. 

Stetefeldt,  489. 

General  discussion  of  ore-deposits,  164. 
Geology  of  Colorado,  201. 
Geology  of  Comstock  lode,  244. 
Geological    distribution    of    gold    and 

silver,  329,  682. 
Georgia,  21,  22,  71,  161,  223,  312. 

Franklin  mine,  423. 
Glory  Holes,  354,  447. 
Gold  Run,  Alaska,  23. 
Gold  Hill,  California,  59. 
Gold  Coin  mine,  Colo.,  68. 
Gold  Canon,  Nev.,  85,  87. 
Gold  in  the  sea,  154. 

deposition  of,  159. 

float,  501. 

in  clay,  260,  323. 

in  gravel,  163,  290,  293. 

in  shale,  276. 

mineral  associates,  167. 

nuggets,  275. 

peculiar  occurrence,  166. 
Gold  Mountain  district,  Nev.,  252. 
Goldfield,  Nev.,  251. 
Golden  Age  mine,  Colo.,  217. 
"Goober  "pea,  173. 
Grand  Encampment,  Wyo.,  279. 
Granite  Mountain  mine,  Mont.,  167. 
Grash  Bros.,  87. 
Grass  Valley,  Cal.,  59,  155,  188. 
Gravels,  frozen,  375. 

at  Nome,  beach,  46. 

formation  in  Cal.,  304. 

in  California,  beach,  59,  307. 

in  California,  302,  347. 

in  Coca  Creek,  Tenn.,  264. 

in  Colorado,  310. 

in  Georgia,  161,  313,  314. 

in  Idaho,  73,'74,  315. 

in  Illinois,  318. 

in  Indiana,  75,  318. 

in  Iowa,  318. 

in  Missouri,  81,  319. 

in  Montana,  82,  83,  319. 

in  Nevada,  85,  320. 

in  Nebraska,  84,  320. 

in  Oregon,  beach,  98,  295. 

in  Porto  Rico,  99,  260. 

in  South  Dakota,  102,  325. 

in  the  Philippines,  260. 

in  Vermont,  110,  326. 


724 


INDEX. 


Gravels,  in  Washington,  111,  327 
Ground-sluicing,  189,  357,  243,  358. 

Hahns  Peak,  Col.,  310. 
Harqua  Hala  mine,  Ariz.,  52,  179. 
Harrison  mine,  Md.,  79. 
Hartz  Mountains,  165. 
Hayden,  Prof.,  67. 
Henery,  Alexander,  39. 
Hillside  vein,  Arizona,  182. 
History,  recent,  40. 

early,  26,  340. 

of  Alabama,  41. 

of  Alaska,  42. 

of  mining,  20,  340. 
Hitchcock,  275. 
Holt,  George,  42. 
Homestake  mine,  South  Dakota,  103, 

263,  354,  438,  510. 
Hornsilver  mine,  Utah,  273. 
Hornsilver,  274. 
Houghton,  Dr.,  39. 
Hudson  Bay  Company,  34,  36,  43. 
Humboldt  district,  Nev.,  89. 
Hydraulic-mining,  12,  60,  71,  106,  189, 
296,  344,  360,  374. 

chief,  346. 

elevator,  354,  402,  405. 

giants,  368,  370. 

invention  of,  344. 

Idaho  Springs,  Colo.,  65,  218,  310. 

Idaho,  72,  226,  315,  605. 
Poorman  mine,  229. 

Illinois,  75,  318. 

Independence  mine,  Colo.,  69,  209. 

Indiana,  75,  318,  644. 

Indians,  21,  22,  24,  26,  29,  30,  33,  41, 
43,  49,  51,  73,  77,  113. 

Indian  Territory,  96. 

Influence  of  soft  bed-rock  on  gold  ac- 
cumulation, 290. 

Influence   of   direction   of   stream   on 
gold  deposition,  291. 

Iowa,  645. 

Iron  River,  Mich.,  40,  278. 

Isthmus  of  Panama,  233,  318. 

Jacker,  Father,  24. 

Jackson,  Dr.  C.  T.,  39. 

Jefferson,  Thomas,  27. 

Jet  pump  on  the  Comstock  lode,  463. 

Jones,  C.  C.,  21,  27. 

Judith  Mountain,  Mont.,  239,  240. 

Basin,  Mont.,  240. 
Juneau,  Alaska,  44,  4o. 

Kansas,  76,  233,  319. 
Kelley  lode,  New  Mexico,  255. 
Kemp,  Prof.  J.  F.,  151. 
Kennedy  mine,  Cal.,  282,  283. 


Kentucky,  77,  233. 

Kern  River,  Cal.,  60. 

Ketchikan   district,    Alaska,    48,    177. 

299. 

Keweenaw  Point,  Mich.,  39,  79,  237. 
King,  Clarence,  329. 
Kino,  Father,  22,  29. 

Labor  and  mining,  10. 

Lake  Superior  Region,  36. 

Lake  Valley  district,  New  Mexico,  254. 

Language,  Cal.,  Ore.,  etc.,  4. 

La  Prouse,  34. 

La  Plata  mine,  Colo.,  222. 

Larkin,  T.  O.,  33. 

Leadville,  Colo.,  29,  169,  310. 

Legends,  20,  24. 

Leon,  Ponce  de,  26. 

Lindgren,  155,  239,  205,  282,  284,  286, 

Linked  veins,  171. 

Litigation  over  de"bris,  408. 

Little  giant,  346. 

Losses     resulting     from     closure     of 

hydraulic  mines,  410. 
Losses  in  gold  milling,  502. 
Lubec  lead  mines,  Maine,  77. 

Macfarlanite,  195. 
Maine,  77,  235,  645. 
Mammoth  mine,  Ariz.,  184. 

Colorado.,  242. 

Utah,  271. 
Marshall,  J.  W.,  55. 
Maryland,  78,  236. 
Marysville  district,  Mont.,  241. 
Massachusetts,  79,  236,  645. 
Masses  of  gold,  161,  185. 
Matteson,  E.  E.,  60,  344. 
McLeod,  34. 

Mercur  mines,  Utah,  107,  108,  267,  441. 
Mercury  traps,  516. 
Merrimac  mine,  Mass.,  237. 
Mesozoic  rocks,  336. 
Metallurgy,  527. 

Mexican  methods  of  mining,  350. 
Mexicans,  30,  32,  33,  53. 
Mexico,  mines  in,  27,  28,  165. 
Michigan,  646. 
Milling,  496,  509,  512,  523. 
Mills,  tube,  498. 

Colorado,  485. 

first  quartz,  in  Cal.,  189. 
Mining,  1,  340,  352,  354,  356,  413. 

and  finance,  12. 

and  science,  14. 

bedded  deposits,  441. 

drift,  383. 

electricity  in,  15. 

hydraulic,  12,  60,  71,  106,  189. 

in  Alaska,  47. 


INDEX. 


725 


Mining,  industry,  2,  16. 

masses,  446. 

narrow  veins,  423,  425. 

ores,  340. 

placer,  61,  63. 

river,  189,  347,  379. 

river  bars,  44. 

schools,  15. 

vein  in  North  Carolina,  63. 

wide  veins,  431. 

Minerals  associated  with  gold,  167. 
Mine  support,  449. 
Miner's  inch,  363. 
Mines  in  Mexico,  27. 
Minnesota,  80,  238,  319,  646. 
Miruelo,  Diego,  22,  26. 
Missouri,  81,  239,  319,  647. 
Missoula  gulch,  Mont.,  240. 
Mississippi,  81,  319. 
Mogollon  Range,  New  Mexico,  255. 
Montana,  82,  169,  239,  241,  319,  610. 
Monte    Cristo     district,    Washington, 

277. 

Monzonite  sand,  316. 
Mother  lode,  Cal.,  186,  187,  188,  190, 

302,  353,  593. 

Mountain  Lion  mine,  Washington,  277. 
Mount  Morgan  mine,  Australia,  281. 

Narvaez,  Pamphilo,  22. 

Nebraska,  84,  320. 

Nevada,  85,  91,  243,  320,  614. 

Combination  mine,  354. 

De  Lamar,  92,  93,  317. 

Potosi  mines,  89. 
New  Hampshire,  93,  253,  647. 
New  Jersey,  94,  253. 
New  Mexico,  94,  254,  321,  622. 
New  York,  95,  256. 
Niccolite,  195,  196. 
North  Fork  Dry  Diggings,  Cal.,  58. 
Nova  Scotia,  288,  649. 
Nuggets,  gold,  275. 

Occurrence  of  gold  and  silver,  151,  165, 
171,  174,  184,  194,  201,  238,  241, 
244,  257,  265,  266,  271,  278,  289. 
and  association  of  gold  and  silver, 

660. 

in  gravels,  289,  293. 
in  masses,  161,  185. 
Ohio,  96,  321. 
Oklahoma,  96,  256. 
Old  Telegraph  mine,  Utah,  269. 
Older  crystalline  rocks,  234. 
Omercia,  B.  C.,  36. 
Ontario  mine,  Utah,  109. 
Ontonagon,  Michigan,  278. 
Organ    Mountains,    New  Mexico,    95, 

255. 
Oregon,  97,  163,  257,  322,  625. 


O'Reiley,  Peter,  86,  88. 

Ores,  555. 

Origin  of  beach  gravel  deposits,  296. 

of  gold  and  silver,  155,  160. 
Osborne,  J.  B.,  60. 
Oxidation,  281. 

Packard,  L.  R.,  21. 

Park  City,  Utah,  273. 

Pearl  district,  Idaho,  231. 

Pearce  mine,  Arizona,  52,  179,  182. 

Pennsylvania,  99,  260,  323. 

Permanency  in  depth,  16,  280. 

Philippines,  260,  324. 

Phillips,  W.  B.,  41. 

Pineda,  22. 

Pinal  Mountains,  Arizona,  180. 

Pipes  for  hydraulic  mining,  367. 

Placers,  48,  59,  60,  61,  67,  71. 

formed  by  landslides,  292. 
Pocket  mines  of  California,  60,  171. 
Poorman  mine,  Idaho,  229. 
Population  of  California,  3,  11. 
Porto  Rico,  99,  260,  324. 
Portland  mine,  Colo.,  209. 
Posepny,  Franz,  152. 
Potosi  district,  Nev.,  89. 
Presidio  mine,  Texas,  105,  264. 
Production  of  ores  and  metals,  8,  13, 
14,  17. 

Alaska,  583. 

Arkansas,  644. 

Arizona,  589. 

biggest  mines,  574. 

by  states  and  territories,  578. 

California,  592. 

Canada,  596. 

Colorado,  597. 

copper  mines,  Cliff  mine,  39. 

estimates  of,  575. 

gold  and  silver,  553. 

Idaho,  605. 

Indiana,  644. 

Iowa,  645. 

Maine,  645. 

Massachusetts,  645. 

Michigan,  646. 

Minnesota,  646. 

Montana,  610. 

Nevada,  614. 

New  Hampshire,  647. 

New  Mexico,  622. 

Oregon,  625. 

other  states,  643. 

southern  states,  578. 

South  Dakota,  621. 

Texas,  647. 

the  world,  564. 

United  States,  557. 

Utah,  634. 

Vermont,  647 


726 


INDEX. 


Production  of  ores  and  metals,  Wash- 
ington, 638. 

Wyoming,  642. 
Prospecting,  413. 

at  Nome,  47,  300. 

gravels,  300,  357. 

prejudices  in,  169. 
Prospector,  a  civilizer,  2. 
Pyrolusite,  169. 

Quiyera,  28. 

Rabbit,  Mountain  district,  Canada,  38. 

Rainy  Lake  district,  Minn.,  80,  239. 

Randsburg  district,  Cal.,  61,  192. 

Ransome,  F.  L.,  284,  286. 

Raymond,  Captain,  35. 

Raymond,  R.  W.,  19,  574. 

Red  Point  drift  mine,  Cal.,  309. 

Red  ores,  Isthmus  of  Panama,  233. 

Reduction  of  ores,  496. 

Reed  mine,  North  Carolina,  199. 

Reed  nugget,  62,  189. 

Refractory  ores,  166. 

Relation  of  values  to  depth,  289. 

Renewal  of  gold  in  gravel,  289. 

Republic  mine,  Washington,  111,  276. 

Rickard,  T.  A.,  64,  154,  264,  552. 

Rico,  Colo.,  216. 

Riffles,  371. 

Rio  Grande,  29. 

River-mining,  189,  347,  379. 

Road   building  in   Cal.,   and   Alaska, 

etc.,  7. 

Rockers,  342. 
Rolls,  Cornish,  476. 
Ropes,  Julius,  79. 
Ruby  gravel  mine,  Cal.,  162. 
Ruby  Hill,  Nev.,  248. 
Rudefeha  mine,  Wyoming,  114. 
Russian  American  Co.,  36. 

Samplers,  Colo.,  practice,  528. 

San  Juan,  Colorado,  202,  212. 

San  Xavier  del  Bac,  29,  94. 

Santa  Fe",  New  Mexico,  29. 

Santa  Rita,  30,  49,  94. 

Saratoga  district,  Wyoming,  279. 

Schiefflin,  44,  50. 

Science  and  mining,  14. 

Selenium,  168. 

Sets,  timber,  452. 

Seven  Devils  camp,  Idaho,  232. 

Seward  Peninsula,  Alaska,  175. 

Sheep  Creek  Basin,  Alaska,  176. 

Sheppard,  Prof.,  37,  38. 

Sheridan  mine,  Colo.,  220. 

Sierra  de  Mogollon  mines,  95. 

Silver,  29,  37,  38,  168,  203,  233,  235, 

238,  240,  260. 
in  clay  and  sandstone,  273. 


Silver  in  shale,  276. 

mines  of  Michigan,  79. 

native,  194,  195,  237. 
Silver  Hill,  North  Carolina,  198,  201. 
Silver  Valley,  North  Carolina,  198. 
Silver  City  district,  Idaho,  229. 
Silver  Mountain  district,  38. 
Silver  Islet,  Canada,  38,  194. 
Silver  Reef,  Utah,  108,  273. 
Silver  King  mine,   Arizona,   51,   107, 

180,  226. 

Silver  Cliff  mine,  Colo.,  219. 
Silver-ton  district,  Washington,  278. 
Six  Mile  Canon,  Nev.,  86. 
Sluices,  343,  371,  374. 
Smelting,  pyritic,  486,  527,  529. 

Boston  and  Colorado  works,  487. 

in  Colorado,  88. 
Smith,  Capt.  John,  110. 
Smuggler-Union  mines,  Colo.,  67,  220. 
Snake  river  gold,  316. 
Solubility  of  mineral  matter,  155,  158, 

159,  161. 
South  Dakota,  102,  262,  325,  484,  621. 

mills,  484. 

Spaniards,  21,  29,  31. 
Square  sets,  453,  457. 
Stamps,  473. 

first  in  California,  473. 

first  in  Nevada,  474. 

Howland  circular,  475. 

in  Colorado,  491. 

steam,  12. 

use  of,  497. 
Stanford,  C.  P.,  475. 
Standley  mine,  Colo.,  218,  425. 
Stewart  River,  B.  C.,  45. 
Stratton,  W.  C.,  68. 
Stratton,  Independence,  Colo.,  209. 
Stulls,  451. 
Sulphide  of  gold,  161. 
Sulphur  Creek,  California,  193. 
Sulphurets,  479,  483,  487. 
Sutro,  A.,  353. 

Tabbott,  J.  F.,  344. 

Table  Mountain,  348. 

Tailing  mills,  Comstock  lode,  488. 

Telegraph  expedition,  42. 

Tellurium,  166,  168,  264. 

Telluride,  Colorado,  220. 

Tellurides  of  gold  and  silver,  168,  169, 

186,  203. 

Tennessee,  104,  264,  326. 
Tertiary  rocks,  338,  343. 
Tetrahedrite,  168,  181. 
Texas,  22,  105,  264,  326,  647. 
Theory  of  ore-deposits,  151. 
Thunder  Mountain  district,  Idaho,  230, 

317. 
Thunder  Bay,  37. 


INDEX. 


727 


Tiger-Poorman  mines,  Idaho,  73. 
Timber,  kinds  of,  449. 
Timbering,  451. 

of  shafts,  459. 

on  the  Comstock  lode,  454. 
Tintic  district,  Utah,  107,  271. 
Tombstone,  Arizona,  50,  179,  181,  590. 
Tonopah,  Nevada,  91,  250. 
Transportation  and  mining,  6,  7,  8,  9, 

10. 

Trout  and  Fisherman  mines,  Colo.,  66. 
Truscott,  288. 

Tucson,  Arizona,  29,  52,  179. 
Tunnel,  Sutro,  353,  464. 

at  Cripple  Creek,  Colo.,  467. 

bed-rock,  384. 

in  Coeur  d'Algne  district,  465. 
Tuomey,  312,  343. 

Under-currents,  371. 
United  Verde,  Arizona,  183. 
Utah,    106,    169,   266,   281,   326,   421, 
484. 

Emma  mine,  107. 

Horn  Silver  mine,  273. 

Mercur  mines,  107,  108,  267,  441. 

mills,  484. 

Old  Telegraph  mine,  269. 

Ontario  mine,  109. 

Park  City,  273. 

Silver  Reef,  108,  273. 
Utica  mine,  Cal.,  191,  193,  283,  431. 

Van  Hise,  C.  R.,  153. 
Vein-mining,  349. 


Ventilation  of  mines,  467. 
Vermont,  109,  275,  326,  647. 
Virginia,  110,  275,  326. 
Viscaino,  Don  Sebastain,  28. 

Warren  district,  Idaho,  231. 
Wasatch  Mountains,  Utah,  266. 
Washington,  111,  276,  327,  638. 

Republic  mine,  111,  276. 
Washing  gold,  341. 

Long  Tom,  343. 

Rockers,  342. 
Water,  miner's  inch,  363. 
Wealth  of  the  New  World,  2. 
Weed,  W.  H.,  612. 
Whittlesey,  Charles,  23. 
Whitney  and  Foster's  report,  40. 
White  Pine  district,  Nev.,  90,  248,  252. 
Width  of  veins,  282. 
Wilson,  inventor  steam  stamp,  12. 
Wing  dams  in  river-mining,  380. 
Wisconsin,  113,  278,  327. 
Wit  waters  rand     gold     fields,      South 

Africa,  288. 
Womack,  Robert,  68. 
Wood  River  district,  Idaho,  231. 
Wyoming,  113,  279/327. 

Yield  of  ores  by  districts  and  mines, 

686. 

Yield  of  Comstock  ores,  246. 
Yield  of  gravels,  308,  311,  312,  316, 

317,  318;  320,  321,  322,  323,  324, 

325,  326,  327,  360,  710. 
Yukon  River,  34,  35,  43. 


SHORT-TITLE     CATALOGUE 

OP  THE 

PUBLICATIONS 

JOHN   WILEY   &    SONS, 

NEW  YORK. 
LONDON:   CHAPMAN  &  HALL,  LIMITED. 


ARRANGED  UNDER  SUBJECTS. 


Descriptive  circulars  sent  on  application.      Books  marked  \\ith   an  asterisk  (*)  are  sold 
at   net  prices   only.       All  books  are  bound  in  cloth  unless  otherwise  stated. 


AGRICULTURE. 

Armsby's  Manual  of  Cattle-feeding izmo,  Si  75 

Principles  of  Animal  Nutrition 8vo,  4  oo 

Budd  and  Hansen's  American  Horticultural  Manual: 

Part  I.  Propagation,  Culture,  and  Improvement I2mo,  i  50 

Part  II.  Systematic  Pomology 12100,  i  50 

Elliott's  Engineering  for  Land  Drainage i2mo,  i  50 

Practical  Farm  Drainage i2mo,  i  oo 

Graves's  Forest  Mensuration 8vo,  4  oo- 

Green's  Principles  of  American  Forestry i2mo,  i  50- 

Grotenfelt's  Principles  of  Modern  Dairy  Practice.     (Woll.) i2mo,  2  oo 

Hanausek's  Microscopy  of  Technical  Products.     (Winton.) 8vo,  5  oo» 

Herrick's  Denatured  or  Industrial  Alcohol 8vo,  4  oo> 

Maynard's  Landscape  Gardening  as  Applied  to  Home  Decoration i2mo,  i  50 

*  McKay  and  Larsen's  Principles  and  Practice  of  Butter-making 8vo,  i  50 

Sanderson's  Insects  Injurious  to  Staple  Crops i2mo,  i  50 

*Schwarz's  Longleaf  Pine  in  Virgin  Forest lamo,    i  25 

Stockbridge's  Rocks  and  Soils 8vo,  2  50 

Winton's  Microscopy  of  Vegetable  Foods ." 8vo,  7  50 

Woll's  Handbook  for  Farmers  and  Dairymen i6mo,  i  50 


ARCHITECTURE. 

Baldwin's  Steam  Heating  for  Buildings 12010,  2  50 

Bashore's  Sanitation  of  a  Country  House 12010,  i  oo 

Berg's  Buildings  and  Structures  of  American  Railroads 4to,  5  oo 

Birkmire's  Planning  and  Construction  of  American  Theatres 8vo,  3  oo 

Architectural  Iron  and  Steel 8vo,  3  50 

Compound  Riveted  Girders  as  Applied  in  Buildings 8vo,  2  oo 

Planning  and  Construction  of  High  Office  Buildings 8vo,  3  50 

Skeleton  Construction  in  Buildings 8vo,  3  oo 

Brigg's  Modern  American  School  Buildings 8vo,  4  oo 

Carpenter's  Heating  and  Ventilating  of  Buildings 8vo,  4  oo 

1 


Freitag's  Architectural  Engineering 8vo.    3  50 

Fireproofing  of  Steel  Buildings 8vo,     2  50 

French  and  Ives's  Stereotomy 8vo, 


Gerhard's  Guide  to  Sanitary  House-inspection i6mo, 

Sanitation  of  Public  Buildings .  I2mo, 

Theatre  Fires  and  Panics i2mo, 


5° 
oo 
50 
50 

*Greene's  Structural  Mechanics 8vo,        50 

Holly's  Carpenters'  and  Joiners'  Handbook i8mo,        75 

Johnson's  Statics  by  Algebraic  and  Graphic  Methods .8vo,    2  oo 

Kellaway 's  How  to  Lay  Out  Suburban  Home  Grounds 8vo,     2  oo 

Kidder's  Architects' and  Builders' Pocket-book.  Rewritten  Edition.  i6mo,mor.,  5  oo 

Merrill's  Stones  for  Building  and  Decoration '. .  .  .  .8vo,    5  oo 

Non-metallic  Minerals:    Their  Occurrence  and  Uses 8vo,    4  oo 

Monckton's  Stair-building 4to,    4  oo 

Patton's  Practical  Treatise  on  Foundations 8vo,    5  oo 

Peabody's  Naval  Architecture 8vo,    7  50 

Rice's  Concrete-block  Manufacture 8vo,     2  oo 

Richey's  Handbook  for  Superintendents  of  Construction i6mo,  mor.,    4  oo 

*  Building  Mechanics'  Ready  Reference  Book : 

*  Carpenters'  and  Woodworkers'  Edition i6mo,  morocco,    i   50 

*  Cementworkers  and  Plasterer's  Edition.     (In  Press.) 

*  Stone-  and  Brick-mason's  Edition 121110,  mcr.,     i   50 

Sabin's  Industrial  and  Artistic  Technology  of  Paints  and  Varnish 8vo,    3  oo 

Siebert  and  Biggin's  Modern  Stone-cutting  and  Masonry 8vo,     i  50 

Snow's  Principal  Species  of  Wood 8vo,    3  50 

Sondericker's  Graphic  Statics  with  Applications  to  Trusses,  Beams,  and  Arches. 

8vo,    2  oo 

Towne's  Locks  and  Builders'  Hardware i8mo,  morocco,    3  oo 

Turneaure  and  Maurer's  Principles  of  Reinforced  Concrete  Construc- 
tion  8vo,    3  oo 

Wait's  Engineering  and  Architectural  Jurisprudence 8vo,    6  oo 

Sheep,    6  50 

Law  of  Operations  Preliminary  to  Construction  in  Engineering  and  Archi- 
tecture  8vo,    5  oo 

Sheep,    5  50 

Law  of  Contracts 8vo,    3  oo 

Wilson's  Air  Conditioning,     ijn  Press.) 

Wood's  Rustless  Coatings:   Corrosion  and  Electrolysis  of  Iron  and  Steel.  .8vo,    4  oo 
Worcester  and  Atkinson's  Small  Hospitals,  Establishment  and  Maintenance, 
Suggestions  for  Hospital  Architecture,  with  Plans  for  a  Small  Hospital. 

i2mo,     i  25 
The  World's  Columbian  Exposition  of  1893 Large  4to,     i  oo 


ARMY  AND  NAVY. 

Bernadou's  Smokeless  Powder,  Nitro-cellulose,  and  the  Theory  of  the  Cellulose 

Molecule i2mo,  2  50 

Chase's  Screw  Propellers  and  Marine  Propulsion 8vo,  3  oo 

Cloke's  Gunner's  Examiner 8vo,  i  50 

Craig's  Azimuth 4to,  3  50 

Crehore  and  Squier's  Polarizing  Photo-chronograph 8vo,  3  oo 

*  Davis's  Elements  of  Law 8vo,  2  50 

"*•         Treatise  on  the  Military  Law  of  United  States 8vo.  7  oo 

Sheep,  7  50 

De  Brack's  Cavalry  Outposts  Duties.     (Carr.) 24010,  morocco,  2  oo 

Dietz's  Soldier's  First  Aid  Handbook i6mo,  morocco,  i  25 

.  *  Dudley's  Military  Law  and  the  Procedure  of  Courts-martial. .  .  Large  i2mo,  2  50 

Durand's  Resistance  and  Propulsion  of  Ships 8vo,  5  oo 


*  Dyer's  Handbook  of  Light  Artillery 12010,  3  oo 

Eissler's  Modern  High  Explosives 8vo,  4  oo 

*  Fiebeger's  Text-book  on  Field  Fortification Small  8vo,  2  oo 

Hamilton's  The  Gunner's  Catechism i8mo,  i  oo 

*  Hoff 's  Elementary  Naval  Tactics 8vo,  i  50 

Ingalls's  Handbook  of  Problems  in  Direct  Fire 8vo,  4  oo 

*  Lissak's  Ordnance  and  Gunnery 8vo,  6  oo 

*  Lyons's  Treatise  on  Electromagnetic  Phenomena.  Vols.  I.  and  II.  .  8vo,  each,  6  oo 

*  Mahan's  Permanent  Fortifications.     (Mercur.) 8vo,  half  morocco,  7  50 

Manual  for  Courts-martial '. .  .  .  i6mo,  morocco,  I  50 

*  Mercur's  Attack  of  Fortified  Places i2mo,  2  oo 

*  Elements  of  the  Art  of  War 8vo,  4  oo 

Metcalf's  Cost  of  Manufactures — And  the  Administration  of  Workshops.  .8vo,  5  oa 

*  Ordnance  and  Gunnery.     2  vols I2mo,  5  oo- 

Murray's  Infantry  Drill  Regulations i8mo,  paper,  iO' 

Nixon's  Adjutants'  Manual 24mo,  i  oo- 

Peabody's  Naval  Architecture 8vo,  7  50 

*  Phelps's  Practical  Marine  Surveying 8vo,  2  50 

Powell's  Army  Officer's  Examiner I2mo,  4  oo 

Sharpe's  Art  of  Subsisting  Armies  in  War i8mo,  morocco,  i  50 

*  Tupes  and  Poole's  Manual  of  Bayonet  Exercises  and    Musketry  Fencing. 

2400,  leather,  50 

Weaver's  Military  Explosives 8vo,  3  oo 

Wheeler's  Siege  Operations  and  Military  Mining 8vo,  2  oo 

Winthrop's  Abridgment  of  Military  Law 1 21110,  2  50 

Woodhull's  Notes  on  Military  Hygiene i6mo,  i  50 

Young's  Simple  Elements  of  Navigation i6mo,  morocco,  2  oo 


ASSAYING. 

Fletcher's  Practical  Instructions  in  Quantitative  Assaying  with  the  Blowpipe. 

I2mo,  morocco,  i  50 

Furman's  Manual  of  Practical  Assaying 8vo,  3  oo 

Lodge's  Notes  on  Assaying  and  Metallurgical  Laboratory  Experiments.  .  .  .8vo,  3  oo 

Low's  Technical  Methods  of  Ore  Analysis 8vo,  3  oo 

Miller's  Manual  of  Assaying i2mo,  i  oo 

Cyanide  Process I2mo,  i  oo 

Minet's  Production  of  Aluminum  and  its  Industrial  Use.     (Waldo.) 12 mo,  2  50 

O'Driscoll's  Notes  on  the  Treatment  of  Gold  Ores 8vo,  2  oo 

Ricketts  and  Miller's  Notes  on  Assaying 8vo,  3  oo 

Robine  and  Lenglen's  Cyanide  Industry.     (Le  Clerc.) 8vo,  4  oo 

Ulke's  Modern  Electrolytic  Copper  Refining 8vo,  3  oo 

Wilson's  Cyanide  Processes i2mo,  i  50 

Chlorination  Process i2mo,  i  50 


ASTRONOMY. 

Comstock's  Field  Astronomy  for  Engineers 8vo,  2  50 

Craig's  Azimuth 4to,  3  50 

Crandall's  Text-book  on  Geodesy  and  Least  Squares 8vo,  3  oo 

Doolittle's  Treatise  on  Practical  Astronomy 8vo,  4  oo 

Gore's  Elements  of  Geodesy 8vo,  2  50 

Hayford's  Text-book  of  Geodetic  Astronomy 8vo,  3  oo 

Merriman's  Elements  ot  Precise  Surveying  and  Geodesy 8vo,  2  50 

*  Michie  and  Harlow's  Practical  Astronomy 8vo,  3  oo 

*  White's  Elements  of  Theoretical  and  Descriptive  Astronomy i2mo,  2  oo 

3 


BOTANY. 

Davenport's  Statistical  Methods,  with  Special  Reference  to  Biological  Variation. 

i6mo,  morocco,  i  25 

Thome  and  Bennett's  Structural  and  Physiological  Botany i6mo,  2  25 

Westermaier's  Compendium  of  General  Botany.     (Schneider.) 8vo,  2  oo 

CHEMISTRY. 

*  Abegg's  Theory  of  Electrolytic  Dissociation.    (Von  Ende.) i2mo,  i   25 

Adriance's  Laboratory  Calculations  and  Specific  Gravity  Tables i2mo,  i  25 

Alexeyeff's  General  Principles  of  Organic  Synthesis.     (Matthews.) 8vo,  3  oo 

Allen's  Tables  for  Iron  Analysis 8vo,  3  co 

Arnold's  Compendium  of  Chemistry.     (Mandel.) Small  8vo,  3  50 

Austen's  Notes  for  Chemical  Students i2mo,  i  50 

Beard '  s  Mine  Gases  and  Explosions .     (In  Press. ) 

Bernadou's  Smokeless  Powder. — Nitro-cellulose,  and  Theory  of  the  Cellulose 

Molecule i2mo ,  2  50 

Bolduan's  Immune  Sera 12mo,  i  rO 

*  Browning's  Introduction  to  the  Rarer  Elements 8vo,  i  50 

Brush  and  Penfield's  Manual  of  Determinative  Mineralogy 8vo,  4  oo 

*  Claassen's  Beet-sugar  Manufacture.     (Hall  and  Rolfe.) 8vo,  3  oo 

Classen's  Quantitative  Chemical  Analysis  by  Electrolysis.    (Boltwood.).  .8vo,  3  oo 

Cohn's  Indicators  and  Test-papers i2mo,  2  oo 

Tests  and  Reagents 8vo,  3  oo 

Crafts's  Short  Course  in  Qualitative  Chemical  Analysis.   (Schaeffer.). .  .i2mo,  i  50 

*  Danneel's  Electrochemistry.     (Merriam.) i2mo,  i  25 

Dolezalek's  Theory  of  the   Lead  Accumulator   (Storage   Battery).        (Von 

Ende.) i2mo,  2  50 

Drechsel's  Chemical  Reactions.     (Merrill.) ."  i2mo,  i  25 

Duhem's  Thermodynamics  and  Chemistry.     (Burgess.) 8vo,  4  oo 

Eissler's  Modern  High  Explosives 8vo,  4  oo 

Effront's  Enzymes  and  their  Applications.     (Prescott.) 8vo,  3  oo 

Erdmann's  Introduction  to  Chemical  Preparations.     (Dunlap.) I2mo,  i   25 

*  Fischer's  Physiology  of  Alimentation . . Large  I2mo,  2  oo 

Fletcher's  Practical  Instructions  in  Quantitative  Assaying  with  the  Blowpipe. 

i2mo,  morocco,  i  50 

Fowler's  Sewage  Works  Analyses i2mo,  2  oo 

Fresenius's  Manual  of  Qualitative  Chemical  Analysis.     (Wells.) 8vo,  5  oo 

Manual  of  Qualitative  Chemical  Analysis.  Part  I.  Descriptive.  (Wells.)  8vo,  3  oo 

Quantitative  Chemical  Analysis.    (Cohn.)     2  vols 8vo,  12  50 

Fuertes's  Water  and  Public  Health I2mo,  i  50 

Furman's  Manual  of  Practical  Assaying 8vo,  3  oo 

*  Getman's  Exercises  in  Physical  Chemistry 12 mo, 

Gill's  Gas  and  Fuel  Analysis  for  Engineers.  . i2mo, 


*  Gooch  and  Browning's  Outlines  of  Qualitative  Chemical  Analysis.  Small  8vo, 

Grotenfelt's  Principles  of  Modern  Dairy  Practice.     (Woll.) i2mo, 

Groth's  Introduction  to  Chemical  Crystallography  (Marshall) i2mo, 


oo 
25 

25 

00 
25 

Hammarsten's  Text-book  of  Physiological  Chemistry.     (Mandel.) 8vo,  4  oo 

Hanausek's  Microscopy  of  Technical  Products.     (Winton. ) 8vo,  5  oo 

*  Haskin's  and  MacLeod's  Organic  Chemistry 12mo,  2  oo 

Helm's  Principles  of  Mathematical  Chemistry.     (Morgan.) i2mo,  i  50 

Bering's  Ready  Reference  Tables  (Conversion  Factors) i6mo,  morocco,  2  50 

Herrick's  Denatured  or  Industrial  Alcohol 8vo,  4  oo 

Hind's  Inorganic  Chemistry 8vo,  3  oo 

*  Laboratory  Manual  for  Students I2mo,    i  oo 

Holleman's  Text-book  of  Inorganic  Chemistry.     (Cooper.) 8vo,    2  50 

Text-book  of  Organic  Chemistry.     (Walker  and  Mott.) 8vo,    2  50 

*  Laboratory  Manual  of  Organic  Chemistry.     (Walker.) i2mo,    i  o» 

4 


Holley  and  Ladd's  Analysis  of  Mixed  Paints,  Color  Pigments ,  and  Varnishes. 
(In  Press) 

Hopkins's  Oil-chemists'  Handbook 8vo,    3  oo 

Iddings's  Rock  Minerals 8vo,    5  oo 

Jackson's  Directions  for  Laboratory  Work  in  Physiological  Chemistry.  .8vo,     i  25 
Johannsen's  Key  for  the  Determination  of  Rock -forming  Minerals  in  Thin  Sec- 
tions.    (In  Press) 

Keep's  Cast  Iron 8vo,    2  50 

Ladd's  Manual  of  Quantitative  Chemical  Analysis i2mo,    i  oo 

Landauer's  Spectrum  Analysis.     (Tingle.) 8vo,    3  oo 

*  Langworthy  and  Austen.        The   Occurrence   of  Aluminium  in  Vegetable 

Products,  Animal  Products,  and  Natural  Waters 8vo,  2  oo 

Lassar-Cohn's  Application  of  Some  General  Reactions  to  Investigations  in 

Organic  Chemistry.  (Tingle.) i2mo,  i  oo 

Leach's  The  Inspection  and  Analysis  of  Food  with  Special'Reference  to  State 

Control 8vo,  7  50 

Lob's  Electrochemistry  of  Organic  Compounds.  (Lorenz.) 8vo,  3  oo 

Lodge's  Notes  on  Assaying  and  Metallurgical  Laboratory  Experiments. ..  .8vo,  3  oo 

Low's  Technical  Method  of  Ore  Analysis 8vo,  3  oo 

Lunge's  Techno-chemical  Analysis.  (Cohn.) i2mo  i  oo 

*  McKay  and  Larsen's  Principles  and  Practice  of  Butter-making 8vo,     i  50 

Maire's  Modern  Pigments  and  their  vehicles.     (In  Press.) 

Mandel's  Handbook  for  Bio-chemical  Laboratory i2mo,     i  50 

*  Martin's  Laboratory  Guide  to  Qualitative  Analysis  with  the  Blowpipe .  .  I2mo,         60 
Mason's  Water-supply.     (Considered  Principally  from  a  Sanitary  Standpoint.) 

3d  Edition,  Rewritten 8vo,    4  oo 

Examination  of  Water.     (Chemical  and  Bacteriological.) I2mo,     i  25 

Matthew's  The  Textile  Fibres.    2d  Edition,  Rewritten 8vo,    400 

Meyer's  Determination  of  Radicles  in  Carbon  Compounds.     (Tingle.).  .i2mo, 

Miller's  Manual  of  Assaying 121110, 

Cyanide  Process I2mo, 


oo 
oo 
oo 
50 
50 

00 


Minet's  Production  of  Aluminum  and  its  Industrial  Use.     (Waldo.) .  .  .  .  I2mo, 

Mixter's  Elementary  Text-book  of  Chemistry I2mo, 

Morgan's  An  Outline  of  the  Theory  of  Solutions  and  its  Results i2mo, 

Elements  of  Physical  Chemistry 121110,    3  oo 

*  Physical  Chemistry  for  Electrical  Engineers i2mo,    5  oo 

Morse's  Calculations  used  in  Cane-sugar  Factories i6mo,  morocco,     i  50 

*  Muir's  History  of  Chemical  Theories  and  Laws 8vo,     4  oo 

Mulliken's  General  Method  for  the  Identification  of  Pure  Organic  Compounds. 

Vol.  I Large  8vo,    5  oo 

O'DriscolTs  Notes  on  the  Treatment  of  Gold  Ores 8vo, 

Ostwald's  Conversations  on  Chemistry.     Part  One.     (Ramsey.) i2mo, 


Part  Two.     (Turnbull.) i2mo, 

*  Palmer's  Practical  Test  Book  of  Chemistry I2mo, 

*  Pauli's  Physical  Chemistry  in  the  Service  of  Medicine.     (Fischer. ) .  .  .  .  I2mo, 

*  Penfield's  Notes  on  Determinative  Mineralogy  and  Record  of  Mineral  Tests. 

8vo,  paper,  50 

Pictet's  The  Alkaloids  and  their  Chemical  Constitution.     (Biddle.) 8vo,  5  oo 

Pinner's  Introduction  to  Organic  Chemistry.     (Austen.) I2mo,  i  50 

Poole's  Calorific  Power  of  Fuels 8vo,  3  oo 

Prescott  and  Wirislow's  Elements  of  Water  Bacteriology,  with  Special  Refer- 
ence to  Sanitary  Water  Analysis I2mo,  i  25 

*  Reisig's  Guide  to  Piece-dyeing 8vo,  25  oo 

Richards  and  Woodman's  Air,  Water,  and  Food  from  a  Sanitary  Standpoint. .8vo ,  2  oo 

Ricketts  and  Miller's  Notes  on  Assaying 8vo,  3  oo 

Rideal's  Sewage  and  the  Bacterial  Purification  of  Sewage 8vo,  4  oo 

Disinfection  and  the  Preservation  of  Food 8vo,  4  oo 

Riggs's  Elementary  Manual  for  the  Chemical  Laboratory 8vo,  i  25 

Robine  and  Lenglen's  Cyanide  Industry.     (Le  Clerc.) 8vo,  4  oo 

5 


Ruddiman's  Incompatibilities  in  Prescriptions 8vo,  2  oo> 

*  Whys  in  Pharmacy lamo,  i  oo 

Sabin's  Industrial  and  Artistic  Technology  of  Paints  and  Varnish .  .8vo»  3  oo 

Salkowski's  Physiological  and  Pathological  Chemistry.     (Orndorff.).  .  .  .  .8vo,  2  50 

Schimpf  s  Text-book  of  Volumetric  Analysis i2mo,  2  50 

Essentials  of  Volumetric  Analysis tamo,  i  25 

*  Qualitative  Chemical  Analysis 8vo,  i   25 

Smith's  Lecture  Notes  on  Chemistry  for  Dental  Students 8vo,  2  50 

Spencer's  Handbook  for  Chemists  of  Beet-sugar  Houses i6mo,  morocco  3  oo 

Handbook  for  Cane  Sugar  Manufacturers i6mo.  morocco.  3  oo 

Stockbridge's  Rocks  and  Soils 8vo,  2  50 

*  Tillman's  Elementary  Lessons  in  Heat 8vo,  I  50 

*  Descriptive  General  Chemistry 8vo»  3  oo 

Treadwell's  Qualitative  Analysis.     (Hall.) • 8vor  3  oo 

Quantitative  Analysis.     (Hall.) 8vo,  4  oo 

Turneaure  and  Russell's  Public  Water-supplies 8vo,  5  oo 

Van  Deventer's  Physical  Chemistry  for  Beginners.     (Boltwood.) I2mo,  i  50 

*  Walke's  Lectures  on  Explosives 8vOj  4  oo 

Ware's  Beet-sugar  Manufacture  and  Refining.     Vol.  I Small  8vo,  4  oo 

"             "         "                Vol.11 SmallSvo,  500 

Washington's  Manual  of  the  Chemical  Analysis  of  Rocks 8vo,  2  oo 

Weaver's  Military  Explosives 8vo,  3  oo 

Wehrenfennig's  Analysis  and  Softening  of  Boiler  Feed-Water 8vo,  4  oo 

Wells 's  Laboratory  Guide  in-Qualitative  Chemical  Analysis .8vo,  i  50 

Short  Course  in  Inorganic  Qualitative  Chemical  Analysis  for  Engineering 

Students I2mo,  i  50 

Text-book  of  Chemical  Arithmetic i2mo,  i  25 

Whipple's  Microscopy  of  Drinking-water 8vo,  3  50 

Wilson's  Cyanide  Processes I2mo,  i  50 

Chlorination  Process I2mo,  i  50 

Winton's  Microscopy  of  Vegetable  Foods 8vo,  7  50 

Wulling's    Elementary    Course    in  Inorganic,  Pharmaceutical,  and  Medical 

Chemistry - i2mo,  2  oo 


CIVIL  ENGINEERING. 

BRIDGES    AND    ROOFS.       HYDRAULICS.       MATERIALS   OF    ENGINEERING 
RAILWAY  ENGINEERING. 

Baker's  Engineers'  Surveying  Instruments i2mo,  3  oo 

Bixby's  Graphical  Computing  Table Paper  19^X24!  inches.  25 

Breed  and  Hosmer's  Principles  and  Practice  of  Surveying 8vo,  3  oo 

*  Burr's  Ancient  and  Modern  Engineering  and  the  Isthmian  Canal 8vo,  3  50 

Comstock's  Field  Astronomy  for  Engineers 8vo,  50 

*  Corthell's  Allowable  Pressures  on  Deep  Foundations I2mo,  25 

Crandall's  Text-book  on  Geodesy  and  Least  Squares 8vo,  oo 

Davis's  Elevation  and  Stadia  Tables 8vo,  oo 

Elliott's  Engineering  for  Land  Drainage i2mo,  50 

Practical  Farm  Drainage 12010,  oo 

*Fiebeger's  Treatise  on  Civil  Engineering 8vo,  5  oo 

Flemer's  Phototopographic  Methods  and  Instruments 8vo,  5  oo 

Folwell's  Sewerage.     (Designing  and  Maintenance.) 8vo,  3  oo 

Freitag's  Architectural  Engineering.     2d  Edition,  Rewritten 8vo,  3  So 

French  and  Ives's  Stereotomy 8vos  2  50 

Goodhue's  Municipal  Improvements I2mo,  i  50 

Gore's  Elements  of  Geodesy 8vo»  2  5° 

*  Hauch  and  Rice's  Tables  of  Quantities  for  Preliminary  Estimates, I2mo,  i  25 

Hayford's  Text-book  of  Geodetic  Astronomy 8vo,  3  o° 


Bering's  Ready  Reference  Tables  (Conversion  Factors) i6mo,  morocco,  2  50 

Howe's  Retaining  Walls  for  Earth i2mo,  i  25 

Boyt  and  Grover's  River  Discharge 8vo,  2  oo 

*  Ives's  Adjustments  of  the  Engineer's  Transit  and  Level i6mo,  Bds.  25 

Ives  and  Hilts's  Problems  in  Surveying i6mo,  morocco,  i  50 

Johnson's  (J.  B.)  Theory  and  Practice  of  Surveying Small  8vo,  4  oo 

Johnson's  (L.  J.)  Statics  by  Algebraic  and  Graphic  Methods 8vo,  2  oo 

Laplace's  Philosophical  Essay  on  Probabilities.     (Truscott  and  Emory.) .  i2mo,  2  oo 

Mahan's  Treatise  on  Civil  Engineering.     (1873.)     (Wood.) 8vo,  5  oo 

*  Descriptive  Geometry.    8vo,  i  50 

Merriman's  Elements  of  Precise  Surveying  and  Geodesy 8vo,  2  50 

Merriman  and  Brooks's  Handbook  for  Surveyors i6mo,  morocco,  2  oo 

Nugent's  Plane  Surveying 8vo,  3  50 

Ogden's  Sewer  Design i2mo,  2  oo 

Parsons's  Disposal  of  Municipal  Refuse.  .. 8vo,  2  oo 

Patton's  Treatise  on  Civil  Engineering 8vo  half  leather,  7  50 

Reed's  Topographical  Drawing  and  Sketching 4to,  5  oo 

Rideal's  Sewage  and  the  Bacterial  Purification  of  Sewage 8vo,  4  oo 

Riemer's  Shaft-sinking  under  Difficult  Conditions.     (Corning  and  Peele.).  .8vo,  3  oo 

Siebert  and  Biggin's  Modern  Stone-cutting  and  Masonry 8vo,  i  50 

Smith's  Manual  of  Topographical  Drawing.     (McMillan.) 8vc,  2  50 

-Sondericker's  Graphic  Statics,  with  Applications  to  Trusses,  Beams,  and  Arches. 

8vo,  2  oo 

Taylor  and  Thompson's  Treatise  on  Concrete,  Plain  and  Reinforced 8vo,  5  oo 

Tracy's  Plane  Surveying I6mo,  morocco,  3  oo 

*  Trautwine's  Civil  Engineer's  Pocket-book i6mo,  morocco,  5  oo 

Venable's  Garbage  Crematories  in  America 8vo,  2  oo 

Wait's  Engineering  and  Architectural  Jurisprudence 8vo,  6  oo 

Sheep,  6  50 

Law  of  Operations  Preliminary  to  Construction  in  Engineering  and  Archi- 
tecture  8vo,  5  oo 

Sheep,  5  50 

Law  of  Contracts 8vo,  3  oo 

Warren's  Stereotomy — Problems  in  Stone-cutting 8vo,  2  50 

Webb's  Problems  in  the  Use  and  Adjustment  of  Engineering  Instruments. 

i6mo,  morocco,  i  25 

Wilson's  Topographic  Surveying 8vo,  3  50 

BRIDGES  AND  ROOFS. 

Boiler's  Practical  Treatise  on  the  Construction  of  Iron  Highway  Bridges.  .8vo,  2  oo 

Burr  and  Falk's  Influence  Lines  for  Bridge  and  Roof  Computations 8vo,  3  oo 

Design  and  Construction  of  Metallic  Bridges 8vo,  5  oo 

Du  Bois's  Mechanics  of  Engineering.     Vol.  II Entail  4to,  10  oo 

Foster's  Treatise  on  Wooden  Trestle  Bridges 4to,  5  oo 

Fowler's  Ordinary  Foundations 8vo,  3  50 

Greene's  Roof  Trusses 8vo,  i  25 

Bridge  Trusses 8vo,  2  50 

Arches  in  Wood,  Iron,  and  Stone 8vo,  2  50 

Grimm's  Secondary  Stresses  in  Bridge  Trusses.     (In  Press.) 

Howe's  Treatise  on  Arches 8vo,  4  oo 

Design  of  Simple  Roof -trusses  in  Wood  and  Steel. 8vo,  2  oo 

Symmetrical  Masonry  Arches 8vo,  2  50 

Johnson,  Bryan,  and  Turneaure's  Theory  and  Practice  in  the  Designing  of 

Modern  Framed  Structures Small  4to,  10  oo 

Merriman  and  Jacoby's  Text-book  on  Roofs  and  Bridges : 

Part  I.    Stresses  in  Simple  Trusses 8vo,  2  50 

Part  II.    Graphic  Statics 8vo,  2  50 

Part  III.  Bridge  Design 8vo,  2  50 

Part  IV.  Higher  Structures 8vo,  2  50 

7 


Morison's  Memphis  Bridge Hto,  10  o» 

Waddell's  De  Pontibus,  a  Pocket-book  for  Bridge  Engineers.  .  i6mo,  morocco,  2  oo> 

*  Specifications  for  Steel  Bridges i2mo,  50- 

Wright's  Designing  of  Draw-spans.     Two  parts  in  one  volume 8vo,  3  50- 

HYDRAULICS. 

Barnes's  Ice  Formation 8vo,  3  oo- 

Bazin's  Experiments  upon  the  Contraction  of  the  Liquid  Vein  Issuing  from 

an  Orifice.     (Trautwine.) 8vo,  2  oo 

Bovey's  Treatise  on  Hydraulics 8vo,  5  oo 

Church's  Mechanics  of  Engineering 8vo,  6  oo 

Diagrams  of  Mean  Velocity  of  Water  in  Open  Channels paper,  i  50 

Hydraulic  Motors. 8vo,  2  oo 

Coffin's  Graphical  Solution  of  Hydraulic  Problems i6mo,  morocco,  2  50 

Flather's  Dynamometers,  and  the  Measurement  of  Power ,  .i2mo,  3  oo 

Folwell's  Water-supply  Engineering 8vo,  4  oo 

Frizell's  Water-power 8vo,  5  oo 

Fuertes's  Water  and  Public  Health i2mo,  i  50 

Water-filtration  Works I2mo.  2  50- 

Ganguillet  and  Kutter's  General  Formula  for  the  Uniform  Flow  of  Water  in 

Rivers  and  Other  Channels.     (Hering  and  Trautwine.) 8vo,  4  oo 

Hazen's  Clean  Water  and  How  to  Get  It Large  I2mo,  l  5o 

Filtration  of  Public  Water-supply 8vo,  3  oo 

Hazlehurst's  Towers  and  Tanks  for  Water- works 8vo,  2  50 

Herschel's  115  Experiments  on  the  Carrying  Capacity  of  Large,  Riveted,  Metal 

Conduits 8vo,  2  oo 

*  Hubbard  and  Kiersted's  Water- works  Management  and  Maintenance. .  -  8vo,  4  co- 
Mason's  Water-supply.     (Considered  Principally  from  a  Sanitary  Standpoint.) 

8vo,  4  oo 

Merriman's  Treatise  on  Hydraulics 8vo,  5  oo 

*  Michie's  Elements  of  Analytical  Mechanics 8vo,  4  oo 

Schuyler's   Reservoirs   for   Irrigation,    Water-power,   and   Domestic   Water- 
supply Large  8vo,  5  oo 

*  Thomas  and  Watt's  Improvement  of  Rivers 4to,  6  oo 

Turneaure  and  Russell's  Public  Water-supplies 8vo,  5  oo 

Wegmann's  Design  and  Construction  of  Dams.     5th  Edition,  enlarged.  .  .4to,  6  oo 

Water-supply  of  the  City  of  New  York  from  1658  to  1895 4to,  10  oo 

Whipple's  Value  of  Pure  Water ,  .  .  .  .Large  i2mo,  i  oo 

Williams  and  Hazen's  Hydraulic  Tables 8vo,  i  50 

Wilson's  Irrigation  Engineering Small  8vo,  4  oo 

Wolff's  Windmill  as  a  Prime  Mover 8vo,  3  oo 

Wood's  Turbines 8vo,  2  50 

Elements  of  Analytical  Mechanics 8vo,  3  oo 

MATERIALS  OF  ENGINEERING. 

Baker's  Treatise  on  Masonry  Construction 8vo.  5  oo 

Roads  and  Pavements 8vo,  5  oo 

Black's  United  States  Public  Works Oblong  4to,  5  oo 

*  Bovey's  Strength  of  Materials  and  Theory  of  Structures 8vo,  7  50 

Burr's  Elasticity  and  Resistance  of  the  Materials  of  Engineering 8vo,  7  5<> 

Byrne's  Highway  Construction 8vo,  5  oo 

Inspection  of  the  Materials  and  Workmanship  Employed  in  Construction. 

i6mo,  3  oo 

Church's  Mechanics  of  Engineering 8vo,  6  oo 

Du  Bois's  Mechanics  of  Engineering.     Vol.  I Small  4to  7  5O> 

*Eckel's  Cements,  Limes,  and  Plasters 8vo,  6  oo> 

8       • 


Johnson's  Materials  of  Construction Large  8vo,  6  oo 

Fowler's  Ordinary  Foundations 8vo,  3  50 

Graves's  Forest  Mensuration 8vo,  4  oo 

*  Greene's  Structural  Mechanics 8vo,  2  50 

Keep's  Cast  Iron 8vo,  2  50 

Lanza's  Applied  Mechanics 8vo,  7  50 

Martens's  Handbook  on  Testing  Materials.     (Henning.)     2  vols 8vo,  7  50 

Maurer's  Technical  Mechanics 8vo,  4  oo 

Merrill's  Stones  for  Building  and  Decoration 8vo,  5  oo 

Merriman's  Mechanics  of  Materials 8vo,  5  oo 

*  Strength  of  Materials i2mo,  i  oo 

Metcalf's  Steel.     A  Manual  for  Steel-users i2mo,  2  oo 

Patton's  Practical  Treatise  on  Foundations 8vo,  5  oo 

Richardson's  Modern  Asphalt  Pavements 8vo,  3  oo 

Richey's  Handbook  for  Superintendents  of  Construction i6mo,  mor.,  4  oo 

*  Ries's  Clays:  Their  Occurrence,  Properties,  and  Uses 8vo,  5  oo 

Rockwell's  Roads  and  Pavements  in  France I2mo,  i   25 

Sabin's  Industrial  and  Artistic  Technology  of  Paints  ar"i  Varnish 8vc,  3  oo 

*Schwarz's  Longleaf  Pine  in  Virgin  Forest lamo,  i   25 

Smith's  Materials  of  Machines i2mo,  i  oo 

Snow's  Principal  Species  of  Wood 8vo,  3  50 

Spalding's  Hydraulic  Cement 12010,  2  oo 

Text-book  on  Roads  and  Pavements i2mo,  2  oo 

Taylor  and  Thompson's  Treatise  on  Concrete,  Plain  and  Reinforced 8vo,  5  oo 

Thurston's  Materials  of  Engineering.     3  Parts 8vo,  8  oo 

Part  I.     Non-metallic  Materials  of  Engineering  and  Metallurgy 8vo,  2  oo 

Part  II.     Iron  and  Steel 8vo,  3  50 

Part  III.     A  Treatise  on  Brasses,  Bronzes,  and  Other  Alloys  and  their 

Constituents 8vo,  2  50 

Tillson's  Street  Pavements  and  Paving  Materials ;  .8vo,  4  oo 

Turneaure  and  Maurer's  Principles  of  Reinforced  Concrete  Construction    .8vo,  3  oo 

Waddell's  De  Pontibus.    (A  Pocket-book  for  Bridge  Engineers.).  .i6mo.  mor.,  2  oo 

*  Specifications  for  Steel  Bridges i2mo,  50 

Wood's  (De  V.)  Treatise  on  the  Resistance  of  Materials,  and  an  Appendix  on 

the  Preservation  of  Timber 8vo,  2  oo 

Wood's  (De  V.)  Elements  of  Analytical  Mechanics 8vo,  3  oo 

Wood's  (M.  P.)  Rustless  Coatings:  Corrosion  and  Electrolysis  of  Iron  and 

Steel 8vo,  4  oo 


RAILWAY  ENGINEERING. 

Andrew's  Handbook  for  Street  Railway  Engineers 3x5  inches,  morocco,  i  25 

Berg's  Buildings  and  Structures  of  American  Railroads 4to,  5  oo 

Brook's  Handbook  of  Street  Railroad  Location i6mo,  morocco,  i  50 

Butt's  Civil  Engineer's  Field-book i6mo,  morocco,  2  50 

Crandall's  Transition  Curve i6mo,  morocco,  i  50 

Railway  and  Other  Earthwork  Tables 8vo,  i  50 

Crockett's  Methods  for  Earthwork  Computations.     (In  Press) 

Dawson's  "Engineering"  and  Electric  Traction  Pocket-book    .  i6mo,  morocco  5  oo 

Dredge's  History  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad:    (1879) Paper,  5  oo 

Fisher's  Table  of  Cubic  Yards Cardboard,  25 

Godwin's  Railroad  Engineers'  Field-book  and  Explorers'  Guide.  .  .  i6mo,  mor.,  2  50 
Hudson's  Tables  for  Calculating  the  Cubic  Contents  of  Excavations  and  Em- 
bankments  8vo,  i  oo 

Molitor  and  Beard's  Manual  for  Resident  Engineers i6mo,  i  oo 

Nagle's  Field  Manual  for  Railroad  Engineers i6mo,  morocco,  3  oo 

Philbrick's  Field  Manual  for  Engineers i6mo,  morocco,  3  oo 

Raymond's  Elements  of  Railroad  Engineering.     (In  Press.) 

ft 


Searles's  Field  Engineering i6mo,  moroccd,  3  oo 

Railroad  Spiral. i6mo,  morocco,  x  50 

Taylor's  Prismoidal  Formulae  and  Earthwork 8vo,  i  50 

*  Trautwine's  Method  of  Calculating  the  Cube  Contents  of  Excavations  and 

Embankments  by  the  Aid  of  Diagrams 8vo,  2  oo 

The  Field  Practice  of  Laying  Out  Circukr  Curves  for  Railroads. 

1 2 mo,  morocco,  2  50 

Cross-section  Sheet Paper,  25 

Webb's  Railroad  Construction i6mo,  morocco,  5  oo 

Economics  of  Railroad  Construction Large  i2mo,  2  50 

Wellington's  Economic  Theory  of  the  Location  of  Railways Small  8vo^  5  oo 


DRAWING. 

Barr's  Kinematics  of  Machinery. 8vo,  2  50 

*  Bartlett's  Mechanical  Drawing 8vo,  3  oo 

*  "  "  "       Abridged  Ed 8vo,  i  50 

Coolidge's  Manual  of  Drawing 8vo,  paper,  i  oo 

Coolidge  and  Freeman's  Elements  of  General  Drafting  for  Mechanical  Engi- 
neers  Oblong  4to,  2  50 

Durley's  Kinematics  of  Machines 8vo,  4  oo 

Emch's  Introduction  to  Projective  Geometry  and  its  Applications 8vo,  2  50 

Hill's  Text-book  on  Shades  and  Shadows,  and  Perspective.  , 8vo,  2  oo 

Jamison's  Elements  of  Mechanical  Drawing 8vo,  2  50 

Advanced  Mechanical  Drawing 8vo,  2  oo 

Jones's  Machine  Design: 

Part  I.     Kinematics  of  Machinery. 8vo,  i  50 

Part  II.     Form,  Strength,  and  Proportions  of  Parts 8vo,  3  oo 

MacCord's  Elements  of  Descriptive  Geometry '. 8vo,  3  oo 

Kinematics;  or,  Practical  Mechanism 8vo,  5  oo 

Mechanical  Drawing 4to,  4  oo 

Velocity  Diagrams 8vo,  i  50 

MacLeod's  Descriptive  Geometry Small  8vo,  i  50 

*  Mahan's  Descriptive  Geometry  and  Stone-cutting 8vo,  i  50 

Industrial  Drawing.  (Thompson.) 8vo,  3  50 

Moyer's  Descriptive  Geometry 8vo,  2  oo 

Reed's  Topographical  Drawing  and  Sketching 4to,  5  oo 

Reid's  Course  in  Mechanical  Drawing 8vo,  2  oo 

Text-book  of  Mechanical  Drawing  arid  Elementary  Machine  Design. 8vo,  3  oo 

Robinson's  Principles  of  Mechanism 8vo,  3  oo 

Schwamb  and  Merrill's  Elements  of  Mechanism 8vo,  3  oo 

Smith's  (R.  S.)  Manual  of  Topographical  Drawing.  (McMillan.) 8vo,  2  50 

Smith  (A.  W.)  and  Marx's  Machine  Design 8vo,  3  oo 


*  Titsworth's  Elements  of  Mechanical  Drawing Oblong  8vo, 

Warren's  Elements  of  Plane  and  Solid  Free-hand  Geometrical  Drawing.  i2mo, 

Drafting  Instruments  and  Operations i2mo, 

Manual  of  Elementary  Projection  Drawing i2mo, 

Manual  of  Elementary  Problems  in  the  Linear  Perspective  of  Form  and 

Shadow i2mo, 

Plane  Problems  in  Elementary  Geometry i2mo, 


25 
00 
25 

50 

00 

25 

Elements  of  Descriptive  Geometry,  Shadows,  and  Perspective 8vo,  3  50 

General  Problems  of  Shades  and  Shadows 8vo,  3  oo 

Elements  of  Machine  Construction  and  Drawing 8vo,  7  30 

Problems,  Theorems,  and  Examples  in  Descriptive  Geometry 8vo,  2  50 

Weisbach's    Kinematics    and    Power    of    Transmission.        (Hermann    and 

Klein.) * ...  .8vo,  5  oo 

Whelpley's  Practical  Instruction  in  the  Art  of  Letter  Engraving i2mo.  2  oo 

Wilson's  (H.  M.)  Topographic  Surveying 8vo,  3  50 

10 


Wilson's  (V.  T.)  Free-hand  Perspective 8vo,     2  50 

Wilson's  (V.  T.)  Free-hand  Lettering 8vo,     i  oo 

Woolf's  Elementary  Course  in  Descriptive  Geometry Large  8vo,    3  oo 

ELECTRICITY  AND  PHYSICS. 

*  Abegg's  Theory  of  Electrolytic  Dissociation.     (Von  Ende.) i2mo,  i  25 

Anthony  and  Brackett's  Text-book  of  Physics.     (Magie.) Small  8vo,  3  oo 

Anthony's  Lecture-notes  on  the  Theory  of  Electrical  Measurements.  .  .  .  i2mo,  i  oo 

Benjamin's  History  of  Electricity 8vo,  3  oo 

Voltaic  Cell 8vo,  3  oo 

Betts's  Lead  Refining  and  Electrolysis.     (In  Press.) 

Classen's  Quantitative  Chemical  Analysis  by  Electrolysis.     (Boltwood.).8vo,  3  oo 

*  Collins's  Manual  of  Wireless  Telegraphy i2mo,  i  50 

Morocco,  2  oa 

Crehore  and  Squier's  Polarizing  Photo-chronograph 8vo,  3  oo 

*  Danneel's  Electrochemistry.     (Merriam.) i2mo,  i  25 

Dawson's  "Engineering"  and  Electric  Traction  Pocket-book.  i6mo,  morocco,  5  oo 
Dolezalek's  Theory  of  the  Lead  Accumulator  (Storage  Battery).    (Von  Ende.) 

i2mo,  2  50 

Duhem's  Thermodynamics  and  Chemistry.     (Burgess.) 8vo,  4  oo 

Flather's  Dynamometers,  and  the  Measurement  of  Power I2mo,  3  GO 

Gilbert's  De  Magnete.     (Mottelay.) 8vo,  2  50 

Hanchett's  Alternating  Currents  Explained I2mo,  i  oo 

Bering's  Ready  Reference  Tables  (Conversion  Factors) i6mo,  morocco,  2  50 

Hobart  and  Ellis 's  High-speed  Dynamo  Electric  Machinery.     (In  Press.) 

Holman's  Precision  of  Measurements 8vo,  2  oo 

Telescopic   Mirror-scale  Method,  Adjustments,  and   Tests.  .  .  .Large  8vo,  75 
Karapetoff's  Experimental  Electrical  Engineering.     (In  Press.) 

Kinzbrunner's  Testing  of  Continuous-current  Machines 8vo,  2  oo 

Landauer's  Spectrum  Analysis.     (Tingle.) 8vo,  3  oo 

Le  Chatelier's  High-temperature  Measurements.  (Boudouard — Burgess.)  i2mo,  3  oo 

Lob's  Electrochemistry  of  Organic  Compounds.     (Lorenz.) 8vo,  3  oo 

*  Lyons's  Treatise  on  Electromagnetic  Phenomena.   Vols.  I.  and  II.  8vo,  each,  6  oo 

*  Michie's  Elements  of  Wave  Motion  Relating  to  Sound  and  Light 8vo,  4  oo 

Niaudet's  Elementary  Treatise  on  Electric  Batteries.     (Fishback.) I2mo,  2  50 

If  orris's  Introduction  to  the  Study  of  Electrical  Engineering.     (In  Press.) 

*  Parshall  and  Hobart's  Electric  Machine  Design 4to,  half  morocco,  12  50 

Reagan's  Locomotives:    Simple,  Compound,  and  Electric.      New  Edition. 

Large  i2mo,  3  50 

*  Rosenberg's  Electrical  Engineering.     (Haldane  Gee — Kinzbrunner.).  .  .8vo,  200 

Ryan,  Norris,  and  Hoxie's  Electrical  Machinery.     Vol.  1 8vo,  2  50 

Thurston's  Stationary  Steam-engines 8vo,  2  50 

*  Tillman's  Elementary  Lessons  in  Heat 8vo,  i  50 

Tory  and  Pitcher's  Manual  of  Laboratory  Physics Small  8vo,  2  oo 

Ulke's  Modern  Electrolytic  Copper  Refining 8vo,  3  oo 

LAW. 

*  Davis's  Elements  of  Law 8vo,    2  50 

*  Treatise  on  the  Military  Law  of  United  States 8vo,    7  oo 

*  Sheep,    7  SO 

*  Dudley's  Military  Law  and  the  Procedure  of  Courts-martial  .  .  .    Large  tamo,    2  50 

Manual  for  Courts-martial i6mo,  morocco,    i  50 

Wait's  Engineering  and  Architectural  Jurisprudence 8vo,    6  oo 

Sheep,  6  50 

Law  of  Operations  Preliminary  to  Construction  in  Engineering  and  Archi- 
tecture  8vo  5  oo 

Sheep,  5  So 

Law  of  Contracts 8vo,  3  oo 

Winthrop's  Abridgment  of  Military  Law i2mo,  2  50 

11 


MANUFACTURES. 

Bernadou's  Smokeless  Powder — Nitro-cellulose  and  Theory  of  the  Cellulose 

Molecule 1 2mo ,  2  so> 

Bolland's  Iron  Founder i2mo,  2  50 

The  Iron  Founder,"  Supplement i2mo,  2  50 

Encyclopedia  of  Founding  and  Dictionary  of  Foundry  Terms  Used  in  the 

Practice  of  Moulding 1 21110,  3  oo 

*  Claassen's  Beet-sugar  Manufacture.    (Hall  and  Rolfe.) 8vo,  3  oo 

*  Eckel's  Cements,  Limes,  and  Plasters 8vo,  6  oo 

Eissler's  Modern  High  Explosives ' 8vo,  4  oo 

Eff rent's  Enzymes  and  their  Applications.     (Prescott.) 8vo,  3  oo 

Fitzgerald's  Boston  Machinist.  , lamo,  i  oo 

.Ford's  Boiler  Making  for  Boiler  Makers i8mo.  i  oo 

Herrick's  Denatured  or  Industrial  Alcohol ,8vo,  4   oo 

Honey  and  Ladd's  Analysis  of  Mixed  Paints,  Color  Pigments,  and  Varnishes. 
(In  Press.) 

Hopkins 's  Oil-chemists'  Handbook 8vo,  3  oo 

Keep's  Cast  Iron 8vos  2  50 

Leach's  The  Inspection  and  Analysis  of  Food  with  Special  Reference  to  State 

Control Large  8vo,  7  50 

*  McKay  and  Larsen's  Principles  and  Practice  of  Butter-making 8vo,  i   50- 

Maire's  Modern  Pigments  and  their  Vehicles.     (In  Press.) 

Matthews's  The  Textile  Fibres.     2d  Edition,  Rewritten 8vo,  4  oo 

Metcalf 's  Steel.     A  Maunal  for  Steel-users 1 2mo,  2  oo 

Metcalfe's  Cost  of  Manufactures— And  the  Administration  of  Workshops     8vo,  5  oo 

Meyer's  Modern  Locomotive  Construction 4to,   10  oo 

Morse's  Calculations  used  in  Cane-sugar  Factories .  .  .i6mo,  morocco,  i   50 

*  Reisig's  Guide  to  Piece-dyeing 8vo,  25  oo 

Rice's  Concrete-block  Manufacture 8vo,  2  oo 

Sabin's  Industrial  and  Artistic  Technology  of  Paints  and  Varnish  .....  .8vo,  3  oo 

Smith's  Press-working  of  Metals .    8vo,  3  oo 

Spalding's  Hydraulic  Cement i2mo,  2  oo 

Spencer's  Handbook  for  Chemists  of  Beet-sugar  Houses i6mo,  morocco,  3  oo 

Handbook  for  Cane  Sugar  Manufacturers i6mo,  morocco,  3  oo 

Taylor  and  Thompson's  Treatise  on  Concrete,  Plain  and  Reinforced 8vo,  5  oo 

Thurston's  Manual  of  Steam-boilers,  their  Designs,  Construction  and  Opera- 
tion . 8vo,  5  oo 

Ware's  Beet-sugar  Manufacture  and  Refining.     Vol.  I Small  8vo,  4  oo 

Vol.11.  ..: 8vo,  5  oo 

Weaver's  Military  Explosives 8vo,  3  oo 

West's  American  Foundry  Practice i2mo,  2  50 

Moulder's  Text-book .' i2mo,  2  50 

Wolff's  Windmill  as  a  Prime  Mover 8vo,  3  oo 

Wood's  Rustless  Coatings:  Corrosion  and  Electrolysis  of  Iron  and  Steel .  .8vo,  4  oo 

MATHEMATICS. 

Baker's  Elliptic  Functions 8vo,  i   50 

Briggs's  Elements  of  Plane  Analytic  Geometry 1 2mo,  i   oo. 

Buchanan's  Plane  and  Spherical  Trigonometry.     (In  Press.) 

Compton's  Manual  of  Logarithmic  Computations i2mo,  i  50 

Davis's  Introduction  to  the  Logic  of  Algebra 8vo,  i   50 

*  Dickson's  College  Algebra ...    Large  i2mo,  i  50 

*  Introduction  to  the  Theory  of  Algebraic  Equations Large  i2mo,  i   25 

Emch's  Introduction  to  Projective  Geometry  and  its  Applications  .......  8vo,  2  50 

Halsted's  Elements  of  Geometry 8vo,  i  75 

Elementary  Synthetic  Geometry 8vo,  i  SO- 

*  Rational  Geometry I2mo,  I  5» 

12 


*  Johnson's  (J.  B.)  Three-place  Logarithmic  Tables:  Vest-pocket  size. paper,         15 

100  copies  for     5  oo 

*  Mounted  on  heavy  cardboard,  8X10  inches,         25 

10  copies  for     2  oo 
Johnson's  (W.  W.)  Elementary  Treatise  on  Differential  Calculus.  .Small  8vo,     3  oo 

Elementary  Treatise  on  the  Integral  Calculus Small  8vo,     i   50 

Johnson's  (W.  W.)  Curve  Tracing  in  Cartesian  Co-ordinates 121110,     i  oo 

Johnson's  (W.  W.)  Treatise  on  Ordinary  and  Partial  Differential  Equations. 

Small  8vo,     3  50 

Johnson's  Treatise  on  the  Integral  Calculus Small  8vo,     3  oo 

Johnson's  (W.  W.)  Theory  of  Errors  and  the  Method  of  Least  Squares .  xamo,     i   50 

*  Johnson's  (W.  W.)  Theoretical  Mechanics i2mo,     3  oo 

Laplace's  Philosophical  Essay  on  Probabilities.     (Truscott  and  Emory. ).i2mo,     2  oo 

*  Ludlow  and  Bass.     Elements  of  Trigonometry  and  Logarithmic  and  Other 

Tables 8vo,     3  oo 

Trigonometry  and  Tables  published  separately Each,     2  oo 

*  Ludlow's  Logarithmic  and  Trigonometric  Tables 8vo,     i  oo 

Manning's  IrrationalNumbers  and  their  Representation  bySequences  and  Series 

i2mo,     i   25 
Mathematical  Monographs.     Edited  by  Mansfield  Merriman  and  Robert 

S.  Woodward Octavo,  each     i  oo 

No.  i.  History  of  Modern  Mathematics,  by  David  Eugene  Smith. 
No.  2.  Synthetic  Projective  Geometry,  by  George  Bruce  Halsted. 
Ko.  3.  Determinants,  by  Laenas  Gifford  Weld.  No.  4.  Hyper- 
bolic Functions,  by  James  McMahon.  No.  5.  Harmonic  Func- 
tions, by  William  E.  Byerly.  No.  6.  Grassmann's  Space  Analysis, 
by  Edward  W.  Hyde.  No.  7.  Probability  and  Theory  of  Errors, 
by  Robert  S.  Woodward.  No.  8.  Vector  Analysis  and  Quaternions, 
by  Alexander  Macfarlane.  No.  o.  Differential  Equations,  by 
William  Woolsey  Johnson.  No.  10.  The  Solution  of  Equations, 
by  Mansfield  Merriman.  No.  n.  Functions  of  a  Complex  Variable, 
by  Thomas  S.  Fiske. 

Maurer's  Technical  Mechanics 8vo,    4  oo 

Merriman's  Method  of  Least  Squares 8vo,     2  oo 

Rice  and  Johnson's  Elementary  Treatise  on  the  Differential  Calculus. .  Sm.  8vo,    3  oo- 
Differential  and  Integral  Calculus.     2  vols.  in  one Small  8vo,    2  50 

*  Veblen  and  Lennes's  Introduction  to  the  Real  Infinitesimal  Analysis  of  One 

Variable 8vo,    2  oo 

Wood's  Elements  of  Co-ordinate  Geometry 8vo,    2  oo 

Trigonometry:   Analytical,  Plane,  and  Spherical i2mo,     i  oo 


MECHANICAL  ENGINEERING. 

MATERIALS  OF  ENGINEERING,  STEAM-ENGINES  AND  BOILERS. 

Bacon's  Forge  Practice i2mo,  i  50 

Baldwin's  Steam  Heating  for  Buildings i2mo,  2  50 

Barr's  Kinematics  of  Machinery 8vo,  2  50 

*  Bartjett's  Mechanical  Drawing 8vo,  3  oo 

*  "  "  "        Abridged  Ed 8vo,  150 

Benjamin's  Wrinkles  and  Recipes i2mo,  2  oo 

Carpenter's  Experimental  Engineering 8vo,  6  oo 

Heating  and  Ventilating  Buildings 8vo,  4  oo 

Clerk's  Gas  and  Oil  Engine Small  8vo,  4  oo 

Coolidge's  Manual  of  Drawing 8vo,  paper,  i  oo 

Coolidge  and  Freeman's  Elements  of  General  Drafting  for  Mechanical  En- 
gineers   Oblong  4to,  2  50 

Cromwell's  Treatise  on  Toothed  Gearing i2mo,  i  50 

Treatise  on  Belts  and  Pulleys i2mo,  i  50 

13 


Durley's  Kinematics  of  Machines 8vo,  4  OO 

Flather's  Dynamometers  and  the  Measurement  of  Power 12 mo,  3  oo 

Rope  Driving i2mo,  2  oo 

Gill's  Gas  and  Fuel  Analysis  for  Engineers i2mo,  i  25 

Hall's  Car  Lubrication i2mo,  i  oo 

Bering's  Ready  Reference  Tables  (Conversion  Factors).  ....  .i6mo,  morocco,  2  50 

Button's  The  Gas  Engine 8vo,  5  oo 

Jamison's  Mechanical  Drawing 8vo,  2  50 

Jones's  Machine  Design: 

Part  I.     Kinematics  of  Machinery 8vo,  i  50 

Part  II.     Form,  Strength,  and  Proportions  of  Parts 8vo,  3  oo 

Kent's  Mechanical  Engineers'  Pocket-book i6mo,  morocco,  5  oo 

Kerr's  Power  and  Power  Transmission 8vo,  2  oo 

Leonard's  Machine  Shop,  Tools,  and  Methods 8vo,  4  oo 

*  Lorenz's  Modern  Refrigerating  Machinery.    (Pope,  Haven,  and  Dean.)  .  .8vo,  4  oo 
MacCord's  Kinematics;   or,  Practical  Mechanism 8vo,  5  oo 

Mechanical  Drawing 4to,  4  oo 

Velocity  Diagrams 8vo,  i  50 

MacFar land's  Standard  Reduction  Factors  for  Gases 8vo,  i   50 

Mahan's  Industrial  Drawing.     (Thompson.) 8vo,  3  50 

Poole's  Calorific  Power  of  Fuels 8vo,  3  oo 

Reid's  Course  in  Mechanical  Drawing 8vo,  2  oo 

Text-book  of  Mechanical  Drawing  and  Elementary  Machine  Design. 8vo,  3  oo 

Richard's  Compressed  Air i2mo,  i  50 

Robinson's  Principles  of  Mechanism 8vo,  3  oo 

Schwamb  and  Merrill's  Elements  of  Mechanism 8vo,  3  oo 

Smith's  (O.)  Press-working  of  Metals 8vo,  3  oo 

Smith  (A.  W.)  and  Marx's  Machine  Design 8vo,  3  oo 

Thurston's   Treatise    on   Friction  and   Lost   Work   in   Machinery   and   Mill 

Work ' 8vo,  3  oo 

Animal  as  a  Machine  and  Prime  Motor,  and  the  Laws  of  Energetics .  i2mo,  i  oo 

Tillson's  Complete  Automobile  Instructor i6mo,  i  50 

Morocco,  2  oo 

Warren's  Elements  of  Machine  Construction  and  Drawing 8vo,  7  50 

Weisbach's    Kinematics    and    the    Power    of    Transmission.     (Berrmann — 

Klein.) 8vo,  5  oo 

Machinery  of  Transmission  and  Governors.     (Berrmann — Klein.).  .8vo,  5  oo 

Wolff's  Windmill  as  a  Prime  Mover 8vo,  3  oo 

Wood's  Turbines 8vo,  2  50 

MATERIALS   OF   ENGINEERING. 

*  Bovey's  Strength  of  Materials  and  Theory  of  Structures 8vo,  7  50 

Burr's  Elasticity  and  Resistance  of  the  Materials  of  Engineering.     6th  Edition. 

Reset 8vo,  7  50 

Church's  Mechanics  of  Engineering 8vo,  6  oo 

*  Greene's  Structural  Mechanics 8vo,  2  50 

Johnson's  Materials  of  Construction 8vo,  6  oo 

Keep's  Cast  Iron 8vo,  2  50 

Lanza's  Applied  Mechanics 8vo,  7  50 

Martens's  Handbook  on  Testing  Materials.     (Henning.) 8vo,  7  50 

Maurer's  Technical  Mechanics 8vo,  4  oo 

Merriman's  Mechanics  of  Materials 8vo,  5  oo 

*  Strength  of  Materials i2mo,  i  oo 

Metcalf's  Steel.     A  Manual  for  Steel-users i2mo,  2  oo 

Sabin's  Industrial  and  Artistic  Technology  of  Paints  and  Varnish 8vo,  3  oo 

Smith's  Materials  of  Machines, I2mo,  i  oo 

Thurston's  Materials  of  Engineering 3  vols.,  8vo,  8  oo 

Part  II.     Iron  and  Steel 8vo,  3  5<> 

Part  III.     A  Treatise  on  Brasses,  Bronzes,  and  Other  Alloys  and  their 

Constituents 8vo,  2  50 

14 


Wood's  (De  V.)  Treatise  on  the  Resistance  of  Materials  and  an  Appendix  on 

the  Preservation  of  Timber 8vo,    2  oo 

Elements  of  Analytical  Mechanics 8vo,    3  oo 

Wood's  (M.  P.)  Rustless  Coatings:    Corrosion  and  Electrolysis  of  Iron  and 

Steel 8vo,    4  oo 

STEAM-ENGINES  AND  BOILERS. 

Berry's  Temperature-entropy  Diagram I2mo,    i  25 

Carnot's  Reflections  on  the  Motive  Power  of  Heat.     (Thurston.) i2mo,     i  50 

Creighton's  Steam-engine  and  other  Heat-motors          8vo,    5  oo 

Dawson's  "Engineering"  and  Electric  Traction  Pocket-book.  . .  .i6mo,  mor.,    5  oo 

Ford's  Boiler  Making  for  Boiler  Makers i8mo,     i  oo 

Goss's  Locomotive  Sparks 8vo,    2  oo 

Locomotive  Performance 8vo,    5  oo 

Hemenway's  Indicator  Practice  and  Steam-engine  Economy i2mo,    2  oo 

Button's  Mechanical  Engineering  of  Power  Plants 8vo,    5  oo 

Heat  and  Heat-engines 8vo>    5  oo 

Kent's  Steam  boiler  Economy 8vo,    4  oo 

Kneass's  Practice  and  Theory  of  the  Injector 8vo,     i  50 

MacCord's  Slide-valves 8vo,    2  oo 

Meyer's  Modern  Locomotive  Construction 4to,  10  oo 

Peabody's  Manual  of  the  Steam-engine  Indicator. I2mo.     i  50 

Tables  of  the  Properties  of  Saturated  Steam  and  Other  Vapors   8vo,     i  oo 

Thermodynamics  of  the  Steam-engine  and  Other  Heat-engines 8vo,    5  oo 

Valve-gears  for  Steam-engines 8vo,    2  50 

Peabody  and  Miller's  Steam-boilers 8vo,    4  oo 

Pray's  Twenty  Years  with  the  Indicator Large  8vo,    2  50 

Pupin's  Thermodynamics  of  Reversible  Cycles  in  Gases  and  Saturated  Vapors. 

(Osterberg.) i2mo,    i  25 

Reagan's  Locomotives:   Simple,  Compound,  and  Electric.     New  Edition. 

Large  i2mo,    3  50 

Sinclair's  Locomotive  Engine  Running  and  Management i2mo,    2  oo 

Smart's  Handbook  of  Engineering  Laboratory  Practice i2mo,    2  50 

Snow's  Steam-boiler  Practice 8vo,    3  oo 

Spangler's  Valve-gears 8vo,    2  50 

Notes  on  Thermodynamics I2mo,  •  i  oo 

Spangler,  Greene,  and  Marshall's  Elements  of  Steam-engineering 8vo,    3  oo 

Thomas's  Steam-turbines 8vo,    3  50 

Thurston's  Handy  Tables 8vo,    i  50 

Manual  of  the  Steam-engine 2  vols.,  8vo,  10  oo 

Part  I.     History,  Structure,  and  Theory. 8vo,    6  oo 

Part  II.     Design,  Construction,  and  Operation 8vo,    6  oo 

Handbook  of  Engine  and  Boiler  Trials,  and  the  Use  of  the  Indicator  and 

the  Prony  Brake 8vo,    5  oo 

Stationary  Steam-engines 8vo,    2  50 

Steam-boiler  Explosions  in  Theory  and  in  Practice I2mo,    i  50 

Manual  of  Steam-boilers,  their  Designs,  Construction,  and  Operation .  8vo,    5  oo 
Wehrenfenning's  Analysis  and  Softening  of  Boiler  Feed-water  (Patterson)  8vo,     4  oo 

Weisbach's  Heat,  Steam,  and  Steam-engines.     (Du  Bois.) 8vo,    5  oo 

Whitham's  Steam-engine  Design 8vo,    5  oo 

Wood's  Thermodynamics,  Heat  Motors,  and  Refrigerating  Machines. .  .8vo,    4  oo 

MECHANICS  AND  MACHINERY. 

Barr's  Kinematics  of  Machinery .8«ro,  2  50 

*  Bovey's  Strength  of  Materials  and  Theory  of  Structures 8vo,  7  50 

Chase's  The  Art  of  Pattern-making izmo,  2  50 

15 


Church's  Mechanics  of  Engineering 8vo,  6  oo 

Notes  and  Examples  in  Mechanics 8vo,  2  oo 

Compton's  First  Lessons  in  Metal-working. izmo, 

Compton  and  De  Groodt's  The  Speed  Lathe i2mo, 

Cromwell's  Treatise  on  Toothed  Gearing i2mo, 

Treatise  on  Belts  and  Pulleys 1 2mo, 

Dana's  Text-book  of  Elementary  Mechanics  for  Colleges  and  Schools.  .i2mo, 

Dingey's  Machinery  Pattern  Making : i2mo, 

Dredge's  Record  of  the  Transportation  Exhibits  Building  of  the  World's 

Columbian  Exposition  of  1893 4to  half  morocco,  5  oo 

Du  Bois's  Elementary  Principles  of  Mechanics : 

Vol.      I.     Kinematics 8vo,  3  50 

Vol.    II.     Statics 8vo,  4  oo 

Mechanics  of  Engineering,     Vol.    I Small  4to,  7  50 

Vol.  II Small  4to,  10  oo 

Durley's  Kinematics  of  Machines 8vo,  4  oo 

Fitzgerald's  Boston  Machinist i6mo,  i  oo 

Flather's  Dynamometers,  and  the  Measurement  of  Power i2mo,  3  oo 

Rope  Driving i2mo,  2  oo 

Goss's  Locomotive  Sparks 8vo,  2  oo 

Locomotive  Performance 8vo,  5  oo 

*  Greene's  Structural  Mechanics 8vo,  2  50 

Hall's  Car  Lubrication i2mo,  i  oo 

Hobart  and  Ellis 's  High-speed  Dynamo  Electric  Machinery.     (In  Press.) 

Holly's  Art  of  Saw  Filing i8mo,  75 

James's  Kinematics  of  a  Point  and  the  Rational  Mechanics  of  a  Particle. 

Small  Svo,  2  oo 

*  Johnson's  (W.  W.)  Theoretical  Mechanics i2rao,  3  oo 

Johnson's  (L.  J.)  Statics  by  Graphic  and  Algebraic  Methods Svo,  2  oo 

Jones's  Machine  Design :     , 

Part    I.     Kinematics  of  Machinery Svo,  i  50 

Part  II.     Form,  Strength,  and  Proportions  of  Parts Svo,  3  oo 

Kerr's  Power  and  Power  Transmission Svo,  2  oo 

Lanza's  Applied  Mechanics Svo,  7  50 

Leonard's  Machine  Shop,  Tools,  and  Methods. Svo,  4  oo 

*  Lorenz's  Modern  Refrigerating  Machinery.     (Pope,  Haven,  and  Dean.). Svo,  4  oo 
MacCord's  Kinematics;  or,  Practical  Mechanism Svo,  5  oo 

Velocity  Diagrams Svo,  i  50 

*  Martin's  Text  Book  on  Mechanics,  Vol.  I,  Statics i2mo,  i  25 

*  Vol.  2,  Kinematics  and  Kinetics  .  .I2mo,  1  50 

Maurer's  Technical  Mechanics Svo,  4  oo 

Merriman's  Mechanics  of  Materials Svo,  5  oo 

*  Elements  of  Mechanics i2mo,  i  oo 

*  Michie's  Elements  of  Analytical  Mechanics Svo,  4  oo 

*  Parshall  and  Hobart's  Electric  Machine  Design 4to,  half  morocco,  12  50 

Reagan's  Locomotives :  Simple,  Compound,  and  Electric.     New  Edition. 

Large  i2mo,  3  5o 

Reid's  Course  in  Mechanical  Drawing Svo,  2  oo 

Text-book  of  Mechanical  Drawing  and  Elementary  Machine  Design. Svo,  3  oo 

Richards's  Compressed  Air i2mo,  i  50 

Robinson's  Principles  of  Mechanism Svo,  3  oo 

Ryan,  Norris,  and  Hoxie's  Electrical  Machinery.  Vol.  I Svo,  2  50 

Sanborn's  Mechanics :  Problems Large  i2mo,  i  50 

Schwamb  and  Merrill's  Elements  of  Mechanism Svo,  3  oo 

Sinclair's  Locomotive-engine  Running  and  Management I2mo,  2  oo 

Smith's  (O.)  Press-working  of  Metals Svo,  3  oo 

Smith's  (A.  W.)  Materials  of  Machines i2mo,  i  oo 

Smith  (A.  W.)  and  Marx's  Machine  Design Svo,  3  oo 

Sorel' s  Carbureting  and  Combustion  of  Alcohol  Engines.  (Woodward  and 

Preston.) j. .  .Large  Svo,  3  o» 

16 


Spangler,  Greene,  and  Marshall's  Elements  of  Steam-engineering 8vo,  3  oo 

Thurston's  Treatise  on  Friction  and  Lost  Work  in    Machinery  and    Mill 

Work 8vo,  3  oo 

Animal  as  a  Machine  and  Prime  Motor,  and  the  Laws  of  Energetics.  1 2mo,  i  oo 

Tillson's  Complete  Automobile  Instructor i6mo,  i   50 

Morocco,  2  oo 

Warren's  Elements  of  Machine  Construction  and  Drawing 8vo,  7  50 

Weisbach's  Kinematics  and  Power  of  Transmission.   (Herrmann — Klein.). 8vo.  5  oo 

Machinery  of  Transmission  and  Governors.      (Herrmann — Klein.). 8vo.  5  op 

Wood's  Elements  of  Analytical  Mechanics 8vo,  3  oo 

Principles  of  Elementary  Mechanics i2mo,  i  25 

Turbines 8vo,  2  50 

The  World's  Columbian  Exposition  of  1893 4*0,  I  oo 

MEDICAL. 

*  Bolduan's  Immune  Sera , 12mo,  1  50 

De  Fursac's  Manual  of  Psychiatry.     (Rosanoff  and  Collins.).    ..  .Large  i2mo,  2  50 

Ehrlich's  Collected  Studies  on  Immunity.     (Bolduan.) 8vo,  6  oo 

*  Fischer's  Physiology  of  Alimentation Large  12mo,  cloth,  2  oo 

Hammarsten's  Text-book  on  Physiological  Chemistry.     (Mandel. ) 8vo,  4  oo 

Lassar-Cohn's  Practical  Urinary  Analysis.     (Lorenz.) i2mo,  i  oo 

*  Pauli's  Physical  Chemistry  m  the  Service  of  Medicine.     (Fischer.) ....  i2mo,  i  25 

*  Pozzi-Escot's  The  Toxins  and  Venoms  and  their  Antibodies.     (Cohn.).  i2mo,  i  oo 

Rostoski's  Serum  Diagnosis.     (Bolduan.) i2mo,  i  oo 

Salkowski's  Physiological  and  Pathological  Chemistry.     (Orndorff.) 8vo,  2  50 

*  Satterlee's  Outlines  of  Human  Embryology I2mo,  i  25 

Steel's  Treatise  on  the  Diseases  of  the  Dog 8vo,  3  50 

Von  Behring's  Suppression  of  Tuberculosis.     (Bolduan.) i2mo,  i  oo 

Woodhull's  Notes  on  Military  Hygiene i6mo,  i  50 

*  Personal  Hygiene i2mo,     i  oo 

Wulling's  An  Elementary  Course  in  Inorganic  Pharmaceutical  and  Medical 

Chemistry i2mo,    2  oo 

METALLURGY. 

Betts's  Lead  Refining  by  Electrolysis.    (In  Press.) 

Egleston's  Metallurgy  of  Silver,  Gold,  and  Mercury: 

Vol.    I.     Silver 8vo,  7  50 

Vol.  II.     Gold  and  Mercury 8vo,  7  50 

Goesel's  Minerals  and  Metals:     A  Reference  Book , .  . .  .  i6mo,  mor.  3  oo 

*  Iles's  Lead-smelting i2mo,  2  50 

Keep's  Cast  Iron 8vo,  2  50 

Kunhardt's  Practice  of  Ore  Dressing  in  Europe 8vo,  i  50 

Le  Chatelier's  High-temperature  Measurements.  (Boudouard — Burgess.  )i2mo,  3  oo 

Metcalf's  Steel.     A  Manual  for  Steel-users.  .  ,  . 12010,  2  oo 

Miller's  Cyanide  Process I2mo,  i  oo 

Minet's  Production  of  Aluminum  and  its  Industrial  Use.     (Waldo.). , .  .  i2mo,-  2  50 

Robine  and  Lenglen's  Cyanide  Industry.     (Le  Clerc.) 8vo,  4  oo 

Smith's  Materials  of  Machines i2mo,  i  oo 

Thurston's  Materials  of  Engineering.     In  Three  Parts 8vo,  8  ©o 

Part    II.     Iron  and  Steel gVOf  3  5O 

Part  HI.     A  Treatise  on  Brasses,  Bronzes,  and  Other  Alloys  and  their 

Constituents 8vOf  2  so 

Ulke's  Modern  Electrolytic  Copper  Refining 8vo,  3  oo 

MINERALOGY. 

Barringer's  Description  of  Minerals  of  Commercial  Value.    Oblong,  morocco,    2  50 

Boyd's  Resources  of  Southwest  Virginia 8vo,    3  oo 

17 


Boyd's  Map  of  Southwest  Virignia Pocket-book  form.  2  oo 

*  Browning's  Introduction  to  the  Rarer  Elements 8vo,  i  50 

Brush's  Manual  of  Determinative  Mineralogy.     (Penfield.) 8vo,  4  oo 

Chester's  Catalogue  of  Minerals 8vo,  paper,  i  oo 

Cloth,  i  25 

Dictionary  of  the  Names  of  Minerals 8vo,  3  50 

Dana's  System  of  Mineralogy Large  8vo,  half  leather,  12  50 

First  Appendix  to  Dana's  New  "  System  of  Mineralogy." Large  8vo,  i  oo 

Text-book  of  Mineralogy 8vo,  4  oo 

Minerals  and  How  to  Study  Them I2mo,  I  50 

Catalogue  of  American  Localities  of  Minerals Large  8vo,  i  oo 

Manual  of  Mineralogy  and  Petrography i2mo  2  oo 

Douglas's  Untechnical  Addresses  on  Technical  Subjects i2mo,  i  oo 

Eakle's  Mineral  Tables 8vo,  i  25 

Egleston's  Catalogue  of  Minerals  and  Synonyms 8vo,  2  50 

Goesel's  Minerals  and  Metals :     A  Reference  Book ibmo.mor.  300 

Groth's  Introduction  to  Chemical  Crystallography  (Marshall) i2mo,  i  25 

Iddings's  Rock  Minerals 8vo,  5  oo 

Johannsen's  Key  for  the  Determination  of  Rock-forming  Minerals    in   Thin 
Sections.     (In  Press.) 

*  Martin's  Laboratory  Guide  to  Qualitative  Analysis  with  the  Blowpipe.  I2tno,  60 
Merrill's  Non-metallic  Minerals.  Their  Occurrence  and  Uses 8vo,  4  oo 

Stones  for  Building;  and  Decoration 8vo,  5  oo 

*  Penfield's  Notes  on  Determinative  Mineralogy  and  Record  of  Mineral  Tests. 

8vo,  paper,  50 

Tables  of  Minerals 8vo,  i  00 

*  Richards's  Synopsis  of  Mineral  Characters i2mo.  morocco,  i  25 

*  Ries's  Clays.  Their  Occurrence.  Properties,  and  Uses 8vo,  5  oo 

Rosenbusch's   Microscopical   Physiography   of   the   Rock-making  Minerals. 

(Iddings.) 8vo,  5  oo 

*  Tollman's  Text-book  of  Important  Minerals  and  Rocks 8vo,  2  oo 

MINING. 

Beard's  Mine  Gases  and  Explosions.     (In  Press.) 

Boyd's  Resources  of  Southwest  Virginia 8vo,  3  oo 

Map  of  Southwest  Virginia Pocket-book  form,  2  oo 

Douglas's  Untechnical  Addresses  on  Technical  Subjects i2mo,  i  oo 

Eissler's  Modern  High  Explosives c 8vo,  4  oo 

Goesel's  Minerals  and  Metals :     A  Reference  Book . .    i6mo,  mor.  3  oo 

Goodyear 's  Coal-mines  of  the  Western  Coait  of  the  United  States i2mo,  2  50 

Ihlseng's  Manual  of  Mining. , 8vo,  5  oo 

*  Iles's  Lead-smelting i2mo,  2  50 

Kunhardt's  Practice  of  Ore  Dressing  in  Europe 8vo,  i  50 

Miller's  Cyanide  Process i2mo,  i  oo 

O'Driscoll's  Notes  on  the  Treatment  of  Gold  Ores 8vo,  2  oo 

Robine  and  Lenglen's  Cyanide  Industry.     (Le  Clerc.) 8vo,  4  oo 

Weaver's  Military  Explosives. 8vo,  3  oo 

Wilson's  Cyanide  Processes , i2mo,  i  50 

Chlorination  Process. , , ismo,  i  50 

Hydraulic  and  Placer  Mining.     2d  edition,  rewritten i2mo,  2  50 

Treatise  on  Practical  and  Theoretical  Mine  Ventilation i2mo,  i  23 

SANITARY  SCIENCE. 

Bashore's  Sanitation  of  a  Country  House. i2mo,  i  oo 

*  Outlines  of  Practical  Sanitation i2mo,  i  25 

Folwell's  Sewerage.     (Designing,  Construction,  and  Maintenance.) 8vo,  3  oo 

Water-supply  Engineering 8vo,  4  oo 

18 


Fowler's  Sewage  Works  Analyses 12013,  2  oo 

Fuertes's  Water  and  Public  Health i2mo,  i  50 

Water-filtration  Works i2tno,  2  50 

Gerhard's  Guide  to  Sanitary  House-inspection i6mo,  i  oo 

Sanitation  of  Public  Buildings 12mo,  1  50 

Hazen's  Filtration  of  Public  Water-supplies 8vo,  3  oo 

Leach's  The  Inspection  and  Analysis  of  Food  with  Special  Reference  to  State 

Control 8vo,  7  50 

Mason's  Water-supply.  ( Considered  principally  from  a  Sanitary  Standpoint)  8vo,  4  oo 

Examination  of  Water.     (Chemical  and  Bacteriological.) i2mo,  i  25 

*  Merriman's  Elements  of  Sanitary  Engineering 8vorf  2  oo 

Ogden's  Sewer  Design i2mo,  2  oo 

Prescott  and  Winslow's  Elements  of  Water  Bacteriology,  with  Special  Refer- 
ence to  Sanitary  Water  Analysis. 121110,  i  25 

*  Price's  Handbook  on  Sanitation I2mo,  i  50 

Richards's  Cost  of  Food.     A  Study  in  Dietaries i2mo,  i  oo 

Cost  of  Living  as  Modified  by  Sanitary  Science i2mo,  i  oo 

Cost  of  Shelter i2mo,  i  oo 

Richards  and   Woodman's  Air.  Water,  and  Food  from  a  Sanita-y  Stand- 
point  8vo,  2  oo 

-*  Richards  and  Williams's  The  Dietary  Computer 8vo,  I  50 

Rideal's  Sewage  and  Bacterial  Purification  of  Sewage 8vo,  4  oo 

Disinfection  and  the  Preservation  of  Food 8vo,  400 

Turneaure  and  Russell's  Public  Water-supplies 8vo,  5  oo 

Von  Behring's  Suppression  of  Tuberculosis.     (Bolduan.) i2mo,  i  oo 

Whipple's  Microscopy  of  Drinking-water 8vo,  3  50 

Wilson's  Air  Conditioning.    (In  Press.) 

Winton's  Microscopy  of  Vegetable  Foods 8vo,  7  So 

Woodhull's  Notes  on  Military  Hygiene iCmo,  i  50 

*  Personal  Hygiene i2mo,  i  oo 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

Association  of   State   and  National  Food  and  Dairy  Dapartmsnts  (Interstate 
Pure  Food  Commission) : 

Tenth  Annual  Convention  Hell  at  Hartford,  July  17-20,  1905.  ...8vo,     3  oo 
Eleventh    Annual    Convention,    Held  at  Jamestown   Tri -Centennial 

Exposition,  July  16-19,  1907.     (In  Press.) 
Emmons's  Geological  Guide-book  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  Excursion  of  the 

International  Congress  of  Geologists Large  Cvo,    i  50 

Ferrel's  Popular  Treatise  on  the  Winds 8vo,     4  oo 

Gannett's  Statistical  Abstract  of  the  World   24010,        75 

Gerhard's  The  Modem  Bath  and  Bath-houses.     (In  Press  ) 

Haines's  American  Railway  Management.  . .  .  ; I2mo,    2  50 

Ricketts's  History  of  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institut3,  1824-1894.  .Small  8vo,    3  oo 

Rotherham's  Emphasized  New  Testament Large  8vo,    2  DO 

Standage's  Decorative  Treatment  of  Wood,  Glass,  Metal,  etc.     (In  Press.) 

The  World's  Columbian  Exposition  of  1893 4to,    i  oo 

Winslow's  Elements  of  Applied  Microscopy t .  i2mo,     i  50 


HEBREW  AND  CHALDEE  TEXT-BOOKS. 

Green's  Elementary  Hebrew  Grammar I2mo,     i  25 

Hebrew  Chrestomathy 8vo,    2  oo 

Gesenius's  Hebrew  and  Chaldee  Lexicon  to  the  Old  Testament  Scriptures. 

(Tregelles.) Small  4to,  half  morocco      5  oo 

Letteris's  Hebrew  Bible 8vo,    2  25 

19 


RETURN    <jL 
TO—  ^     ^C£ 

OoLO>u^X'^>A*/j  j 

LOAN  PERIOD  I/ 

T_ 

3                        ^ 

4 

5 

6 

ALL  BOOKS  MAY  BE  RECALLED  AFTER  7  DAYS 


DUE  AS  STAMPED  BELOW 


DUENRI.F    F 

EB  24  1985 

RECCIRFEB  £6  198 

i 

ii  m  1  A   KMM 

JIW  14  Wl 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BERKELEY 
FORM  NO.  DDO,  5mr  12/80          BERKELEY,  CA  94720 


YC  33732 


BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


CD3S33D11M 


